Mast Storage in Le Havre

A

Andy and Lyn

Well-Known Member
Joined
6 Aug 2009
Messages
410
Location
West Sussex and French Waterways from 1 April
Visit site
in a couple of weeks we are going to lock back into the canals!

Heading north from Port St Louis , over 4 months (slowly, slowly - bliss) to Le Havre ( or Honfleur??) .

Going to get the mast transported by Wolfgang Graf of masttransport.de !

Does anyone know whether its best to get it unstepped in Port St Loius and transported straightaway north to be stored - or the other way round - stored at Port St Loius and then transported at a later date.

Also, does anyone know a yard in Le Havre that will store securely and then obviously be able to crane / step in early September!!

No doubt Grehan will prove to be the respondee - anyone else also able to advise with recent experience would be most appreciated!
 
Well here I am, with zero personal experience of mast transport (separate from the yacht) !
But I would suggest you also think about re-masting at Rouen.
Answering your question more directly I would think that if you're there for the de-masting and by implication the protection and then the storage, at P St L, you can see and supervise directly how it is kept. At a later time Wolfgang will know about picking up and transporting (i.e you can leave that to him and P St L) and if you can then be there on the spot in Normandy for the 'receipt' as it were, you've covered both ends.
Have you asked Wolfgang? - he's the expert.
[edit]
I might even see you, if you're taking 4 months . . I'm also anticipating making the trip from mid-May onwards albeit slightly quicker.
 
Last edited:
We did it the other way round, mast unstepped at Le Havre then shipped to PSL. Trying to find my masts, being a ketch upon our arrival was a bit akward. Firstly the masts had been offloaded at the wrong yard at PSL. When I approached the both Navy Services and Port Napolean about whether my masts were there, I was told where the masts were stored, and to go look to see if I can find them. Fortunately my masts are a unique colour, and had some unusual fittings, but it still took me some time to find them. From this experience I would suggest getting your masts shipped straight away, as at least you know they have gone, and if they are dropped at the wrong yard, at least they should be able to tell you where they are.
Our masts were taken down at Stephans yard in Le Havre, where I believe he has storage. Contact details are,
CNHM Boatyard – Stephan Reiset
Chantier Naval Havre et Manche +33 (0)235 253 051
 
That's an interesting lesson to be learnt. As well as making sure they're well protected (ends, fittings, etc.) make sure they're bl**y well marked up and if more than one item in the 'set', that the items stay together.
Maybe there's not much in it, sequence-wise.
 
Grehan said:
That's an interesting lesson to be learnt. As well as making sure they're well protected (ends, fittings, etc.) make sure they're bl**y well marked up and if more than one item in the 'set', that the items stay together.
Maybe there's not much in it, sequence-wise.
Click to expand...

I agree, I was confronted with a couples of racks of masts, as to making sure they are together, unless you are there you are at the mercy of the yard/haulier as to which rack your masts end up on, mine where on two different racks.
If I was to return through the canals I would now consider carrying my masts on board. , we didn't on the way down as we were relatively new to the boat and its interesting handling, but we soon learnt how to handle our boat.
 
OK. thanks.

For the benefit of others I have been quoted:

500 euros plus TVA for the mast delivery from Port St Louis to Le Havre,

I have been in touch with the yard (see above) in Le Havre and they quote:

60 euros a month storage (11 metre mast) plus TVA
286 euros handling charges which includes taking it off the transport/putting it on the rack) and then stepping when the boat eventually arrives.

Not cheap but probably better than recovery charges from the bottom of the Rhone!!
 
Andy and Lyn said:
OK. thanks.

For the benefit of others I have been quoted:

500 euros plus TVA for the mast delivery from Port St Louis to Le Havre,

I have been in touch with the yard (see above) in Le Havre and they quote:

60 euros a month storage (11 metre mast) plus TVA
286 euros handling charges which includes taking it off the transport/putting it on the rack) and then stepping when the boat eventually arrives.

Not cheap but probably better than recovery charges from the bottom of the Rhone!!
Click to expand...

thanks for sharing that Andy & Lyn. So, you're looking at the guts of 1K+.
Thats alot of beer tokens! - I think mine will have to do onboard.
enjoy the trip.
rgds
c
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Share this page

Top