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Sorry I do not know what the legal position is. I did it once on a Ford Granada Estate but it stuck out a long way both back and front.
If you are thinking about doing it much you either need a trailer or a two piece mast. People have managed mast swaps on this chat page in the past.
Cheers
Bob Carter
I believe that it is not so much the length of an item as the overhang at each end of the car which is permitted by the relevant UK Law (it will be set out in Regulations under some Road Traffic Act or other).
It used to be the case that a small overhang was automatically permitted, a larger overhang was permitted if the end was clearly visible - you used to attach a "flag" in the form of a bright piece of cloth, a much larger overhang required a lighting board and an extremely large overhang was not permitted. BUT what I know is probably much outofdate, and may not apply outside the UK - eg in EU countries. I think that "small" was up to 1 metre, and "larger" was 1 to 2 metres, but I offer no guarantees.
I think you can find out by contacting your "local" office of the Ministry or Department of Transport. Or possibly a friendly policeman?
If you do get such "official" advice, I reckon we'd all like to hear.
Pending official advice I'd be tempted to arrange approximately the same overhang front and back, and tie "flags" at each end to make then clearly visible. I guess you'd only have a problem if you have a small car (but then does it have the load-bearing capability for your D15 anyway - lots of modern cars fall a bit short in this respect - check the spec in your car handbook.
Bob points out that D15 owners sometimes agree swaps. I have a 2 piece mast I'm prepared to swap (as I now have a trailer) if that's any help. If you are interested in such a swap you'd need to indicate approximate age and condition - eg my D15 is 1594, as far as I know the mast is original, it's probably in average condition for its age, with some marks from the carbine hook for attaching the jib sheets to the jib as I tended to Sprint more often than Unarig in the past and the inevitable marks from the shrouds. It's at Queen Mary SC (near Staines, West London). I hope to be at Grafham next weekend.
Hi George
Thanks for the info will try the DoT. As for the mast swap I will keep my one piece mast even though it is a bit old and decrepid just like me, also it bends a bit more than the two piece ones.
Thanks Chris
The following are some of the extracts of the appropriate sections of legislation:
Forward Projecting Loads (Regs 81, 82 and schedule 12)
Projection exceeding 2m but not exceeding 3.05m; end and side marker boards must be fitted and an attendant carried.
Projection exceeding 3.05m; end and side marker boards must be fited, an attendant carried and two days' notice given to the police.
Rearward Projecting Loads (regs as above)
Projection exceeding 1m but not exceeding 2m; steps must be taken to make the projection clearly visible.
Projection exceeding 2m but not exceeding 3.05m; end marker boards must be fitted.
Projection exceeding 3.05m; end and side marker boards must be fitted, an attendant carried, and tow days notice given to the police.
Also lighting becomes an issue at this time of year (Regulation 21):
4. If a vehicle carries a load or equipment which projects beyond the rear of the vehicle, by more than 1m, an additional red rear light and a red reflector must be fitted to the vehicle or load within 1m or 2m respectively of the back of the load.
5. If a vehicle carries a load or equipment which projects beyond the front of the vehicle, by more than 1m, an additional front lamp showing a white light together with a white reflector must be fitted to the vehicle or load within 1m or 2m respectively of the front of the load.
Hope this goes someway to answering your query.
David
I would cut it in half, and glue it at when you reach your destination, this would save having to run the gauntlet with the law, unless of couse you drive a Smart car in which case you may have to cut it into four.
If I had a one piece mast and drove a Smart Car, I reckon I would saw the car in two and stick a bit in the middle, limousine style, to comply with the overhang regs and after the Open I would hire the car out for weddings
Hi David I think that answers my? I might get away with it as I have an Estate Car, not like Anonymous & Smarter Thanuthink I presume ther drive "Smart Cars" in which case they would have to cut the hulls in half.
Thanks
Chris
