Cost to Cut Mast for ICW

[louielouie]

Current mast height is 70' Catamaran. Appreciate insight if anyone's done it recently. Looking for ballpark on cost, not debate on sail performance etc., thank you.

[rtoner]

Just did this last year at st Augustine. Did it the same time as standing rigging was also completed. Was 70’ before without instruments. Don’t forget you have to either reef or also get main resized. Very to be able to travel the Florida coast when outside would not be fun.

[tkeithlu]

There are 29 lift bridges between Fort Worth and Miami that you will not get under even with the reduction....

[neilpride]

My god, rigging, sails, furler, gosseneck,etc,, is it to cross bridges often?

[pcmm]

Originally Posted by tkeithlu

There are 29 lift bridges between Fort Worth and Miami that you will not get under even with the reduction....

I dodn't know Fort Worth was on the ICW??

[Cheechako]

Cost to have it all done? ... or will you be doing some of it? Not cheap. Taking 6 feet or so off, is a bit much.


Maybe just lay it down on some built wood supports for the trip? A cat's a pretty good motorboat anyway.

[louielouie]

Originally Posted by tkeithlu

There are 29 lift bridges between Fort Worth and Miami that you will not get under even with the reduction....

Very familiar with bridges on ICW, thanks.

[louielouie]

Originally Posted by Cheechako

Cost to have it all done? ... or will you be doing some of it? Not cheap. Taking 6 feet or so off, is a bit much.


Maybe just lay it down on some built wood supports for the trip? A cat's a pretty good motorboat anyway.

Thanks for the reply, it sails pretty well. Planning offshore but ICW option if so choose.

[louielouie]

Originally Posted by tkeithlu

There are 29 lift bridges between Fort Worth and Miami that you will not get under even with the reduction....

Yes, very familiar with Fla bridges. Plan on offshore but option to duck in if need be, thanks.

[Bill O]

Originally Posted by rtoner

Just did this last year at st Augustine. Did it the same time as standing rigging was also completed. Was 70’ before without instruments. Don’t forget you have to either reef or also get main resized. Very to be able to travel the Florida coast when outside would not be fun.

Maybe the OP needs a list of things you had to shorten the mast. Besides new sails, shortening the standing rigging and furler, moving the spreaders(?), electrical runs up the mast, what else did you need to do?

So what did that run you (ballpark)?

[MicHughV]

As above...my 2c....

Some, but not all, Florida bridges and most east coast have a 65' vertical clearance, but it varies. This is for a fixed bridge. As above, south Florida has plenty of lift bridges.

Bridges will have a sign alongside one of the bridge piers denoting vertical clearance, which will vary according to the tide.

There are several inlets you can duck into and find an anchoring spot, without having to deal with any bridges.

Me, personally, I'd rather stick needles in my eyes than take the ICW.
Besides the bridges, there are shoals, strong tides, lotsa boat traffic, etc....not for me. Done it once...never again.

Good luck to ya..

[MicHughV]

Forgot to add, right at the mouth of the St. Johns River is the St. Johns Boat Company, who can likely take care of all your needs.

Could not estimate a cost, but likely several 1,000

[Kd9truck]

You should sell and buy a power vessel

[louielouie]

Originally Posted by Kd9truck

You should sell and buy a power vessel

Owned 3 power boats previously, but thanks for the recommendation.

[louielouie]

Originally Posted by MicHughV

As above...my 2c....

Some, but not all, Florida bridges and most east coast have a 65' vertical clearance, but it varies. This is for a fixed bridge. As above, south Florida has plenty of lift bridges.

Bridges will have a sign alongside one of the bridge piers denoting vertical clearance, which will vary according to the tide.

There are several inlets you can duck into and find an anchoring spot, without having to deal with any bridges.

Me, personally, I'd rather stick needles in my eyes than take the ICW.
Besides the bridges, there are shoals, strong tides, lotsa boat traffic, etc....not for me. Done it once...never again.

Good luck to ya..

Like the ICW, 3.5 draft helped. Nice little towns/stops along the way if in no hurry.