We are planning on transiting the Erie and Oswego Canals en-route to a Down East Circle Route this year. Anyone had experience with un-stepping the mast and/or transporting it (by truck or on board - on temporary gallows)?
Mast un-stepping
- Thread starter cest le bon
- Start date
We've done this several times... It all depends on where you come from and where you are going. There are many good places to have the mast unstepped and lashed to the boat on temporary gallows! I've yet to find someone to truck the mast along the canals.
Please write your origin and destination and we can come up with the best places to unstep and lash..
Pierre
Please write your origin and destination and we can come up with the best places to unstep and lash..
Pierre
Mast-unstepping for Erie Canal
Thanks for your responses. I guess I need to be a bit more specific. I have found 2 or 3 places in the Albany, NY who will perform the un-stepping for a north-bound sailboat. Having never done this before, I am wondering about how best to deal with the cables run through the mast (VHF antenna, anemometer, mast-head and deck lights). Do you have any advice regarding good connectors that I could install at the mast-step to facilitate disconnection and reconnection, while maintaining electrical continuity and integrity after reconnection?
Thanks for your responses. I guess I need to be a bit more specific. I have found 2 or 3 places in the Albany, NY who will perform the un-stepping for a north-bound sailboat. Having never done this before, I am wondering about how best to deal with the cables run through the mast (VHF antenna, anemometer, mast-head and deck lights). Do you have any advice regarding good connectors that I could install at the mast-step to facilitate disconnection and reconnection, while maintaining electrical continuity and integrity after reconnection?
All the wires should have connectors of some kind at the mast base but sometimes on keel stepped masts they wire everything through without them. If there's no connectors, carefully cut the wires and pick up connectors enroute. This is one of the rare things I would go into a West Marine store for. They usually have the stuff on hand and it's good quality. Radio Shack is shutting down so they're no longer an option. After reconnecting, coat the connectors with Liquid Electrical Tape to keep water out.
Supports can be made cheaply from 2x4 and 2x6 lumber. Sometimes you can get lucky and pick up discarded material from boats coming the other way.
If you're crossing the Lakes with the mast down, pick your weather carefully. You'd think the boat would ride better without it, but the opposite is true. The ride can be brutal. You want flat water.
Supports can be made cheaply from 2x4 and 2x6 lumber. Sometimes you can get lucky and pick up discarded material from boats coming the other way.
If you're crossing the Lakes with the mast down, pick your weather carefully. You'd think the boat would ride better without it, but the opposite is true. The ride can be brutal. You want flat water.
Hang a left at Waterford!
There are only two real options: Catskill and Castleton... the Dunn memorial bridge in Albany is only 60ft and fixed!
Castleton yacht club has a crane you can use for 50$; they usually have helpful members present and if you know what you are doing it is by far the cheapest way to go.
Catskill has several marinas the best known of which is Riverview Marine services; they specialize in mast stepping and un-stepping during the migration periods of fall and spring. If you check with active captain you will find all the pertinent information. They will even take care of your wiring which should have connectors in the ceiling near the mast, if not they can install it. Obviously a more expensive solution but a lot cheaper than making any kind of mistake with your mast or temporary gallows!!!
Have a good trip
Pierre
There are only two real options: Catskill and Castleton... the Dunn memorial bridge in Albany is only 60ft and fixed!
Castleton yacht club has a crane you can use for 50$; they usually have helpful members present and if you know what you are doing it is by far the cheapest way to go.
Catskill has several marinas the best known of which is Riverview Marine services; they specialize in mast stepping and un-stepping during the migration periods of fall and spring. If you check with active captain you will find all the pertinent information. They will even take care of your wiring which should have connectors in the ceiling near the mast, if not they can install it. Obviously a more expensive solution but a lot cheaper than making any kind of mistake with your mast or temporary gallows!!!
Have a good trip
Pierre