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After trailering our 04 M for a while...Been tired of the mast bending and swaying as I go down the highway. I love the 04 'radar arch' mast support. But the mast has a nasty tendancy to bounce around, especially with the added mass of the rolled up geneoa on top of the mast.

I made a mast support out of layered plywood. I use one of the the mast raising support cables over the top, secured at both sides where it normally would when raising the mast. I had to put a small loop in the cable to make it taught enough.

I just took a piece of 3/4" plywood, cut it into strips, the width the same as the base plate where the mast mounts to, a bit wider than the mast holes and the mast raising holes. I cut them to varying length to form a v shape to keep the mast, more or less, vertical.

I will secure it with the bolts for the mast raiser and the mast itself. My first test I just used deck screws and it worked fine. I then put the mast raiser cable over the top secured at the factory locations.

Much better. Very secure. No bouncing. No bending. No swaying. Best thing is it cost about $15 for the plywood

I went through many different ideas in my head. Maybe using PVC tubing, etc, which probably would have worked fine too. But was worried about the strength of it. But I like working with wood, plywood is very strong, especially laminated.

It is still in the design phase..but the initial model worked flawlessly. Just got to take it apart, glue and screw it back together. Maybe stain/paint/seal it for durability.

I'll take some pictures and post the measurements when I get some time. But wanted to post this while it was fresh in my head.

Not sure if X or early M owners will need this, but it is cool.

If there are any better/different ideas on doing the same thing, let me know. Always looking for a better/cheaper/easier way to do it.

Paul

Took some pictures. Click the thumbnail to enlarge the image.







They have been added to my regular mod page (www below)

Paul

Thanks Paul,

I was towing my new (new to me) 2004 26M home from Lake Tahoe, CA and noticed that the mast was bouncing quite a bit. As my buddy was driving, I spent a great amount of time looking over my shoulder to make sure my new Baby was doing ok, I was concerned about the bouncing mast.

I will make a similiar Mod when I get ready to actively trailer my boat around.

Regards

Rich

I almost lost the mast because one of the tangs on the rear support actually bent over from the weight of the mast, roller, and sail. The only thing that kept it from falling off onto the highway was a piece of rope that I tied the mast to the carrier.

the rear support should be a lot heavier to be able to take the load.

I do love the rear support..but it needs support in the middle too.

Last time out on the road without the center support..I lost the windex mount. The anchor light also came off from the constant bouncing. I made a new heavy duty windex mount and secured everything well to the cap. Put 3 rivits in the cap instead of the 2 from the factory. That helped a lot too.

This center support is a much needed mod IMO.

Paul

I made mine out of 4 inch pvc drain pipe. For the mast cradle I cut the top half of the T so .the mast could drop into it, I wrapped a bungee cord in an X fashion across the top to hold it into place. A length of 4 inch pipe leads down to the deck end, which is an adapter from 4 inch diameter pipe to a rectangular drain pipe...like the downspouts for your house. This was shaved at an angle to keep the upper T at 90 degrees to the mast. Drill a hole thru the side of this piece and use the bolt from the mast raising gear, to secure it to the mast fixture.

Total of 9 bucks spent at Home Depot...and I still have about 8 feet of the 4 inch pipe to build something with.

Pictures pending, my kids took the digital camera on vacation

Captain Steve wrote:I made mine out of 4 inch pvc drain pipe. For the mast cradle I cut the top half of the T so .the mast could drop into it, I wrapped a bungee cord in an X fashion across the top to hold it into place. A length of 4 inch pipe leads down to the deck end, which is an adapter from 4 inch diameter pipe to a rectangular drain pipe...like the downspouts for your house. This was shaved at an angle to keep the upper T at 90 degrees to the mast. Drill a hole thru the side of this piece and use the bolt from the mast raising gear, to secure it to the mast fixture.

Total of 9 bucks spent at Home Depot...and I still have about 8 feet of the 4 inch pipe to build something with.

Pictures pending, my kids took the digital camera on vacation

I thought of something similar to that...but was not sure if the PVC could take the load/stress. But I guess it does work. I might try and make one like that. Certainly lighter.

Paul

I think it's a good idea to lash (tie down) and/or block/support the mast from bouncing when trailering. I take a piece of line about 5' long, put one end through the mast step and tie a stopper knot. I kneel on the mast enough to take the spring out and tie the line around it.
Putting a block between the mast and the mast step, and then tieing it down, would be even better.

OK got my camera back...see the mods for pics of my PVC pipe mast suport. try to bum a piece of the 4 inch pipe. You need 11 inches but have to buy 10 feet of the stuff.

Captain Steve wrote:OK got my camera back...see the mods for pics of my PVC pipe mast suport. try to bum a piece of the 4 inch pipe. You need 11 inches but have to buy 10 feet of the stuff.

Do you tie it from swinging side to side? or just keep it from bouncing up and down?

When I did mine. It worked OK. But when I secured it with the cable to each side of the boat over the top of the mast..it was secured very tight. It is moving nowhere.

With the M being attached to the boat at the extreme ends of the mast..there is a lot of bouncing going on...especially side to side. With the X (early M) it may be less of an issue. Looking at my pictures..I realize I did not take into account the curve of the hull. Easily fixed though.

I wish I had some metal fabricating skills..love to make one out of metal piping, just so it won't look so hokey.

Paul

Paul,

I only noticed that the mast bounced up and down. Could be like you say, the crutch on the 26X is 6 feet or so closer to the bow which may eliminate sideways sway. Will watch for it and tie it across to lifelines.