folding mast

captianfrank · #1 (**permalink**) 10-17-2002

I have a 35'' ketch- My canal has a 10'' fixed bridge. My boat has a small pilothouse. I need plans, suggestions to fabricate a 12V powered folding mast system on a limited budget. Anybody ???

manateee_gene · #2 (**permalink**) 10-17-2002

Well,I''ve had a tabernacle for 30 years and now use it everytime we take the boat out through Bradenton to the bay or Gulf. Mine is not powered but it only takes 5 minutes to do the job on a 40'' mast.
Gene

joub · #3 (**permalink**) 10-25-2002

Don''t like to be the bearer of bad news but I believe your 10'' bridge height makes it a VERY difficult propblem.

All the tabernacle mast setups I am familiar with use the boom for a fulcrum to provide the leverage to raise and lower the mast. On a 35'' boat the boom would probably be 13 or 14'' in length. If the mast were lowered to a completely horizontal position, the boom would be 13'' high plus the height above water (maybe another 6 feet) for a total of 19'' above the water line. It seems improbable that the height of the boom/mast could be adjusted to be lower than 10'' considering that they are probably about 6'' above the waterline to start with.

suggest you; 1. move from the canal, or 2. Get a power boat. Sorry!

Jim

goduke · #4 (**permalink**) 10-29-2002

Something doesn''t make sense here. Do you HAVE to leave the boom up? Seems the boom could be lowered or removed to get under the bridge.

joub · #5 (**permalink**) 10-30-2002

Well, you could remove the boom. Of course that would normally entail removing the foot of the sail, disassembling the gooseneck and removing all the tackle from the boom to raise and lower the mast. Once under the bridge you can put it all back together again! Anything is possible, but is it worth it?

Jim

tho52mas · #6 (**permalink**) 11-09-2002

Let me see if I have this correct: the mast is lowered FORWARD in the tabernacle to lower it. As that happens, the boom rises to a vertidal position after the mast is on the horizontal. Then the boom, with the sail on it, KEEPS moving forward and lies on the already lowered mast. At least thats the way I''ve seen some european boats that go through the canals a lot.

cdelage · #7 (**permalink**) 03-19-2003

several months ago you responded to my request for information about fabricating a folding mast system...you stated that you use it regularly in Bradenton...I live nearby in St. Petersburg FL...I have not been very sucessful in locating any feesible plans or ideas for my folding mast.I would very much like to see your creation.Spring is here and I''m itching to put up some sticks
and go cruising with the wind. I hope that you find some time in the near future to educate me and my wife. Please let us know what is best for you.

sincerely Frank & Christy at cdelage@tampabay.rr.com