Trail boat with the mast up

[mjcoon]

Came across one of those police barrier thingies, but it was up, still tight I thought. Never mind, I'll just drive round it through the desert.

Next truck, with another house, drove straight through, demolishing his house and the police station.

Ah, puts my driving into a car park when towing my dinghy with its mast on the crutch, as usual, into perspective.

I remembered that the barrier would descend as soon as the car had gone through the sensor just too late...

Mike.

 

[Searush]

If a filling station has a low canopy there will usually be a set of pumps NOT under it for high load use - one only has to remember to use them. Cables & trees are the big threat, you probably won't even notice them until it hits.

I don't think the OP was a troll, I just reckon he has realised the error of his ways - despite his somewhat over enthusiastic response to the early warnings!

 

[Trop Cher]

I would leave a bit of sail up as well, you'll get better fuel consumption and a bit more speed. But only if the wind is behind you, I won't try tacking, that would just be silly.

 

[Seajet]

Of course this was seen on Top Gear with the Triumph Herald & Mirror rig, which shows how likely it is to work in real life...

I once hired a Luton Van when moving into a place, went to refuel and felt a strange resistance to the throttle, I'd interfaced the high top with the big illuminated box above the pump; quietly reversed hoping the lot wouldn't come down...

 

[Niander]

iM WONDERING HOW TALL THE FOLKBOAT IS ON THE TRAILER
WILL HAVE TO MEASURE IT...oops caplock
the mast is "LAID down" LOL on top
and it looks high to me!

 

[NealB]

Some years ago now, as a favour, I offered to tow our neighbour's Heron dinghy from the club to his house (for those with local knowledge, that's from Weir Quay SC just up to Cotts).

As it was only half a mile along very quiet country lanes, that I knew intimately, I didn't bother to lower the (very short) mast. After all, what could possibly go wrong on such a short, easy journey?

Well......Joscelyn was worried about the two sets of phone lines that crossed the road, but I rather arrogantly and dismissively assured her that there was absolutely no way a Heron mast could possibly come into contact with those lines.

I'm delighted to report that I was 100% correct on that. No argument.

However, half way up the hill from the river, there's a willow tree, some of whose branches overhang the lane. Well....not so much branches..... just mere twigs, really. As long as I go really slowly, in first gear, they couldn't possibly do any damage.

Twang!!! Crash!!!! Scrape!!!

The mast lay on the lane, still attached by the standing rigging. Well, all the standing rigging except for the forestay.

There was a gaping hole in the foredeck where the forestay tang had been ripped out.

Hmmmm.......Joscelyn said nothing.

Explaining to our neighbour was rather stressful (though he was very good about it).

Anyway, to cut a long, painful, story short, I did a nice repair job and all ended harmoniously.

But...I still wish I'd taken the few minutes to lower that mast!!

 

[A1Sailor]

I once did a perfect "3-point turn" in a narrow city street while towing a GP14 with the mast down - on a "crutch" at the front of the trailer with the top of it overhanging the car. A perfect set up.
It was in the days when lamp-posts were at the edge of the pavement - at the kerb...
Anybody want a bent GP14 mast?


EDIT: Anybody else done anything silly? How about towing a boat with the mast up?

 

[oldharry]

We have a 17ft Lune Whammel great fun, but a bit of a pain to keep rigging everytime we go out.

We are thinking of trailoring the boat with the mast up any dos or donts

Anyone out thier trailoring thier boat with the mast up

Simpler and safer to rearrange the rig to make it a bit easier. Quick release shackles, pelican hooks, barber haulers - all strong enough for most 17footers and reduce setting up to 'clunk-click', lets go sailing.

I started with a 17ft Lysander, and got raising and lowering the mast down to a couple of minutes, using the right gear.

 

[Seajet]

Simpler and safer to rearrange the rig to make it a bit easier. Quick release shackles, pelican hooks, barber haulers - all strong enough for most 17footers and reduce setting up to 'clunk-click', lets go sailing.

I started with a 17ft Lysander, and got raising and lowering the mast down to a couple of minutes, using the right gear.

Old Harry,

I'm probably wrong - usually am - but I've always thought barber haulers are temporary purchases to adjust sheet leads athwartships etc, as I've used on some dinghies; maybe you meant 'handy billy's...I was spoilt when doing dinghy trailer sailing as we had aircraft style 'pip pins' which are secure until pulled or pushed but flush for insertion.

An ex colleague had a Lysander ( a Percy Blandford design I think ? ) but sadly haven't seen one for a long time, I'd guess the Leisure 17 was a lot more attractive to newbie punters, but even those good boats are going at give-away prices now.

 

[mjcoon]

iM WONDERING HOW TALL THE FOLKBOAT IS ON THE TRAILER
WILL HAVE TO MEASURE IT...oops caplock

I have a dinky little Windows app what I wrote (choice of two, actually) that accepts cut-and-pasted text and corrects caps-lock. Send me a PM if anyone wants it... (Does it as M$ Word will do, but smaller.)

Mike.

 

[FistralG]

We have a 17ft Lune Whammel great fun, but a bit of a pain to keep rigging everytime we go out.

We are thinking of trailoring the boat with the mast up any dos or donts

Anyone out thier trailoring thier boat with the mast up

Good one!

 

[FistralG]

I have a dinky little Windows app what I wrote (choice of two, actually) that accepts cut-and-pasted text and corrects caps-lock. Send me a PM if anyone wants it... (Does it as M$ Word will do, but smaller.)

Mike.

Backspace key is quicker and easier, how long does it take to type 15 words?!

 

[farquart]

Well had a great days sail out of poole to Studland, lunch on the beach, sand castles built and nice sail back to Baiter slipway. Boat now back on the drive with the mast down, thanks for all the er entertaining replies.

 

[rbcoomer]

Well had a great days sail out of poole to Studland, lunch on the beach, sand castles built and nice sail back to Baiter slipway. Boat now back on the drive with the mast down, thanks for all the er entertaining replies.

You probably wish you hadn't asked now...

I was actually going to suggest a Shetland... (coat... door... )

 

[dunedin]

Need lateral - or perhaps horizontal - thinking. Most mast heights taller than boat length.
So keep mast up but tip backwards so bows points up and mast backwards. Might need some geometry calculations but perhaps 70 degree tilt would get both boat and mast under limit - provided very low trailer.
Please send pictures when tried it

 

[Searush]

Need lateral - or perhaps horizontal - thinking. Most mast heights taller than boat length.
So keep mast up but tip backwards so bows points up and mast backwards. Might need some geometry calculations but perhaps 70 degree tilt would get both boat and mast under limit - provided very low trailer.
Please send pictures when tried it

I think the Whammel is a gaffer so spars are short enough to fit inside hull, leave shrouds connected & lower using forestay, lay mast in hull & leave shrouds connected.