We all should stay within our comfort zones as we age. Ed & Gil have a sound trailer and truck combination and as a truck driver the experience on the road needed to make this move. I don’t think the ask was to do or not do the trip, it was for advice on doing it.
Personally, with the experience I have, I would not consider self towing a 30’. I probably would not do a 26’ but I would not hesitate to tow a 22’ ,well secured on a good trailer with a suitable truck.
Secure the load, drive wisely and enjoy the trip. Don McNees NS #16, “CHEERS” Central Salish Sea
Yeah, I just remember them asking how others have secured the mast and boom. The kind of question that an experienced and wise trucker would ask if they had no previous experience with that type of load. Nobody can be an expert in everything.
So for the boom, it seems that some put it on the trailer and then drop the boat in on top of it, with the keel resting in the middle of the boom. Others have built up a support for it above the deck of the boat which can also be used for winter storage in the future. Laying it on the trailer first sounds more secure to me, but having it on top of the boat means it will be easy (and less expensive) to re-mount as you won’t spend crane time on it.
For the mast, some have placed it on the trailer, below the bilges of the boat while others have built a support above the deck. It sounds like one person may even have separated the mast into two sections to reduce overhangs, which might be a lot of trouble - though they did not mention that. As a trucker, you’ll be able to analyze which of these works best in your circumstances.
When my NS33 was transported by a boat trucking company, the sail and Stack Pack sail cover were dropped to the deck and the boom laid right on top of that. I was not involved in the decision to do it that way and was not happy when I saw it, but it actually did not cause any damage. (Other poor preparation problems did cause damage but they were the fault of the yard, not of the trucker.) My mast was laid in a special rack on the trailer beneath the boat’s bilges, but it was a very large and specialized boat trailer, so the length was not an issue.
The boat will have a substantial part of its mass in the keel. If transported on a lowboy trailer, the center of mass of the load will likely be lower than you are used to in normal semi trailers. This is good. My boat was transported through a windstorm with high crosswinds and a blizzard, and over a 4000’ plus mountain pass, without issues. I bet you’ll do just fine.
Hi Ed and Gil,
In 2010 when my NS 22 was brought from Connecticut to Southern Maryland, it was with the rig shown.
Hope this helps,
Cheers,
Butch
Butch Garren
Nonsuch 30 #196 “Whiskers II”
SIYC Slip 12
Solomons, MD
A huge thank you to the INA-Nonsuch-Discussion-Group 
Your input, advice, concerns, encouragement, pictures and own experience has given us a lot of ‘material’ to add to my thoughts, plans and own experience.
I’m not only a trucker driving Manitoba’s winter roads, I have been a bush pilot in northern MB and ON.
We trailered an airplane from Texas to Ohio - so without bragging too much, there is some experience and in combination with due diligence a good base for an undertaking like this.
Doesn’t matter 200km or 2200 - it’s the same prep work and responsibilities for yourself and all your fellow drivers around you.
I still have some hesitation and respect for the planned trip.
More input is much appreciated
Cheers
Ed&Gil Shreiber
In the process to acquire a NS22
Lunenburg NS
Best of luck on your anticipated journey.
The boom on a 22 is moved fairly easily by 2 people. I have lowered and raised it several times, twice by myself. My son and I lowered it to the ground and back up when hauled out and the mast out.
The mast is also moved around by 2 people.
I would not consider seperating the 2 sections of the mast unless the joint is worn to the point of needing to be redone.
The mast should be layed on centerline of the boat, above the cabin and supported by chocks built up from the pulpit and pushpit with a support as near to the joint as possible off the cabin. Extend it as far aft as legal and forward it will extend over any normal pickup for height. Be aware of where that mast head is when doing tight maneuvers. On the road shouldnt be any problem. Boat ramps or any sharp incline change could drop the masthead to the truck, so be aware.