Steadying masts?

[Dutch.Rub]

....Ive seen em ....Ive even built one for a little trawler I had a hand in building for an ex sailor once, but I know little to nothing about the idea behind them....what are they good for besides adding a salty look to a vessel?....

[On Vacation]

Many of the booms are used to load dinghies on the aft decks. They also will allow for awnings to span across the aft sections for the tropics. They also are clothes lines.

[Dutch.Rub]

....thanks oyster....I kinda figured they could be used as makeshift loading davits...what about sailing power?....steadying?.....

[On Vacation]

On a round chine hull, in lieu of flooper stoppers they help also with beam winds and also will be used for anchoring in open waters. Sailing not much use for the limited amount I know of them. The davit part is the biggest advantages that I have ever used them for, myself.

If nothing else, the mast gets a lot of equipment up in a position for ones own safety when transiting over long periods of time and open water when these mast are mounted to cabin tops behind in the areas midships and behind flybridges .

[ 04-01-2004, 12:06 PM: Message edited by: Oyster ]

[Art Read]

If you're actually fishing for a living instead of "trawling" for pleasure, they are also usefull for helping to keep the boat riding head to wind while you're busy tending your traps or what have you. (Notice on working craft they are generally located as far aft as possible.) I expect the the "steadying" factor while underway in a seaway is a pretty nice bonus too. Same reason I generally "motorsail" a sailboat with the main up, even in no wind. Makes the roll from passing powerboat wakes, etc. much less severe.

[Ron Williamson]

We have a steadying sail for Maleo(32'hard-chined Chesapeake Bay boat),that we don't use because it doesn't have enough area to do anything.The boom is handy for all the other stuff that was mentioned.
R

[lagspiller]

All the small coastal fishing boats (20-60') here have mizzen stay sails to steady the boat. Mounted as far aft as possible and usually asymetrically on the port side in conjunction with the hanging locker for drying work clothes. (The exhaust pipe is usually lead through the locker for heat). Definitely no sailing function of any kind.
Bigger trawlers are too large to use such low-tech.

[Nicholas Carey]

Studding sails are also, I believe, usally cut absolutely flat (no draft), so as far as sailing goes, bupkus unless your running...and then it will want to make you slew.