Are there any sailors near Bismarck, North Dakota?

Well, I broke the mast on my Stiletto 27.

Instead of being 36 feet long, it is now around 30.

I found a replacement that is being transported as far as Bismarck, North Dakota.

I'm concerned about meeting at an exact place at an exact time.

Anyone have any ideas about where he could stash (drop off the mast) the mast for a few days, allowing me to pick it up when I get there from Salt Lake City, Utah????

Are there any sailors or sailing clubs in the area?

TeamChums is up in that area for a bit.

Could it be put with a f-18 coming back from the N/a's in sept? I'm coming in from Mass to Cincinnati to Council Bluffs, to California. I-80 from Illinois to California.

First...I'm sorry to hear about your loss! Suck factor = 12.

36 feet isn't too long for an F18 trailer so maybe it could hitch a ride with some F18 sailors headed to MA this fall as Rich mentioned.

You're in uncharted territory with a trailer lashed to haul it though! While I would also be inclined to give it a go, I would want to try it in a no-pressure situation where if something didn't look right, the plan could be aborted without great cost. I have no idea how that would work - but I would be a little concerned about the spring of the mast in the middle as the trailer/car went over bumps - that's a lot of bouncing that might risk some fatigue. Then you have the hinge point to figure out...but a $130 bolt-together folding utility trailer from Northern Tool could offer it's tongue for the front and the body of the trailer for the rear of the mast.

Tom, I'll be flying out of Bismark Friday evening to Houston then fly back Sun night. Let me know what you need. If it's on a trailer I can pick it up and bring it to my place then maybe meet you in Wyoming somewhere over the next few weeks (work permitting, usualy working 6-7 days a week). I met you out at Catalina Island a few years back.

Good suggestions.

If someone could transport it from Bismarck to something closer to Utah, in the near future, I still have to find a place for the mast to be stored until the transport day.

The folks transporting it from Florida to Bismarck are just passing through while transporting a Stiletto 30 to a Canadian buyer.

At present, their plan is to pass through Bismarck, sometime between August 6, 7, or 8.

That date will be nailed down tighter as they finish up the refurbishing work on the Stiletto 30, which is still in progress.

As you suggested, I'm also concerned about the flexing, etc.

I'm half thinking about using the longer part of my broken mast to "extend" the trailer's tongue, rather than the new mast.

To that tongue extension, I'd add a couple of bunks near either end and something somewhere in the middle, for supports.

Those should help stabilize the rig and protect the new mast from flexing so much.

The other option that is available is to use the Stiletto's empty trailer to transport the mast, in its own mast cradle, designed for that purpose.

However, that mean's I'd have to run a larger vehicle as the tow vehicle, rather than the Toyota Matrix or Corolla.

I'd guess the mast's weight is under 150-200 lbs. and that's well within the towing capability of the smaller and more economical tow vehicle.

Karl,

Any idea how I could contact any of those folks with teamchums?

Lee,

Those sailing trips to Catalina were a blast.

Thanks for the offer.

Do you live in the Bismarck area?

The mast is being transported as a "ride along" on the Stiletto 30's trailer.

They have a long way to go to get where they are going and back.

As a result, once they get to Bismarck, they want to stay on the road (as much as possible) and only drop off the mast (without its own trailer).

The magic of Bismarck is that it is the closest that they'll come to Utah, on their their travel route between Florida and Canada.

If this were easy, it would be that much fun, right?

Tom, I'm actually in Tioga which is farther north and may be on their way. Find out their route and let me know. I may be able to find someone with a trailer that we can modify to carry the mast. Or do like I did with hauling 3 F18 masts to Ca on the roof of a Trooper. What did you say the length was?
713-614-6089. The bad part is that cell phone coverage here is in the stone ages. Call me before 4pm Utah time, after that, it's hit or miss getting ahold of me....more miss than hit.

Lee,

I've been in and out of town on business and family stuff.

I've tried calling a few times, without being successful in catching up with you.

On one of those attempts I left a voice message.

I'm still trying to explore as many options as possible.

I'll continue to try to get in touch with you and would like to discuss them with you.

If you haven't heard from me, please call me.

Thanks,

Tom
cell 801-589-9596
work 801-545-5510

Lee,

It was nice talking with you and thanks for the offer to help transport that mast from Bismarck, ND to Billings, MO.

I just sent a PM to your "My Stuff" on this forum.

It gives the address and contact info for where the mast will be dropped off in Bismarck. That drop off will likely happen sometime this coming Friday, though they may do a sleep lay over on the way from Florida.

That drop off location in Bismarck, should build in some flexibility, in the timing of all this and in getting it either down to Billings with your kind assistance or to Utah if it turns out that it becomes inconvenient for you to help transport it, part way to Utah.

I'll try your cell phone sometime later this evening or tomorrow.

If the spotty cell coverage in your area disallows that contact, give me a call at your convenience.

Thanks,

Tom
cell phone: 801-589-9596
email: thouse@utah.gov