Fitting Mast To Maid of the Loch
Banner Box was contacted late last year by the committee responsible for the restoration of the Maid of the Loch. They were looking for an effective way to replace the original wooden masts that had decayed and had been taken off for safety reasons. A.J. Inglis of Pointhouse, Glasgow, built P. S. ‘Maid of the Loch’, in 1953, and is now the sole surviving Loch Lomond paddle steamer and also the last traditional paddle steamer to have been built in the UK.
After taking advice from various sources on the best materials needed for the project, it was decided that Aluminium masts would be more durable and cost effective than replacing them with wooden masts again. Nedal Aluminium a Dutch company that manufactures ships masts was contacted for a quotation, Nedal advised the committee to contact Banner Box because we are the only stockists of the 15 metre tall masts in the UK that met the base dimensions, which would be required for this job.
New Mast Fitted For The Maid Of The Loch
We carried out a feasibility study on the site to find the best way we could fit the masts to the ship, using the original schematics of the ship to manufacture the ancillary equipment needed. A 35 metre tall crane was used once the masts were assembled to lift the masts into place on the ship, once the masts were set in place a Bonsun’s chair was used to fit and connect the rigging and halyards to the ship. The whole of the project took only two days on site to complete.
The fitting of the masts drew a large number of visitors and enthusiasts, the press were also present in the final stages of fitting as the ship had become something of a local interest as the masts had been absent for a number of years. One local commented, “It looks like a ship again with its new masts”. The locals saw it as another step towards the rebirth and eventual sailing for the Maid of the Loch.
Tags: Bespoke, Flagpoles, Installation, Masts
