[Public-List] Mast cradle for canal and winterizing

[Gordon Laco]

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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