Removable Mast

[Allikat]

Hello. Im new to this forum and an average sailor. I live on a Lagoon in Florida with Gulf of Mexico access. To get to the Gulf I need to go under a 16ft bridge. Is there a type of sailboat with a removable mast that can be raised and lowered while moving? Thanks for your input.

[atoll]

quite common on european sail boats like westerlys.

normal set up is to have a tabernacle that the mast sits in ,an "A" frame or your sculling oars tied together,a block n tackle,and a set of gallows for the whole shebang to rest on.

[Skipper Solo]

Came across this one awile back while looking for exotic wind-propulsion solutions to propel my so far pipedreamy but very seaworthy and exotic 33' bluewater catamaran;

http://www.transitionrig.com

... in short, since mast and sail is really one, you don't reef the sail - you reef the mast! It's funny this technology hasn't been put into production and marketed yet as a retrofit for sailboats. Certainly very bridge-friendly! Using carbon and titanium for mast body and its joints, respectively, and something kevlar-like for cloth, methinks I'd want one...

[Cynic]

Interesting option -- could use that in some of our inland lakes.