Reduce Mast Height

[crowra]

My current air draft is about 22 1/2 feet. I would like to get under 21 feet to do the Erie Canal next year plus I love passing sailboats waiting for drawbridges. I am thinking about removing the anchor light and 'lightning rod', carefully cutting about two feet off the top of the mast (above the collar that the halyards connect to), re-mount the anchor light and possibly do away with the 'Brill-O pad lightning rod'. I removed the boom years ago. Has anyone done this!?! Thanks

(Yes, I know I could unstep the mast whenever needed but it's a major PIA.)

[jleonard]

I made a rig to lower mine to get under 19 feet. Takes only a minute or two.
I made extension cables so it can stay at "half mast" and be stable.
Did the eastern erie, Oswego, and canadian canals that way.

[RobS]

I made a rig to lower mine to get under 19 feet. Takes only a minute or two.
I made extension cables so it can stay at "half mast" and be stable.
Did the eastern erie, Oswego, and canadian canals that way.

Reminds me of this shot I took of you several years ago (Labor Day WE 2014) one fine morning in Sag Harbor Cove.

[crowra]

Thanks! I saw your solution when I was searching the AOG to see if anyone had posted something similar to what I am trying to do. Unfortunately the back of the fly bridge prevents me from leaning the mast back more than 6 inches.

[cdsailor]

My current air draft is about 22 1/2 feet. I would like to get under 21 feet to do the Erie Canal next year plus I love passing sailboats waiting for drawbridges. I am thinking about removing the anchor light and 'lightning rod', carefully cutting about two feet off the top of the mast (above the collar that the halyards connect to), re-mount the anchor light and possibly do away with the 'Brill-O pad lightning rod'. I removed the boom years ago. Has anyone done this!?! Thanks

(Yes, I know I could unstep the mast whenever needed but it's a major PIA.)

We removed about 18" from our mast and reinstalled the anchor light atop a white oak block. Nothing to it, just don't cut through the wiring that runs up the conduit in the center of the mast.

[crowra]

Thank you cdsailor! That's exactly the info I was looking for and was hoping it would be that easy.

[jleonard]

would like to get under 21 feet to do the Erie Canal

I would suggest double checking this figure because I thought it was 19 1/2 or 20 feet.
You know measure twice cut once so to speak.

BTW I was going to cut mine, but the admiral said "NO".

[crowra]

Air draft has been reduced 2' 9 1/2"!!! We are now less than 20'. This was also a great opportunity to touch up the teak and re-waterproof the Bimini.