mast is 35 ft. also. NOT a problem. Did you see our last Youtube ( http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9FcG4H_dQyQ&feature=share&list=UUyGH1-xOhCotpV_zhSzQq7g ) video? It a bit shorter than 8 min and shows us lowering the mast. It goes up about the same way, almost as easy as taking it down. It's only the first few degrees that is hard. I can post a photo of the side stay fitting/rigging if you are interested.

One of the big concerns about launching is not the depth of water or weight of our boat. It is putting that BIG bucks trailer in the salt water.

When we went cruising full time, we sold our old trailer rather than store it for an added expense. And to be honest, the old one was not in grate shape from being dunked in the water (fresh and salt). So we recently got a new 3 axle one. BIG bucks and even though it's galvanized, we don't plan on dunking it.

Greg