mast clearance

n3935j · Mar 6, 2011

Not worth the risk.
Anchor near the amusement park and use a dingy or kayak to explore the bay. See
attached

Yachtsource (San Diego, CA)

Classified listings boats for sale from yacht brokers, Best Yacht Brokers in San Diego. San Diego Yacht Brokers. Reputable, professional, 26 years experience. Licensed captain. CYBA Member

www.yachtworld.com

________________________________
From: Nathan Wagner wagnern@...
To: AlbinVega@yahoogroups.com
Sent: Thu, March 3, 2011 11:18:02 PM
Subject: [AlbinVega] mast clearance

Hi Folks,

Can anyone tell me with reasonable confidence how much clearance I need
under a bridge for a series 2 Vega? I'm hoping to sail in San Diego this
summer, and I'd like to explore Mission Bay. Draft won't be a problem,
but bridges might be.

Thanks
Nathan
Vega 2178
Noyo River, Fort Bragg California

tim_klynn · Mar 6, 2011

My mast, unstepped is about 29'-81/2", from the bottom to the top of the top cap.
Above the top cap, I have a masthead light and a vhf antenna.
So with a 3' antenna, so on my particular boat the clearance would be 32'-8 1/2" plus the distance from the base of the mast to the water. So if the distance to water was 4' and the bridge clearance was 37', I would be nervous as I would only have 3 1/2" of clearance between the bridge and the antenna top, with a foot or so of "error" in the flexibility of the antenna, and about 2' until I really damaged something expensive.

If it was clearances were close and it was windy, I suppose you could try to put up too much sail and really get the boat to heel over to reduce mast height above water, but we all know what would happen, just as you got directly under the bridge, the wind would suddenly stop, and the boat would pop up with the mast top lodging between 2 girders.

My boat is #1874, which is a series II (?). The 4' from mast base to waterline is just a wild guess, it will probably differ on every boat.

When I figured out my clearance, I wrote on the base of the mast, but each boat will be different, so you will need to calculate you own. -Tim

dougpol1 · Mar 6, 2011

On 03/06/2011 09:04 AM, Patrick McDonald wrote:

n3935j · Mar 6, 2011

Nathan,
In Mission Bay you can easily pass under the bridge leading to Sail Bay, and the
Dana Inn Marina- of course minding the tide. The back part of the Bay- Fiesta
Bay is for ski boats and jet skis, always a fun crowd to navigate with. You can
anchor in Bonita Cove, and swim ashore for a roller coaster ride at the
amusement park, and many local places to eat and drink. Nobody asked but I
thought I'd mention it.
Patrick

http://sailvector.com/1918/Mission-Bay

________________________________
From: Nathan Wagner wagnern@...
To: AlbinVega@yahoogroups.com
Sent: Thu, March 3, 2011 11:18:02 PM
Subject: [AlbinVega] mast clearance

Hi Folks,

Can anyone tell me with reasonable confidence how much clearance I need
under a bridge for a series 2 Vega? I'm hoping to sail in San Diego this
summer, and I'd like to explore Mission Bay. Draft won't be a problem,
but bridges might be.

Thanks
Nathan
Vega 2178
Noyo River, Fort Bragg California

bobnlesafloat · Mar 8, 2011

Hi Nathan,

Spring Fever is a mark 2 Vega and mast dimensions are: -

Mast Length 9.00m (Deck to Steaming Light – 4.00m. Deck to spreaders – 4.60m Deck to Uphaul Block – 6.00m) ADD Waterline to Foot – 1.20m. Wind Vane - 0.50m VHF Aerial 1.50m WATERLINE TO TOP OF VHF AERIAL 11.70 metres converted to the imperial scale that\'s 38 feet 5 inches, depending on how tall your VHF ariel is.

My measurements must be sound because we\'ve actually taken Spring Fever under an 11.90m/39 foot clearance bridge in the south of France - Heirault River to Agde. Actually, it wasn\'t as brave as it sounds; the VHF aeriel was pretty knackered and I already had a new one stowed in the locker ready to fit if I\'d got it wrong.
The funnist part about doing it was that during the last few yards of the approach I decided it was better not to look, but when I turned around to look the other way instead, I saw the five or six local trailer-sailers & motor-boats that had been following close behind us up the channel, were all scattering presumeably to stay clear of what they were convinced was a soon to be falling mast and rig.

Bob Carlisle
Spring Fever 1776..

From: Nathan Wagner <wagnern@...>

To: AlbinVega@yahoogroups.com

Sent: Thu, March 3, 2011 11:18:02 PM

Subject: [AlbinVega] mast clearance

Hi Folks,

Can anyone tell me with reasonable confidence how much clearance I need

under a bridge for a series 2 Vega? I\'m hoping to sail in San Diego this

summer, and I\'d like to explore Mission Bay. Draft won\'t be a problem,

but bridges might be.

Thanks

Nathan

Vega 2178

Noyo River, Fort Bragg California

schult.cindy · Mar 9, 2011

You can switch to a hinged tabernacle (can be done with the tabernacle on my vega - assume yours too, but I'd feel safer with the hinge) and use the boom and a bridle to lower the mast forward enought o fit under any bridge or you can rig the front of the mast (I've seen folks use spinaker poles to make an A-frame or attached to the front of the mast like the boom is on the back, or move the boom to the front of the mast). These guys custom build rigs for raising and lowering almost any style mast. www.sailtrailers.com They are really good people too.

Good Luck,
Cindy

schult.cindy · Mar 9, 2011

You can switch to a hinged tabernacle (can be done with the tabernacle on my vega - assume yours too, but I'd feel safer with the hinge) and use the boom and a bridle to lower the mast forward enought o fit under any bridge or you can rig the front of the mast (I've seen folks use spinaker poles to make an A-frame or attached to the front of the mast like the boom is on the back, or move the boom to the front of the mast). These guys custom build rigs for raising and lowering almost any style mast. www.sailtrailers.com They are really good people too.

Good Luck,
Cindy