MacGregorSailors.com

Duane Dunne of Allegro wrote about stepping the mast with the Dowsar Enclosure assembled. I have copied his questions with my answers.

So I take it you have modified your crutch so you can lower the mast with the dodger and bimini in place? Nothing has to be moved except the connector removed as you lower the mast so that the person using the winch can see the mast going down into the crutch.

Any pictures of this? I described the construction of this crutch with the dimensions in the "Cockpit" mods section in July. There is an image of "Jedaro" at the Merrickville locks at this site. Duane has other mods and description of this in the "Cockpit" Mods section as well.

When the mast in in a crutch that keeps it above the enclosure, how high is the rear tip off the ground? 16-18 feet enabling it to go under all fixed bridges in the Trent and Rideau Canal systems.

Can it be trailered at that height? I wouldn't except in a boat yard and very slowly. I use 4 non stretch windsurfing straps to keep the crutch vertical and to eliminate sideways shifting of the mast in rough water.

Can the base of the mast be bolted in the step and the mast in the extended crutch with the dodger up? Completely

That's the one thing I don't like is having to fold both the dodger and the bimini down when the mast is lowered. Don't have to.

Time to head out to the boat hopefully for 6 more days of sailing in the 1 000 islands along the St. Lawrence R. and Lake Ontario.

Diane and Mike Purdy
Jedaro.
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Thanks for the info, I found the mod and the pictures. In general it confirms that I probably can't completely get the system I want. It looks like I could do an aft (just behind and above the rear bimini bow) arch crutch and with the mast in the storage position on the bow pulpit the enclosure could be fully up below it. Unfortunately the controlling height when the mast is at the step is the front bow of the dodger. The bimini can easily swing back out of the way, but I would still have to fold down the dodger to attach the mast to the step and then raise it. This might simplify the setup a bit, but doesn't let me completely leave the enclosure in place and be able to go from the stored trailering position to mast up without having to touch the enclosure.

Have you ever trailered with the mast attached to the bow pulpit and on the extended crutch?

Duane: I have folllowed the MacGregor guide when trailoring and have used the short crutch which came with the boat. I also have completely removed all the canvas before trailoring. Just came back from 5 days sailing the 1000 islands and the east end of Lake Ontario. The enclosure was great in the early morning and late evening in acting like a sunroom to retain the sun's rays.
Mike Purdy