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Catalina/Capri 25/250 Sailor's Forums

Catalina 25 Specific Forum

Catalina 25 A-frame

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T O P I C R E V I E W
ted	Posted - 01/24/2019 : 14:40:24 Are there plans for an A-frame for demasting a Catalina 25?
11 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First)
Voyager	Posted - 03/14/2019 : 21:02:04 Wow, so do you get everything set up then go stand in the cockpit and winch up the jib sheets while you�re hauling in the mainsheet? And the topping lift (or maybe your halyards) pull up the mast? Then the forward lower shrouds stop the mast in the vertical position? Good old American ingenuity!!
sethp001	Posted - 03/13/2019 : 18:43:18 You don't even need an A-frame. http://www.catalina-capri-25s.org/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=30694&SearchTerms=dropping
Sailynn	Posted - 03/13/2019 : 11:24:24 Twice I was there when someone else's wood 2x4 A frame shattered. I don't know if wood had a defect or if the momentary extreme pressure was too much pressure for wood. I don't know if it was scarier seeing shards of wood fly and sound like bullets or the mast dropping like a rock. One thing that most instruction don't tell you is to make sure the upper shrouds are pretty loose when dropping or raising the mast It takes the stress off the lower t-bots on the toggle so they do not bend the lower t-bolt.
trbagpiper	Posted - 03/13/2019 : 06:39:12 I need to cut my picture size down.
trbagpiper	Posted - 03/13/2019 : 06:37:12 I just built one using the design from the videos Digger has above. I added double blocks in the line to make it even easier.
Digger	Posted - 03/12/2019 : 22:23:43 I ran across these two videos a couple of years ago and copied his design. It has worked well for me. Construction did not cost much. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r33VCObNroY https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EsLxujYRsMQ
Davy J	Posted - 01/27/2019 : 13:06:30 This topic has come up many times over the years. I'll just mention a few things and link to a few threads that I participated in; First 3/4" EMT conduit is what I used, strong enough, easy to fabricate and I never noticed any marks on the boat. Rigid conduit can also be used, however, much more difficult to work with. You will need a hack saw, vise, drill and a file. here are a few threads discussing the a-frame: http://www.catalina-capri-25s.org/forum/topic.asp?ARCHIVE=true&TOPIC_ID=28597 http://www.catalina-capri-25s.org/forum/topic.asp?ARCHIVE=true&TOPIC_ID=30282 http://www.catalina-capri-25s.org/forum/topic.asp?ARCHIVE=true&TOPIC_ID=29859 Video of the parts: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EsLxujYRsMQ Video of the procedure: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r33VCObNroY Wood will work, and there are many other ways to do the same job. I just found that the conduit was easy to work with.
GaryB	Posted - 01/27/2019 : 09:01:12 Several folks on this site use wood for their A-frames on a regular basis with no problems. My concern has always been the fact that wood can have hidden defects reducing strength. Lowering the mast can put significant stress on whatever material is used. Metal on the other hand should be uniform in strength from one end to the other. Just make sure you use EMT pipe. If you're worried about marring the surface you can always slide foam pipe insulation or noodles over the pipe. Just my .02 worth of advise. :)
Voyager	Posted - 01/24/2019 : 18:10:34 Tim, you're right about the mast being at the balancing point when you drop the mast onto a stern based catcher. The other thing to realize is that the mast top is a long way off. I had a friend grab the base and walk it forward to the bow where I had a short 2x4 to rest it on. I also placed a piece of 2x4 on the cabintop to prevent scratching anything. The mast top ended up very close to the stern so keep an eye on your windvane. While you can use EMT pipe for the A-Frame, I prefer using wood. A pair of 2x4s or 2x3s will do it. It's good to have at least 9 ft, so watch out if your only option is 8ft lengths. Wood is softer than steel when resting on the fiberglass and less likely to mar the surface.
keats	Posted - 01/24/2019 : 17:36:54 I used Ted K's tips and sketch from the link Steve posted above to lower and raise my mast last Spring. I found everything there to be accurate and helpful. I used 1/2" EMT. The only thing I did differently was to attach the forestay to the A-frame as opposed to the jib halyard. I felt it was safer and the mast wouldn't lurch when the forestay was unpinned and the halyard stretched. As it was, we had to push on the mast a bit to get it started down. I used the jib halyard to temporarily hold the mast forward while I disconnected and re-connected the forestay. I also had some helpers to stay the mast from side to side just in case as well as someone assigned to tend the shrouds and everything on the way back up. I transplanted my mainsheet blocks up front with a longer line so I had a 4:1 purchase as well as going back to a winch on the cabin top like Ted suggested. The cam cleat on the lower block grabbed a few times on the way back up so next time I'll have to remember to rig it so that's out of the way. One word of caution, I have a tall rig and the mast landed in the support cradle just about at it's balance point. I had someone in the cockpit holding it down while I pulled the tabernacle bolt but he didn't weigh much. When I pulled the bolt he found himself on the short end of the see-saw and his feet left the deck a little bit. So beware of the mast base when you pull that bolt, it can come up at you. Take your time, loosen your upper shrouds a bit and you will be fine. Up and down was a cinch.
Steve Milby	Posted - 01/24/2019 : 16:35:01 Here's a link from our "tech tips." Scroll down. http://catalina-capri-25s.org/tech/tech25/bearsad1.asp

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Notice: The advice given on this site is based upon individual or quoted experience, yours may differ.
The Officers, Staff and members of this site only provide information based upon the concept that anyone utilizing this information does so at their own risk and holds harmless all contributors to this site.