32-3 Mast/Spar Height Info needed

[Phil Grow]

I have a 1990 Ericson 32-3, #763, only three more were built after it, although I read here was one hull (767) on the factory floor at auction time. I understand it was purchased and finished off by one of the employees.

I had a "bridge incident" this summer and need to know the actual height of my mast from the keel plate to the top of the cap so I can spec out a replacement. I can't seem find this number anywhere. I now have three pieces, somewhat mangled, which I have measured to 47 feet and maybe an additional 2 to 4 inches, so there is a bit of guess work involved. My boat came with very nice documentation by Ericson of the standing rigging specifications from hull #761 forward, so it looks like they made running changes along the way but I doubt the mast changed. If anyone knows the actually measurement of the mast of a 32-3 on the ground I would really appreciate it.

Thank you
Phil Grow
"Tuuli"

 

[Loren Beach]

This is a fine question, but will be lost for searching purposes when appended to an earlier non related thread.
I hope the OP does not mind my creating a new title for it and relocating it.
Loren

 

[bgary]

Mine is 47'-1"

 

[nquigley]

I have a 1990 Ericson 32-3, #763, only three more were built after it, although I read here was one hull (767) on the factory floor at auction time. I understand it was purchased and finished off by one of the employees.

I had a "bridge incident" this summer and need to know the actual height of my mast from the keel plate to the top of the cap so I can spec out a replacement. I can't seem find this number anywhere. I now have three pieces, somewhat mangled, which I have measured to 47 feet and maybe an additional 2 to 4 inches, so there is a bit of guess work involved. My boat came with very nice documentation by Ericson of the standing rigging specifications from hull #761 forward, so it looks like they made running changes along the way but I doubt the mast changed. If anyone knows the actually measurement of the mast of a 32-3 on the ground I would really appreciate it.

Thank you
Phil Grow
"Tuuli"

Very sorry to hear that!
Timely for me, because I am currently halfway between Knoxville, Tennessee and Mobile Bay via the Tennessee river and the Tombigbee waterway. The lowest bridge height at normal pool level along the 900-mile route is 52 feet. I have measured, and remeasured, the height of my mast head off the water. (which is different from the height above the keel), and I’m pretty convinced the height is 45 feet and 4 inches. Call it 46 feet for safety. I have a 2‘6“ whip antenna above the mast. I am saying that my combined aerial draft is ~48 feet, which should get me under the 52 foot bridges with a few feet to spate(?). But, so far, going under bridges that are at 60 feet ‘looks’ scarily close. I am about 4 days away from the first 52-foot bridge. I will be approaching it extremely extremely slowly, perhaps in reverse, which is a trick that I saw somewhere.

 

[bgary]

I’m pretty convinced the height is 45 feet and 4 inches. Call it 46 feet for safety. I have a 2‘6“ whip antenna above the mast. I am saying that my combined aerial draft is ~48 feet, which should get me under the 52 foot

Yup. Just for reference, I came up with 51 feet by measuring 46 feet from masthead to water, and adding 5 feet to cover antenna and some fudge-factor. Since my antenna really only extends about 2 feet above the top-plate of the masthead, I'm - theoretically - at the same 48 feet you have. But I like having that little extra in my math so I never find myself close to testing the theory

B

 

[nquigley]

Yup. Just for reference, I came up with 51 feet by measuring 46 feet from masthead to water, and adding 5 feet to cover antenna and some fudge-factor. Since my antenna really only extends about 2 feet above the top-plate of the masthead, I'm - theoretically - at the same 48 feet you have. But I like having that little extra in my math so I never find myself close to testing the theory

B

Agreed … but I’m about to start down the Tombigbee waterway tomorrow - the lowest bridges are at 52 ft vertical clearance - when the water is at ‘normal’ pool. I’m a bit nervous about the approaching hurricane, possibly dropping enough rain in the area to exceed the normal pool and consuming some of my 3-4 foot cushion. But, I can call the Lockmaster on each sequential step each morning to get the current pool level readings for his pool of water. It’s rather nerve-racking though.

 

[mordust]

How did you fair going under the 52 foot bridge/
Inquiring minds want to know.
Thanks

 

[nquigley]

I got to Mobile AL safety on 11Nov - it’s on the hard at Turners Marina (I did a bottom job and they are replacing the cutlass bearing and installing new injectors while I’m home in TN for a few weeks). I’m heading back there on 01Nov to continue the adventure.

There were 5 bridges with a declared 52-foot clearance, and 4 more 52-point-something bridges along the way (all looked very close to my antenna, but all except one were probably at least 4’ above it). But, a Navionics user posted a warning in the app about one ‘52-ft’ bridge in AL - he had a 50’ masthead, the river was 6” above ‘normal pool’ level, but the bridge tore off his masthead light (projecting <~6” above top of mast), He went through very slowly and didn’t damage his mast. So, I was forewarned … sure enough, it was DEFINITELY no more than 3’ above my antenna, which I’ve carefully measured as being 47.5-48’ above the water. It was an old trestle-style railway bridge with a wide span - looking closely as I approached, and after clearing it, I thought it looked like it might be sagging a little in the middle … if sagging just 1 foot, that could account for these observations - definitely a pucker moment for me

 

[mordust]

Thanks

 

[KloeberEng]

Agreed … but I’m about to start down the Tombigbee waterway tomorrow - the lowest bridges are at 52 ft vertical clearance - when the water is at ‘normal’ pool. I’m a bit nervous about the approaching hurricane, possibly dropping enough rain in the area to exceed the normal pool and consuming some of my 3-4 foot cushion. But, I can call the Lockmaster on each sequential step each morning to get the current pool level readings for his pool of water. It’s rather nerve-racking though.

heel, Heel, HEEL ! LOL