GL: Sailboat Masts on the NYS Canals

[allen]

> Sue, Castleton on Hudson is a good place to drop your mast.B  They have a 
> nice setup of a hoist right on the water where you would tie up.B  You can 
> do it yourself and/or get some help.B  Its located just before Albany 
> heading north.

It is a great spot, and they have a good clubhouse.  Cheap beer and friendly 
folks.

Figure at least a day, though, since there can be line-ups.  It is a DIY 
operation, but other boaters waiting for a turn usually are happy to help --  
and advise.

We paid $50 for the use of the crane.   The device is old, crude and manual, 
but it definitely gets the job done.  We took down a heavy mast off a 50+ 
footer with no problems.  If you have a furler, make sure you plan ahead and 
have a good splint for it running out ahead of the mast, since crossing 
Lakes in the canals can be very rough; one of our flotilla had the furler 
shake loose on Lake Oneida, drop and bend.  They do not straighten well. 
This one broke.  Your mast supports trestles need to be pretty good, too. 
The lakes can be very choppy.

Not sure where you plan to come out.  We came out at North Tonawanda, and 
advise planning well ahead for re-stepping.  There are several facilities 
there and the one we used was very expensive -- and not too safe.  The op 
almost dropped the butt of the mast through the coach roof of of one of our 
vessels.  We could have used the facility further out, but it was May long 
weekend.  Not sure how good they are or what they charge, but they could 
hardly be worse or more expensive.  $4 a foot was what I recall based on 
mast height!