ICW Mast on 40.5

[Pat Ross]

Does anyone own a 40.5 with ICW Mast? If so what is the SA, and how does she respond. Anyone who has thoughts on this and would share them, this would be appreciated. One idea I thought might be possible if the Mast is shortened for ICW bridges, is to lengthen the Boom. Thoughts Anyone? Thanks.

 

[Larry Long]

ICW Mast

I don't have a 40.5, but I do have a 380 with an ICW mast. It is 48.5 feet above the waterline(plus Anchor lite, Wind machine, windex, and VHF antenna).The boom has been lengthened (??? I don't know exactly how much.) and the roach area has been re-worked. It has approximately 90% of the standard sail area. It makes the boat less tender and, frankly, I believe it sails better than the standard rig. With more sail area down low more of the wind is moving the boat foreward rather than making it heel. With my boat, the flatter it is, the faster I go.A 50 foot mast will not get you under every bridge. My VHF antenna hit every I-beam but one when I went under the Brooks bridge at Ft. Walton Beach. I absolutely cannot get out at Destin. PERIOD!!!!! That bridge might show as a 50 foot bridge on the charts, but it is something under 49 feet! I had to go all the way to Panama City to get back out into the Gulf.The bottom line is I am very happy with my ICW rig.

 

[Bill Jones]

ICW Experiences

I have a 1994 Hunter 40.5 with a standard mast, height according to the literature is 62'9", but is seems closer to 64'. I have had the boat on the ICW from Norfolk to Charleston and from other areas as far south as St. Augustine. A time or two the VHF antennae has touched the I-beams of the bridges. I check the tide tables and try to go under quesitonable bridges at no worse than mid tide. Also, full/new moons should be avoided. The scary part for me is that many of the bridges do not have height scales on the bridge starboard fenders as expected.It's not my favorite thing to do, but as stated, I've spent quite a bit of time on the ICW with the standard rig.Bill Joness/v Bardi Sea