Arwen's meanderings

Hi everyone and welcome to my dinghy cruising blog about my John Welsford designed 'navigator' named Arwen. Built over three years, Arwen was launched in August 2007. She is a standing lug yawl 14' 6" in length. This blog records our dinghy cruising voyages together around the coastal waters of SW England.
Arwen has an associated YouTube channel so visit www.YouTube.com/c/plymouthwelshboy to find our most recent cruises and click subscribe.
On this blog you will find posts about dinghy cruising locations, accounts of our voyages, maintenance tips and 'How to's' ranging from rigging standing lug sails and building galley boxes to using 'anchor buddies' and creating 'pilotage notes'. I hope you find something that inspires you to get out on the water in your boat. Drop us a comment and happy sailing.
Steve and Arwen

Saturday 16 March 2013

Thanks Joel

Joel has come to the rescue ............ Again!
These are his mast cradles. And they are exactly what I was thinking of. Joel sent me this photo of his.

http://navigatorjoel.blogspot.co.uk/


Well done Joel and thank you. Much appreciated. To go to Joel's site go to

Mast cradles for transport

A vexing question. How do I best transport mast, mizzen and sails on Arwen when towing her?
Up to now I have had something similar to that used by Daveejay on his navigator 'korora' but I only made a rough set and they are starting to fall apart and need replacing.
At present I rest the masts on cushions on the coaming fore and aft and tie them down. It works but it takes time tying them on and off.

Dave's cradles and his lovely navigator can be found here
http://www.flickr.com/photos/davejay/4414077191/sizes/l/in/photostream/ 

So do I go with something similar again or could I try this method which I have sketched on the iPad. It would rest across the coatings fore and aft and the front of he masts and sails would then rest on a similar cradle whose vertical post would slot into the mast hole on the front deck. I dunno.......so if anyone has some advice or tips on best way to carry mast etc; or which of the two methods I have mentioned he is best.......then do please let me know as I'd like to make the cradles ready in time for Easter........which is only two weeks away!

Steve




http://www.flickr.com/photos/davejay/4414077191/sizes/l/in/photostream/