MacGregorSailors.com

Can anyone point me in the direction to find out the mast height when raised? I want to investigate the sailing on the other side of a bridge, but don't want to find out the hard way.

Thanks,

Bruce

Bruce - you need to post your boat year and model for this info please.

WHen you are looking at clearances on a nautical chart, remember

- You need to see the reference point (which tide they refer)
- Water levels are functions of tides, weather, storms, and other stuff
- Sometimes charts are just wrong...the prudent mariner does not rely on any single source of information for navigation

The boat is a 99 26X. I'm thinking that since the mast is pretty much from stem to stern when its in the highway position that it should be added to the 4' (+/-) from waterline to the mast step, thus ending up with an approximate height of 30'.

Does that sound about right?

Bruce

I would agree with your estimate as long as the bridge clearance is 40 feet or more..

In my brain stuck somewhere I have that the mast is 28 feet long, which would make your calculated height more like 32 feet (not to confirm your 4 foot from waterline to step measurement)

Dont forget VHF antenna, anchor light, Windex

And how heavily your boat is loaded will also influence the mast height.

On edit - heres a classic Chart says bridge clearance 35 feet. You think you are ok. Someone posts a sign on the bridge 3 feet high, saying clearance 35 feet.

Clearance is now 32 feet..

DOH!!!!

Sign might say "Eat at Morty's" Same ending.

Mast height above deck is 28 feet, according to the Macgregor factory brochure for the 26X. So, if you add the 4 feet from deck top to waterline, you've got 32 feet total.

from the inside page of sales brochure,mast height above deck+28ft,cabin headroom+5'11",draft (board up)-9",add approx+ 1" above and below headroom you would get 33ft,4inches ,(imho)i wouldn't try anything less

Well, at least not unless you count on a substantial amount of heal when passing!! LOL

The other option is to eat a lot of food just prior to sailing.

Thanks for the info folks. I'll play it safe with 35'.

Underway,,,,shift colors.

Bruce

I don't know what the height is. I assume it's around 37'. I tried to sail under the Ochlockonee Bridge which was then advertising a 37 foot clearance and I chickened out. If it's close, it's really hard to judge what clearance you have, if any, when you approach the structure. Even if you learn the correct height; as someone mentioned, is that clearance table on the side of the bridge accurate?

This bridge has very solid looking evil lights that hang down over the passage. Are they 'counted in'?

We think of the Mac as being so very light and susceptible to cross winds, etc. Get out there up to your waist and try pushing this thing around. Theres a tremendous amount of inertia. What Im saying is that if your mast makes contact with the bridge structure, the Mac aint gonna stop. It will rip the forestay tang out of the bow and the mast will accelerate downward to eventually smash your hat down into your esophagus. As your soul begins to drift out from what is left of your head, you will hear your final words from the Mate: Any more bright ideas there, Bunkie?

Gotta love the inevitible "Sloop John B" chuckle...

"Bunkie" - now that's hard to just make up. I bet he's heard that before...

I'm scared to go under anything now, especially after the post about the power lines!

I have given this an extra two seconds of thought and believe that the mast would be bent back just above where the shrouds make contact. The forestay, its shackles, and the two fender washer tang would most likely hold. Thank God for the fractional design.

It's then just a matter of choosing a shop under 'Mast Straighteners' in the yellow pages and wait for further delay.

With this inspirational insight I expect to hear the following dialogue next time I approach the Ochlockonee bridge:

Mate: "What the hull are you thinking of doing?

SLoop: "Hey, watch this!"

P.S. 'Bunkie' is from an old Eddie Lawrence album long gone before most of you were born. It starts out, "Hey, Bunkie. You say it's 4am and your kids aren't home from school yet?

I had some "friends" stand off in a ski boat & swear that my mast would clear a bridge spanning the far end of Lake Berryessa (in Napa county, NorCal). In the mid-morning they had not yet imbibed much ... but they were laughing. So I approached very, very cautiously. As I idled under they assured me that clearance was easily 4 or 5 feet. The thought occurred that it would be a nice "feature" to have a 5' whip antenna up there.

After we cleared the bridge we spent a terrific day in a protected cove, lazing aroun' on the Mac as they zoomed that jetboat back & forth in the north fork. During afternoon conversation, we pondered the "storage lake" conundrum ... the lake level drops as water is released all summer long, so I couldn't necessarily expect to get under that bridge in May or June .... Hmmmm!

But, the unique capabilities of my "Suzuki 60 sailboat" were also a topic. One suggestion ....

• * Start out parallel to the bridge;
  * Apply full throttle, and as speed gathers ...
  * Apply three-quarters helm toward the bridge;
  * And as the boat heels smartly into its turn ...
  * Make a smooth U-turn under the structure.
  * (And remember to apply opposite helm once clear on other side)!

I see this discussion as a good reason to leave the baby stays attached and the mast raising pole bungied to the forward side of the mast, with the jib halyard still attached. A snap shackle on the bottom of the tackle also seems like a good idea.

--
Moe

Anyone seriously considering heeling to clear a bridge ignore this post.

For armchair sailors, if you heel 15 degrees, your new 'apparent' mast height is now roughly (height while level) cos (15 degrees) or about 3.5% percent less...roughly a foot saved on the 28+4 freeboard above.

ANything under 40 feet on a chart that I cant confirm with local knowledge or a sighting I will go under with mast down.

Too many variables, too little time to sail while waiting for a mast replacement...