Cut down the Radar mast?

[captstu]

Hi, I drystack my new (for me) R25. Prior to entering the dry stack marina, I must take down the RADAR mast to clear a fixed bridge. I also have to take it down to meet the height restrictions of the dry stack.

The mast is really a bit to heavy for me - quite a struggle to take it down and put it up each time.

I was thinking of having the pipe cut down just above the shelf above the radar shelf - and relocating the anchor light to the new "top" shelf.

Ideas?

Alternately, I was considering having the mast fabricated in aluminum just to hold the radar and anchor light.

Thanks for your thoughts. /Stu

 

[nzfisher]

You know rigging a pulley with a rope and a snap on the storage bars and another snap on the mast would not be overly difficult and would cut the weight you lift by around 50% and you could still do this standing on the front of the boat. I think there probably is an easy way to do this if you take a look at it.

 

[captstu]

Swims, Thanks for the idea. Since the mast turns over 90 degrees to go down, everything I've thought of to reduce the weight doesn't seem practical.

I see no use for the mast in my condition - Ideally, I'd like to remove it and buy a shorter replacement - so I could put it back o original for the next owner - but if a routine stubby mast isn't available, cutting it down to eliminate the twice a trip process of raising and lowering seems a viable solution -- especially since I don't remember to put the wing nuts back on and have to buy spares from time to time. 🙂

 

[Irish Mist]

I would get another made shorter to avoid having to raise and lower.. It is a pain and can add stress to your trip. I moved to a more expensive taller slip for that same reason.. If it is raining it is really nice not having to deal with it.Having the orginal on hand for a future owner will prove bennificial
Good luck

 

[Lobo]

It's raining out so I'm not going down to the boat to check this -- BUT -- I wonder -- could you use a stock stainless steel connector used in handrails and bimini rigging -- cut the mast, install the connector, and then have an easy way to remove the high part and reinstall -- just a screw and an allen wrench. If you could remove enough you might not have to dismantle the light and rigging -- just lay it down on the cabin top.

I looked in my 2011 West Marine catalogue and see a T that might do the trick (with a hole left over for a flag stick?). Check West Marine part 7219835 -- a 1" 90 degree angle.

Dave

 

[Captain Nice]

Hi, I drystack my new (for me) R25. Prior to entering the dry stack marina, I must take down the RADAR mast to clear a fixed bridge. I also have to take it down to meet the height restrictions of the dry stack.

The mast is really a bit to heavy for me - quite a struggle to take it down and put it up each time.

I was thinking of having the pipe cut down just above the shelf above the radar shelf - and relocating the anchor light to the new "top" shelf.

Ideas?

Alternately, I was considering having the mast fabricated in aluminum just to hold the radar and anchor light.

Thanks for your thoughts. /Stu

Have you looked closely at the white/green Lois H 21EC (on the Welcome to Tugnuts scroll) cabin top? C-L-E-A-N!

 

[captstu]

Dave, I measured it and a semi-stock connector will fit just fine - but I'm juggling what to do with the anchor light.??.

If I cut the two poles just above the second step, I can easily bolt the anchor light to the second (now top) step. This leaves the extension piece easy to fit with a joiner device if the next owner wants it re-installed. But, I must shorten the anchor light feed - and that somewhat complicated re installing the removed piece.

Most likely, I'll cot off the tip part of the mast, store the extra wire in the mast, run the wire up inside, drill a hole below the step, and move the anchor light. If the next owner wants a higher mast, the most practical thing to do is to weld the piece back on.

Thanks for the discussion. The idea is still in works.

 

[Snug Tug]

We have already cut the mast on our 2007 Ranger 25 just as you have described. Surprisingly, we are also located in Delray Beach, FL. With the mast cut down in size, we can raise and lower it from inside by standing on the seat and reaching up through the hatch. With the mast down, our air draft is about 8.5 feet and we can fit under the Atlantic Ave bridge in downtown Delray even at high tide. With the mast up, the air draft is about 10.5 feet and we can still fit under the Atlantic Ave bridge EXCEPT at highest tide. The George Bush Blvd bridge is even lower but we can fit under that one too with the mast down except during full moon or new moon high tides. Being able to get under those bridges without having to wait for openings is a great advantage.

We also relocated the radar radome from the mast to the top of the cabin and put the searchlight on the mast. This made the shortened mast much lighter and easy to put up and down.

We'll be back in Delray Beach next week. Maybe we could get together sometime and compare notes.

Jon & Marilyn Ponder
now in Delray Beach, FL

 

[SGIDAVE]

We have already cut the mast on our 2007 Ranger 25 just as you have described. Surprisingly, we are also located in Delray Beach, FL. With the mast cut down in size, we can raise and lower it from inside by standing on the seat and reaching up through the hatch.

Jon & Marilyn Ponder
now in Delray Beach, FL

Hello Jon & Marilyn,

Your mods sound very interesting. Could you post pics of your cut down mast and moved radome? I didn't see anything in your album just now.

Thanks

Dave

 

[Snug Tug]

OK, I added a new album with a couple photos of the shortened mast.

 

[Snug Tug]

Shortened mast with radome moved to top of cabin, spot light moved to mast which eliminates the glare from the front deck when using the spotlight, etc. See gallery for more photos.

 

[SGIDAVE]

Looks good! Thanks Jon and Marilyn

Dave