Unstepping and transporting a mast / trestles

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brissle

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We have a Westerly Centaur which we are taking down to the Med through the french waterways and canals departing sometime late-ish May.

Our current plan is to go into the system at le Havre and I have already been advised that the best option for us (taking cost into account) would be carry the mast on trestles rather than have it transported down there for us.

We would be very grateful for any recommendations of places in / near Le Havre where there is a facility for unstepping a mast and also whether it is possible to find second hand trestles, rather than build new from scratch. There must be others who have done this trip who do not wish to carry the trestles afterwards?

Thanks
 
You can unstep your mast at Le Havre, Honfleur, or more commonly Rouen. Grehan's site (which I think you have already seen) has details. No big deal. You may find it better to design and build your trestles to suit you before you leave. Then you will not have the problem of building and testing them when you would rather be on your way. Design them so that they can be dismantled and stowed below.
 
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We made ours beforehand from 2 x 3 timber bolted together with coach bolts. No need for anything fancy, two had only two lengths and the other had three. This was perfectly adequate, including the choppy run down the Gironde.

IMO you are far better off carrying it yourself, less risk of damage and no trouble at all. We left all the rigging on but removed lights and radio antenna.
 
vyv_cox said:
We made ours beforehand from 2 x 3 timber bolted together with coach bolts. No need for anything fancy, two had only two lengths and the other had three. This was perfectly adequate, including the choppy run down the Gironde.

IMO you are far better off carrying it yourself, less risk of damage and no trouble at all. We left all the rigging on but removed lights and radio antenna.
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So did we, and I agree it's less risk.
But I think it's better allowing the mast some lateral movement ie not using A-frames. Because however careful you are it WILL hit lock sides/gates etc at some point in time.
A couple of other points - make sure you have full headroom in the cockpit as you will need to move about quite a bit. And make sure that your air draft is sufficiently low for your intended route.
 
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Hoolie said:
So did we, and I agree it's less risk.
But I think it's better allowing the mast some lateral movement ie not using A-frames. Because however careful you are it WILL hit lock sides/gates etc at some point in time.
A couple of other points - make sure you have full headroom in the cockpit as you will need to move about quite a bit. And make sure that your air draft is sufficiently low for your intended route.
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I am not sure that I agree with you on allowing some movement with the mast. I really don't think its inevitable that you will hit a lock! We left out Tricolour on the mast but protected it with 2 planks of wood strapped to the mast head - which effective cushions the mast from any direct contact with a Dock wall. Also we had much more hanging over the stern than the bows.

We lowered the mast in Honfleur onto pre made X frames. I think it is essential to make them to fit yours, before you get there. I suggest that Rouon would be best. I would avoid Le Havre as the sea voyage into the Seine can be rough.

The mast was tied down with 6 sets of webbing cargo straps (obtainable cheaply off the internet). Our first wash on the seine set the mast moving like a battering ram. I would have hated it to be looser! Most of this looseness was due to initial stretch of the straps, and there after we just checked them daily for stretch and kept them tight. Remember to secure for and aft as well as sideways as the pitching moment is probably the worst - wait till you see the wash on the Rhone.
 
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+1. I recall reading an article by someone who almost lost their mast over the side on the Gironde. They returned and bought heavier supports and more lashings. Our mast never touched the lock wall, even in the round locks of the Midi. As in my photo, we left an overhang of about two metres astern but very little ahead.
 
er, well we nearly lost our mast on the Seine, a few hours out of Honfleur. :o

Information about stepping/restepping.
Although it would undoubtedly be nicer not to have the mast, because it does add to awkwardness and adds an element of vulnerability, in truth we very quickly learned to manage with it and it was really no trouble.

The facility at Rouen is very good and means one doesn't have to cope with the tidal Seine, rocking around with the mast horizontal.
 
Again, thanks to everyone for such useful and supportive advice.
Vyv - the photo gives us a great idea of what we should be thinking of doing.
Grehan - as before (in my other thread) - thank you for such a fund of information.
We'll do more research based upon what everyone has suggested.
Pre-constructing the trestles / X-frames sounds like the best option.
 
brissle said:
Again, thanks to everyone for such useful and supportive advice.
Vyv - the photo gives us a great idea of what we should be thinking of doing.
Grehan - as before (in my other thread) - thank you for such a fund of information.
We'll do more research based upon what everyone has suggested.
Pre-constructing the trestles / X-frames sounds like the best option.
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Another example. Next time I would add an additional T support at the stern. Worth thoroughly planning the whole set up BEFORE you leave the UK. Make all the frames - you can always cut bits off to get the right levels. The cargo straps are essential and easy to keep tight - ropes - they're for sailors!

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Does anyone know the approx. cost for transporting the mast by road? I'm "thinking" of bringing Wandering Star home to UK via the canals from Mallorca in September. Have't even got as far as planning the route yet but the idea of transporting the mast by road is attractive to me whatever other peoples choices! Mast is about 31 feet.

Cheers, Brian.
 
flobbergob said:
Does anyone know the approx. cost for transporting the mast by road? I'm "thinking" of bringing Wandering Star home to UK via the canals from Mallorca in September. Have't even got as far as planning the route yet but the idea of transporting the mast by road is attractive to me whatever other peoples choices! Mast is about 31 feet.

Cheers, Brian.
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Have a look at the 'lorry option' on the canals page of my web site.. There are several French transport companies who will pick it up and deliver it weeks later if you want.
 
used Wolfgang last August!

600 euros from Port St Loius to Le Havre.

Main mast only though - he was going to charge the same for the mizzen so we carried it on deck!! (only half the size)

Tip - if you carry the mast on deck - take off the cross trees and stow them down below. Much less rigging then to trip over.
 
Andy and Lyn said:
Tip - if you carry the mast on deck - take off the cross trees and stow them down below. Much less rigging then to trip over.
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We would recommend just the opposite! On uphill locks, especially the deeper ones on the Gironde side, Jill could reach the bow warp with the boathook from the lock wall if it was draped over the spreader. Otherwise I would need to go forward and throw it to her at the very moment that I was most occupied with engine controls and stern warp.

All our rigging was tied to the mast, as in photo above, so nothing to trip over.
 
regarding the X-trees - i guess it depends on the beam of the boat!

At only 2.8metres we couldn't physically get from stern to bow without climbing over.
stowed the x-trees on the way back and so much easier -

i guess what this forum does is highlights the issues for you to customise to your own boat/circumstance
 
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