Gerry, Crowley's Yacht Yard in Chicago on the Calumet Sag Channel (773-221-9990) can remove your mast for shipment. Also you might want to consider Larsen Marine Services in Waukegan (40 miles north of Chicago). Larsen's may not be as busy in September (847-336-5456). Either way you can have the mast shipped to Dog River Marina (251-471-5449) where you can have it re installed when you reach Mobile. It is true that you can have the mast put back up on the Illinois River below the RR bridge at mile 239.4, provided your mast clearance is less than 52'.. From that point south the clearance is 52' AT NORMAL POOL LEVEL. There in lies the rub. If you put your mast back up on the Illinois River and you are close to 52' you may have a problem. A heavy rain can easily raise the pool level 3-5-10 feet in a short time. If you put the mast back up on the Illinois River you may find yourself held up at some of the bridges later on if the pool level comes up due to rain. I don't recommend putting your mast back up until Mobile. You aren't going to do any sailing before that anyway. The cost difference in shipping between Chicago and Mobile or Chicago to Hennepin is minimal when you consider the possible problems down the road. Bob Skipper Bob Publications Http://SkipperBob.home.att.net