mast support for trailering

[navahoIII]

Hi guys,

Aside from using life jackets for cushioning and an elaborate (and ever-changing) system of ropes, bungee cords and tie downs, is there anything on the market that is simple, easy to set up, and holds the mast (& boom) securely in place for trailering?

Wishful thinking?...

[Baysailer]

You could always fabricate something similar but these look pretty cheap and will do the job nicely.

http://www.ahoycaptain.com/shop/tx_aftmast.html

http://www.ahoycaptain.com/shop/tx_deckmnt.html

I always put the boom in the boat.

Fred

[algonquin]

What ?? You mean you actually take the mast down for trailering

[GreenLake]

You could always fabricate something similar but these look pretty cheap and will do the job nicely.

http://www.ahoycaptain.com/shop/tx_aftmast.html

NavahoIII, if you don't want to spend as much, just get a set of pintles and attach them to a board of the desired height w/ a generous notch at the top. That's the setup that came with my boat and it's served well.

I always put the boom in the boat.

So do I - but now I'm curious: where do you stow it? On the floor, on a bench?

[Baysailer]

Just looked since I'm heading out for a sail and the back of the boom is on the transom floor while the front half of the boom rests on the thwart. One note of little matter I leave the main sheet setup on the boom. Either lazy or efficient, your call. My votes on lazy.

Fred

[GreenLake]

Leaving the sheet up, sounds like one less thing to do. I've been looking for ways to shave time from setup/teardown - not just from lazyness, but from the desire to spend more time on the water than on the ramp

FWIW I tie the boom to the thwart with a small fender as buffer and wedge the other end between seat and coaming using some cushions.

[navahoIII]

Thanks all, and for the links, Baysailer.

[hales]

I use a set of 3 supports which are all made from simple 2 x 4 construction. The one on the stern is supported by the rudder mounts, one in the middle sits above the centerboard, and then one mounted to the trailer ahead of the bow. I can send you a photo if you want one. It appears all of this stuff is pretty common hardware goods. Fortunately, it came with the boat.