tophatyachts.com

I'm looking at a MK 1 at the moment. I'm thinking of mooring it up the river. I'm sure the bridges will pose no problem, but just to be sur, does anyone know how high the mast head is above the waterline?

Peter Vickerson

Evening Peter,

The Mk 1 has the highest mast of all the marks because the cabin top is higher than the other marks (even with the step down). I know that a mk2 near me has a smaller mast (height wise).

The dimension by the plans is about 10.65m off the water.

Now if you are looking at a home completed model it may be different as a larger or smaller mast was put in.

Best suggestion is to ask the seller to hoist the main halyard with a rope attached. Drop the bitter end in the water to get a distance, haul it down and measure .

Phillip
SEAKA

Re; Top Hat mast height. If you look at http://homepage.mac.com/clatimer/.Public/TopHat Yachts2/SailPlan.jpg apart from getting all of the measurements for the sails, you will get the lengths of the mast and boom. The mast being 9.4 metres high. As it's the official sail plan, I would like to think that all Top Hats conformed to this. My Sailmaker used this plan. Therefore it's only a matter of measuring from the waterline to mast base to account for variations in the Marks and building for full height.
While on the matter of masts, may I take this opportunity to address the idea put forward by one Poster of putting permanent mast steps up the mast. I have been up there once to replace a blown globe in my masthead light. It is only 30 odd feet up! There is a Roberts 25 with mast steps moored near me. It does not look nice. As a bit of a racer myself, I also wonder about the effect on windage through the slot. Something to think about when you are trying to get your boat to sail as fast upwind as possible! :

John.S
SOMBRERO