Mast Float Kits

[Dnjost]

First sail of the season here on Cape Cod.  Did not know it was there, makes a handy wind indicator, unobtrusive.  
 

12 miles under the keel with a wide variety of winds. 

[Don Silsbe]

Being over 70, I don’t like looking up that high, so I added a clip-on windex to my mizzen mast.  It is just above the sprit in this photo.  They are intended for a Laser, but work well for this.

 

[Steve W]

On 7/4/2023 at 2:53 PM, Don Silsbe said:

Being over 70, I don’t like looking up that high, so I added a clip-on windex to my mizzen mast.  It is just above the sprit in this photo.  They are intended for a Laser, but work well for this.

Does the wind off the main effect it? Seems like it would. I have an indicator on topthe main mast so I don't have to look up quite so high, but it would be better lower. 

On 7/4/2023 at 2:53 PM, Don Silsbe said:

 

 

[Hirilonde]

9 hours ago, Steve W said:

Does the wind off the main effect it? Seems like it would. I have an indicator on topthe main mast so I don't have to look up quite so high, but it would be better lower. 

 

The only place on a cat/ketch that doesn't get fouled wind is the top of the main mast  On top of the stem might be fairly good wind.

[Dnjost]

went out yesterday with 5 of us on board.  Winds were shifty with gusts moving SW to W 15-21kts.  I found that just paying attention to sail shape had me looking up frequently to see how the tell tails were flying.  That masthead float sure works well up there too.  but, I'm only 66.  No ospreys have taken up residence, yet. 

[Don Silsbe]

@Steve W— It doesn’t seem to affect it much, if any.  The biggest drawback I have with it is that sometimes I need to knock it to the side, when going downwind.  You are welcome to try it this fall.

 

@Hirilonde— The only thing it fouls on in this location is the mizzen sail, as me tioned above.

[Hirilonde]

On 7/14/2023 at 2:03 PM, Don Silsbe said:

 

 

@Hirilonde— The only thing it fouls on in this location is the mizzen sail, as me tioned above.

I didn't say it gets fouled, I said it gets fouled air, and it does.

[Don Silsbe]

@Hirilonde—I prefer somewhat fouled air to a crick in my 74 year-old neck!

[Don Silsbe]

So, I am so enthusiastic  about the masthead float I made for my Bay River Skiff, I decided I needed one for Two Bits.  When I did my capsize test, I noticed how quickly she wanted to turn turtle.  B&B doesn’t have a mini float kit (yet), so I made my own.  By my figures, a 6” diameter ball would provide about 4# buoyancy.  Not sure that was enough, but it wasn’t too ugly on top of the mast.

 

I got a piece of 1/2”  diameter aluminum tubing from my local store, and attached it to the top of the mast.

 

I then made a fiberglass sleeve, using the method we use to make a glass tube for our mast step.  (Sorry, no photo.) then, I stacked up six layers of 1” foam insulation, and started making foam dust.  I covered it with glass and epoxy, and painted it.  It’s not perfect, but it is good enough.

 

Yesterday, I got to check it out.  Four pounds is plenty of floatation!

[Don Silsbe]

@Hirilonde— Besides, the air at the top of the mast is irrelevant, since most of the sail area is 2/3 down the mast.  PLUS, my ability to accurately read a wind indicator that is 5’ away outweigh the slight difference of a wind vane that is 20’ away.  Think about that.  
 

I really believe that the difference in location is infinitesimal.  The only way to prove it is at the Messabout.  My little device can easily be relocated to anybody’s boat that wants to try it out.  Are you in?

 

This is what the forum is all about, isn’t it?