Crossing the channel mast down?

[Lakesailor]

I can't see the problem. A Colvic Watson is a displacement motor boat with mast and sails. It's won't a yacht without mast and sails.

This one has been used as a motor boat anyway.

 

[Searush]

I can't see the problem. A Colvic Watson is a displacement motor boat with mast and sails. It's won't a yacht without mast and sails.

This one has been used as a motor boat anyway.

I take it you've never taken one to sea with the mast down then?

Not many motorboats have the ballasted keel that a Colvic does & that's what becomes the killer, flicking the boat back every time a wave deflects her. That one doesn't seem to have ever had a mast so possibly limited ballast in the keel.

I'm sure it would be fine on the lake most days, & even on the bad days it may be big enough to not be bothered by the short, steep waves you get. It's a somewhat different matter crossing the Channel, especially if they hit wind over tide conditions.

 

[DownWest]

Hammond Innes had a long keeled steel yacht built in Holland, then motored it across to be rigged and fitted out. His comments on the trip might put off anybody trying for themselves. The rolling was extremely unpleasant.

 

[sailorman]

Some large Oysters are delivered into Fox`s by sea for mast stepping & PDI.
they use a stumpy mast with lights & radar for the delivery

 

[Lakesailor]

I'm sure it would be fine on the lake most days, & even on the bad days it may be big enough to not be bothered by the short, steep waves you get. It's a somewhat different matter crossing the Channel, especially if they hit wind over tide conditions.

I forgot that I haven't been on the sea for 10 years or so.

 

[Tidewaiter2]

3 suggestions

Hammond Innes had a long keeled steel yacht built in Holland, then motored it across to be rigged and fitted out. His comments on the trip might put off anybody trying for themselves. The rolling was extremely unpleasant.

Dad's Regt's flat bottomed LST flotilla went over on D-Day and landed them on D+3.
They were all violently sea sick from the time the stormy weather hit them rolling jerkily at anchor in the Solent assembly areas, all the way across to the time they landed at Ver-sur-Mer.
The LST crews were ok though-they had got used to it.

So, re your trip;
Could you not rig the boom as a stub mast(vhf, reflector n lights too) with a steadying sail for the trip?

Or get the work done over there and cross with peace of mind as someone suggested earlier?

If not, plenty of scopaderm patches and weather forecasts, and maybe sneak up Channel to get a shorter crossing towards Dover?

 

[Searush]

Believe me, it's more than sea-sickness, the motion is such that it is hard to keep your balance. So there is the added risk of falling overboard or injuries. One may get used to it eventually, but it's a long time crossing the channel if you don't!

 

[LadyInBed]

Could you not rig the boom as a stub mast(vhf, reflector n lights too) with a steadying sail for the trip?

He might as well put the mast up

 

[Paragon]

One other small point to consider. You mentioned single handed "at night", where are your nav lights, on the mast!

As an ex Fisher(s) owner, you will roll without any sail up, possibly less without the mast assisting!

 

[Searush]

One other small point to consider. You mentioned single handed "at night", where are your nav lights, on the mast!

As an ex Fisher(s) owner, you will roll without any sail up, possibly less without the mast assisting!

WRONG! Having the mast up dampens the roll. It's just like a clock pendulum, lower the weight & the clock goes slower, remove the weight & it goes far, far faster! That's the whole point, removing the mast effectively shortens the height of the pivot point, it SHORTENS the pendulum. That iis why the motion is so horrible.