Trailering question

Submitted by todd on Tue, 04/06/2004 - 00:02
I was playing with my boat when an idea occured to me. Why doesn't the trailier have clamp by the winch to hold the mast? The previous owner of my boat used a line with a bunch of half hitches to hold the mast on the boat. I was just curuous if anyone else had a simailar idea or has tried this. I was going to lay it out and take the trailer to work and weld this unit on. Or I might just use some hardware and bolt it onto the piece where the winch is located so if it doesn't work I can remove it without a plamsa cutter. just thinkning out loud.
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Comments

The previous owner of my boat crafted a Y shaped wooden front ma

Submitted by Griffin on Tue, 04/06/2004 - 02:09.
The previous owner of my boat crafted a Y shaped wooden front mast support that fits down onto the bow eye. This supports the front of the mast while trailering. I use two bungee cords on this front support and two on the back support to hold the mast in place. I've trailered several hundred miles with no problems at all. The front support also keeps the front of the mast from shaking all over the place. This front mast support could be easily duplicated by tracing the shape of the mast and then measuring the distance from the bottom of the mast to the bow eye with the mast down on the trailer. I can send a picture if anyone is interested.

I saw somewhere a FS trailer that had a mast fork coming up on t

Submitted by Claus on Tue, 04/06/2004 - 09:57.
I saw somewhere a FS trailer that had a mast fork coming up on the trailer tongue which supported the mast instead of using the wooden mast fork that's placed in the tabernacle (FS part 720200). In both cases the rear of the mast is supported by the stainless steel mast fork (FS part 720100) that is placed in the rudder mounting. I only have experience with the wooden mast fork in the tabernacle. The part of the mast that sticks over the bow does bounce a little. So far I never had any problems from it and I doubt that this will cause any since the mast probably has to stand much more strain when sailing than from the bumps in the road wile trailering. If you have a Trailex aluminum trailer you could give them a call. I think they might sell a mast fork that is attached to the trailer tongue. (PS: I might have the part numbers wrong so double check them before using it.)
Claus FS5074 Ames, IA |

I have a Pamco trailer.

Submitted by Transom on Wed, 04/07/2004 - 09:44.
I have a Pamco trailer. There is a metal (coated in rubber or similar material) Y that is attached to the tongue that carries the front of the mast. It is welded to a metal plate that is then bolted to the tongue. I wrap a bungee cord around it and the mast. I also attach a more sturdy band from an eye loop that it has to the front handle to help keep the Y rod from moving. I do not put the mast in the rear stainless steel mast fork becuase I do not have one. I have the older X type, which is not as sturdy. However, I have found that by putting the mast on a pad at the back of the deck, I can secure the mast more easily and tightly to the back handles. This also "attaches" the mast to the boat so that the trailer's springs take the brunt and the mast hardly moves or bounces at all.

I have a mast holder on my trailer that I constructed from steel

Submitted by Marty4831 on Thu, 04/08/2004 - 21:42.
I have a mast holder on my trailer that I constructed from steel. A one inch square tube is bolted to the winch standard. A "U" shaped, 1/4 by 1" steel band is welded to the top. The "U' has a clamp on each side to hold a nylon web strap (sling) that the mast rests in. The webbing works well because it can be adjusted to provide just the right amount of support to the mast. A mast support is a great help in trailering. So nice not to see and hear that mast bouncing around back there. I can get some pics in a couple of weeks if anyone is interested. (After I get it out of winter storage.) My lake still has ice!

Marty, I would like to see those pics.

Submitted by todd on Fri, 04/09/2004 - 00:02.
Marty, I would like to see those pics. Please keep this post going I think there is a lot of good info being brough out here. Thanks, Todd

quote:[i]Originally posted by Griffin[/i] [br]The previous owne

Submitted by Bruce177 on Sun, 04/11/2004 - 22:19.
quote:
[i]Originally posted by Griffin[/i] [br]The previous owner of my boat crafted a Y shaped wooden front mast support that fits down onto the bow eye. This supports the front of the mast while trailering. I use two bungee cords on this front support and two on the back support to hold the mast in place. I've trailered several hundred miles with no problems at all. The front support also keeps the front of the mast from shaking all over the place. This front mast support could be easily duplicated by tracing the shape of the mast and then measuring the distance from the bottom of the mast to the bow eye with the mast down on the trailer. I can send a picture if anyone is interested.
I'd like to see a photo. I'm always looking for helpful ideas. Thanks, Bruce

I'll be getting my boat out of storage next week.

Submitted by Marty4831 on Wed, 04/14/2004 - 11:24.
I'll be getting my boat out of storage next week. Expect some pics of my mast support after that.

I have a metal "y" gadget that fits securely over the mast step.

Submitted by msutphen on Mon, 05/24/2004 - 23:53.
I have a metal "y" gadget that fits securely over the mast step. The "y" is covered with rubber hose and rigging tape. This, and the "y" in the rudder gudgeons are the only two supports. I use one bungee at the rear support and one at the eye above the Flying Scot name plate. I wrap a line, centerboard or spin halyard, around the mast once or twice and secure it to the windward sheeting cleats at the front of the cockpit. I then take the topper and run it through the spinnaker pole loop and attach it to the bow eye. The topper is run through the deck to a cleat on the tabernacle where it is made taught. The mast usually protrudes 3 to 4 feet aft of the transom. It seems to ride securely and takes little time to rig. MS_/)