[Public-List] Mast cradle for canal and winterizing

Gordon Laco mainstay at csolve.net
Fri Sep 11 09:11:12 PDT 2009


Forgot to mention that we put a short strut of 2x4 up to the mast from  
the mast step to support the middle...

Gord



On 11-Sep-09, at 12:07 PM, Gordon Laco wrote:

> Hello Bill -
>
> We also store our mast on deck in the winter, and have carried it on  
> deck when motoring on deliveries.
>
> Up forward I lash a short 2x4 across the bow pulpit and in turn lash  
> the mast to that.  We carry it heel forward for convenience when  
> raising it again.  Aft, I have a scissor crutch made of two 2x4's  
> bolted together.  We stand the feet of the scissor in the after  
> corners of the cockpit seats.  I also rig lines two going forward to  
> genny sheet cleats  and one going aft to the backstay chainplate.
>
> I set things up so that the the mast is high enough that we can  
> stand at the helm under it, and we can remove the washboards from  
> the companionway.  For canaling I would suggest that you place the  
> mast such that there is little or no overhang forward, and with the  
> extra length high over the stern.  It will be easier to fend off  
> errant houseboats etc that way.
>
> If you like I can sent you a photo off-line.
>
> Gord
> #426 Surprise
>
>
>
> On 11-Sep-09, at 11:45 AM, Bill Wallace wrote:
>
>> I'm just in the midst of purchasing an Alberg 30, sail# 626,  
>> Chewan, and I need to store it for the winter and then take it down  
>> the Rideau Canal in the spring.  I was thinking of building a mast  
>> cradle out of 2x4's, drop the mast onto them this winter, and then  
>> launch it in the spring and take it down the Rideau.  The question  
>> I have is how to build a mast cradle that is strong enough for the  
>> mast over the winter, and works well for keeping it out of the way  
>> during the canal transit.
>>
>> Considerations are how long between supports - is one support at  
>> the bow and one at the stern sufficient, or does it need an  
>> intermediate support?  Is there a good design at the stern to allow  
>> getting in/out of the boat easily (she has a hard bimini, so that  
>> also limits the location/height at the stern).
>>
>> I was thinking of using 3 pieces for a support at the front and at  
>> the back -a basic A canted about 20 degrees towards the stern for  
>> the stern support and 20 degrees towards the bow, with the bow  
>> support being lower.  I would cut the A frame to be just inboard of  
>> the toe rail so as to minimize deck stress, and then tie or  
>> otherwise secure the frame to the boat.  The end support would also  
>> be tied.
>>
>> Alternatively, I have all the tools needed to make 1/8" stays and I  
>> could just stay the a-frames front & back, using inexpensive  
>> (hardware store) turnbuckles.  That would allow the frame to be  
>> more easily disassembled and re-assembled for when I want to go  
>> down the NY canal system, but would put more weight on each leg of  
>> the a-frame.  I want to use the supports every winter.
>>
>> I'm also going to make a simple top part to allow me to attach a  
>> solar panel to keep the batteries charged over the winter - other  
>> batteries I've used are fine as long as they are fully charged just  
>> before freeze and aren't left too long in the spring before  
>> charging again, and the solar cell would get used whenever we had a  
>> warm spot or the snow blew off the panel.
>>
>> Any other considerations/thoughts?
>>
>> Thanks,
>> Bill.
>>
>>
>>
>>      
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