Makeshift trailer mast support for new boat

[charles e]

In 2 days I am driving 2.5 hours to look at a 1971 ODAY Mariner (19 feet long) I hope to buy and take home the same day. I just spoke with the current owner, who said that while the trailer that comes with the boat is only a few years old, he had kept the boat fully rigged at a marina, and has never set things up for longer distance trailering. While I hope to eventually make some nicer mast supports which fit onto the transom and tabernacle, my short term problem is how to get the boat, mast, boom and rigging about home safely with a few hours on the highway.



I could just bring a bunch of dense packing foam slabs as well as outdoor furniture cushions and pad where the mast hits the transom and cabin top, then strap everything down tightly with 30 foot ratcheting straps running around the whole boat, and smaller lines/straps to deck hardware.



However, I also thought about buying a cheap $15 plastic sawhorse at Harbor Freight and standing that upright in the back of the cockpit against the transom, with the mast resting on the top of the sawhorse rather than the top of the transom. The feet of this sawhorse are 24 inches wide, which I think would fit inside the back of the cockpit, and it is 31 inches high. One concern with this approach would be if things somehow shifted or collapsed while driving I would lose tension on the mast more easily that if it rested on the transom directly.



What do folks think about these two options, and any other suggestions? I have been sailing for about a year, but this will be my first boat. Also, I have not towed trailers for quite some time.

[Spot]

Charles E, welcome to the forum.

The ideas have merit. I'd be inclined to try the pads and straps although the sawhorse might be a good hard point to rig against. I would tie the mast firmly at the bow. I had a rear crutch bounce loose and it was the bow tying and rigging keeping the mast from leaving the boat.

Don't forget a red handkerchief for the rearward end of the stick.

Here is a Youtube with a similar boat

[Wolverine]

Maybe you could use large pool noodles cut in half and rapped around the mast?

[Riley Smith]

I'd make a Tee shaped piece out of 2X4s to clamp to the transom instead of using the plastic saw horse. Although that requires a measurement and 2 big clamps. Maybe even a battery powered saw. And yes pool noodles are excellent for padding road vibrations. Yeah, even cushions. You'll be going slower, because BIG LOAD. If you haven't towed something that big before the PROBLEM is STOPPING, not going. Deck cleats can be used to lash everything down. Good luck.