I used a vertical pole with a receiver style connection to the trailer. I also used a quick release pin to make connecting and disconnecting quicker.
I like this style because the mast is not resting on the boat. I live on a 1 mile long dirt road with lots of pot holes and with a mast cradle that rest on the boat it was hard to stop it from sliding side to side on the travel car rail due to the trapoline style not allowing me to secure the mast around the rear cross member.
Another reason i like this style is because the added insurance that the boat will not slide off the back of the trailer due to braking or acceleration because the vertical mast support acts as a stop for the boat. I usually tow the boat more than 50 miles to get to the water and this makes me feel alot more comfortable about doing so.
I use one of those foam noodles. Not the 3" diameter one, I found a 6" diameter one at Wal-Mart. I cut off a one foot section, and rest my mast on that. Plus, when it gets worn or lost, I still have three more feet to use. All for $2.99.
Dang me!... After searching for something to buy and not finding anything I liked, I just went out to my garage and made a mast cradle for trailering that fits on the back crossbar of my Prindle 16... Looks a lot like the plywood one in the pics above. Total cost = 50 cents worth of electricity to run the sabre saw and drill. Everything else was scrap wood and spare drywall screws... Tomorrow I'll paint it using old spray paint... What fun!
i used a 4 in. 45degree pvc pipe joint. cut out a square piece on either side of the bottom to fit over traveler track. than set the mast on the top and pencil and cut out semicircles on the top to fit the angle of the mast. i use it on my solcat 18 and my nacra 18 square and it works great. tie it down to the crossbar and the mast when traveling.
I did the same, but used two pieces.....one on the mast and one on the rear beam...which cross each other. Trim each a little to fit the contour somewhat....works great and is cheap and easy.
Same here.I use a 5'-0" stick of Uni-strut (available in the electrical aisle at HD) in a receiver made out of 2" box tubing. It has a bow roller on top with cradles. I put a foam bumper on the receiver to avoid damaging the hulls.
When I push the mast aft and pin it to the step the masthead is about 8 feet of the ground. That's a good starting height for raising. http://www.unistrut.us/
-- '82 Super Cat 15
Hull #315
Virginia
Previously owned: '70 H14, '79 H16, '68 Sailmaster 26, '85 H14T --