In a message dated 8/26/2007 5:08:49 PM Eastern Daylight Time, LKYusnret2@aol.com writes: Do any of you know a distance of 200 miles on the trip down that would be clear for my 42 ft mast. John & Anita, Many sailboats travel with their mast on deck to Lighthouse Marina (Tennessee River mile 24). From there to Mobile the bridge clearance is 52 feet at normal pool. In your case, since you wish to step the mast at every opportunity, You could conceivably raise the mast after clearing Chicago but there are about half dozen lift bridges that require opening on the Illinois River with mast up but not with mast down. So why not wait until reaching the Mississippi River, for example, Alton marina mile 203? By the time you reach Mississippi River you are all clear! Alan Lloyd Great Circle Navigation Notes _http://www.navigationnotes.com/_ (http://www.navigationnotes.com/) Visit web site for more information. ************************************** Get a sneak peek of the all-new AOL at http://discover.aol.com/memed/aolcom30tour