Blair,

Thanks for posting, now that I see Corona's are involved it becomes perfectly clear.

We had some nonbelievers here, nice that you were able to dispell any conspiracy theories. Looks like a well thought out installation.

You'll have to re-tune your rig every time you use it, yes? That's a big pain. It must look mighty strange when it's down, like a picador about to charge a mighty big bull? We pull our rig every year, that sucker is heavy, there has to be some pretty serious force there, you would hope the usual dork in the 40' power boat doesn't go by throwing his customary 3' wake when it is lowered. I get that it was done for a reason but I have serious doubts about that being as strong as the keel stepped original.

Very interesting. Would appreciate some shots of the axle and tabernacle arrangement.

Blair I was thinking more of tuning as in making sure the shrouds were properly tensioned to ensure the mast stays in column and is supported equally fore and aft and side to side, not so much performance wise.

Just wondering what happens with the headsail furling gear, particularly the foil, when you lower the mast? Does it just bend?

what happened to the discussion on this mast, it was getting interesting. and still have questions on exactly how this is accomplished. surely not by just activating a electric winch without disconnecting stays- compression post replacing the rest of the mast? fill us in pls-

thanks - pretty much covers it- interesting - sail the hell out of it!

Blair,

Thanks for posting this picture, looks like this system would give you a great ability to adjust weather helm under way.

Not being that familiar with this system I have a question, I will assume you are Mormon, hence the name Tabernacle mast and I assume you pray each time you use the system. Do other demomonations call it a Temple, Synagogue, Mosque or Chapel system?

Blair,

My apologies, I forgot you are fairly new to our group and may not understand me. I made the comments in jest.

If you are new to sailing, weather helm is generated when the center of effort or lift is too far aft on the sail plan and it forces the bow of the boat into the wind. On sail boards this is how you steer the board, pull the sail aft to steer into the wind and push it forward to generate Lee helm to turn downwind. I was jokingly suggesting you could adjust weather and lee helm by using you Tabernacle system, this is probably not a good idea thought when rigging the boat increasing and decreasing mast rake is a means of adjusting for weather or lee helm.

As for the religious reference to the name of the mast lowering system, this too was in jest.

My wife as well often has a hard time figuring out my wit. I like to think of it as sharp, some may term it nit.

Some manufacturers call this a "Hinged Mast". I guess they don't want to offend any religion.

Thanks for the photos. Sorry for the post earlier suggesting that you might be putting us on.

How often do you plan on using this to go out and return under the bridge? I would think this might be a real bother for just a day or weekend sail.

Kudos for Blair!!!

Take that, Steve!!

I understand you have to do this every time you go to the ocean, I was just wondering how often that is. Some boaters here seem to use their boat for extended weekends or week or more long cruises, but not every weekend and not often for just a day sail. Others go more frequently, but not for many long cruises. Since this seems to be quite involved, I was just wondering if once out on the water perhaps you "make it count".

Is there a shortage of marinas or docks in your area on the ocean side of this bridge? In my area there are a few marinas and non-draw bridge areas with limited height access, but those tend to be primarily power boat marinas.