Leisure 20 mast length

[ghostlymoron]

I've recently acquired a Leisure 20 with which I'm well chuffed. The only slight issue is that it has the lake rig which is taller than the sea rig. As I will be sailing it on the sea single handed mainly, I'm wondering whether to shorten the mast by a few feet to make it more manageable. I realise that the sails will probably need modifying also but shouldn't be too expensive.
Shortening would also make mast raising/lowering easier as I will be taking her back home for winter.
Any observations welcome particularly from L20 owners.

 

[AndrewL]

I personally would not consider shortening the mast. The bottom of the mast probably has some kind of foot with a hinged locking pin and the top most likely has a fitting for the rigging to attach and blocks for halyards. So neither end can simply be lopped off. Also, wouldn't the standing rigging also need shortening?

Why not spend the money you would have spent re-cutting the sails on having an additional reefing point put into the sail. There have been many light wind days when I'd wished for more sail area. I'd rather have a big main which needed an early reef.

 

[ghostlymoron]

Good points Andrew. Some I hadn't considered. Shortening the mast itself is no problem. Drill out rivets from mast foot, remove mast foot, cut to length, re-rivet mast foot, job done. I've shortened the boom on my Mirage 28 when it cracked which is a similar process. Hadn't considered implications on standing rigging though. Not a good idea.

 

[Jcorstorphine]

You may find that removing a section from the foot will create a lot of issues such as the internal running rigging guides will be too low, the boom goose neck will be on the coach roof and so on. On the face of it, removing a section at the top would seem easier but then the angle of the top stays to the cross trees will be wrong. Bad idea.

 

[Fantasie 19]

I personally would not consider shortening the mast. The bottom of the mast probably has some kind of foot with a hinged locking pin and the top most likely has a fitting for the rigging to attach and blocks for halyards. So neither end can simply be lopped off. Also, wouldn't the standing rigging also need shortening?

Why not spend the money you would have spent re-cutting the sails on having an additional reefing point put into the sail. There have been many light wind days when I'd wished for more sail area. I'd rather have a big main which needed an early reef.

+1