Advice for transporting genoa furler/head stay, including foil and drum.

[jangann]

We are having our boat trucked. The mast will be shipped in a cradle alongside the boat. The spreaders, antennas, and a lot of the hardware will be removed. But I'm not sure how to transport the genoa furler such that the foil doesn't get damaged. We can fasten the headstay and foil to the mast but the headstay is about 10' longer than the mast. Manufacturers ship these things all of the time. Clearly there must be a safe way to do it without the mast.


An Ocean Lover in Maine.

[SailFastTri]

If it's 10' longer than the mast, let it extend about 5' at each end. Get some 8-10' 2x4's and wrap them overlapped to the mast and foil, so they stiffen it. The foil can extend a foot or two without support. If the mast is painted use rope or wire ties (not plastic tape or wrap) because plastic wrap can cause paint bubbling if it traps water. Wrap the mast in carpet using tape (not bubble wrap if it's painted) so that any rubbing between the mast and foil doesn't damage the anodized finish. You can buy cheap indoor/outdoor carpet in odd lots or any carpet store might have scraps in the dumpster, or for cheap. You can use bubble wrap on anodized finish.


Edit -- use a type of tape than can handle sun and wetness without leaving a difficult-to-remove residue. 3M electrical tape (available at Home Depot) is good for that. Do not use masking tape (doesn't handle wetness well), or duct tape unless you know it will be removed within a week.

[jangann]

Very helpful. Thanks.


An Ocean Lover in Maine.

[HappyMdRSailor]

Dollar tree for the carpet pieces.... Buck apiece for pretty sturdy indoor/outdoor doormat size... $20 gets you a healthy stack!

[SailFastTri]

A few more things: ok to use duct tape when wrapping carpet scraps. You don't need continuous carpet wrap, just every foot or two to keep the mast separated from the foil where they're tied or taped together.

[HappyMdRSailor]

Originally Posted by SailFastTri

A few more things: ok to use duct tape when wrapping carpet scraps. You don't need continuous carpet wrap, just every foot or two to keep the mast separated from the foil where they're tied or taped together.

Yepper... ALSO... you can make the whole assembly bullet proof and put on/off as a unit... Somewhat crated so to speak... 4-6 rings of 2x4 surrounds clamping the whole thing together... Like this boom, except your stick and foil together.... Plus ya don't have to worry about what they set it down on...