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Catalina/Capri 25/250 Sailor's Forums

Catalina 25 Specific Forum

Mast Crutch

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Julian
Deckhand

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USA
9 Posts

Initially Posted - 09/17/2008 : 11:03:48

Does anyone on this excellent site have any experience with the Mast Crutch sold by Sail Trailers of Columbus, GA? From their website it looks similar to Catalina Direct's Mast Up, but it's significantly cheaper.

Julian
89 TR/WK
# 5855

Edited by - on

aeckhart
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1709 Posts

Response Posted - 09/17/2008 : 12:54:55

No but it'd be hard to mess up low-end technology such as mast crutch.

Edited by - aeckhart on 09/17/2008 12:55:34

pastmember
Master Marine Consultant

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2402 Posts

Response Posted - 09/17/2008 : 13:04:41

The issue with any mast crutch is to make sure it cannot move aft. It will rip your gudgeons off if you do not secure it. Look closely at this photo, On the port side there is a line going from the mast-up to a block in front of the winch and then to the winch. On the starboard side the line is tied to the base of the pulpit because I got on and off the boat on the starboard side. That line would be taken to the block in front of the winch and then to the winch and cleat before I would move the mast in the roller of the mast-up.

Edited by - on

stampeder
Master Marine Consultant

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1608 Posts

Response Posted - 09/17/2008 : 16:07:30

Julian

I've looked at their pictures...IMHO - it looks like it would do the job but as Frank alludes to, side sway would be potentially a small disaster. I did not see anything on their website that would prevent sidesway - you'd have to add that on your own - so... My suggestion is to find a welder who can make you one or make your own out of 2X4's.
Mine was made by a friend who welded it together using 1.5" angle iron. I can post pictures if you like. The method many people use is for the mast up to sit in the rudder gudgeons, then get it's stability from the stern rail. While this is a good idea, it is not the only one. You can make one out of 2X4's that would sit in your cockpit.
let me know if you want to see pictures.
and...welcome to the forum. tell us about your boat.

Edited by - on

Happy D
Admiral

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921 Posts

Response Posted - 09/17/2008 : 17:13:14

Mike,
I'd love to see some pictures.
Dan

Edited by - on

Julian
Deckhand

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USA
9 Posts

Response Posted - 09/18/2008 : 06:59:38

Frank, thanks for the insight and the photo. The fore-and-aft issue had not occurred to me. Think I'll ask them to add a small bracket just under the roller so I can use the steadying lines. I'll report on how it goes.

Mike, thanks for the welcome. I'll write in a little while about our (new to us) boat.

Julian (former Calgarian)

Edited by - on

stampeder
Master Marine Consultant

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1608 Posts

Response Posted - 09/18/2008 : 11:44:15

Mast crutch made from metal found in a friend's shop. 1.25" square tubing, with angle iron for the part that rests on the stern rail and small pieces of angle iron with bolts welded on for the pintles (to slide into the gudgeons) I lash this to my rail and it holds very securely. It is about 12' in length when extended.

Edited by - stampeder on 10/05/2008 21:43:12

stampeder
Master Marine Consultant

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1608 Posts

Response Posted - 09/18/2008 : 11:48:18

I rebuilt my trailer this summer and the pics of the mast crutch were taken just before I took it apart for painting and sanding.
If you need better pictures, I can take them in a couple days.
A key component is the angle iron that rests on the stern rail, this gives it excellent stabiity.

Edited by - on

Merrick
Navigator

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USA
192 Posts

Response Posted - 09/18/2008 : 12:18:03

we purchased the mast step you inquired about this past winter and used it twice. It does help give you a half way point to regroup, check for clear cables, etc. before going up to vertical. Also you lift the end initially before sliding the mast back on the roller, so it's lighter . We had no problem with it swaying either direction. What did happen was a cable caught in the bracket itself and we lifted the whole thing out withthe mast. That was a pain but was our fault. You just have to be sure everything is clear. Like most things you do it a few times and get a system worked out. The mast step is simple and better than nothing but not as good as the A frame systems seen elsewhere.

Edited by - on

sweetcraft
Admiral

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USA
816 Posts

Response Posted - 10/06/2008 : 00:49:09

This is the mast crutch I made from an aluminium tent pole which is pinned at each latched joint. The line is attached at the roller and secured at a cleet to keep the mast from pushing it back. It sets on the traveler and is pinned to it with the traveler car and lines to keep it from moving to the side. The attached bracket on the stern pulpit with a hole for the crutch keeps it from sliding side to side. The rudder doesn't have to be removed and the pole slides together and it always on board. The pictures are from yesterday when I lowered the mast by myself and then brought the boat home.

Edited by - on

dave holtgrave
Captain

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USA
427 Posts

Response Posted - 10/06/2008 : 12:36:09

jim sweetis there a way you can post the photos so i can
enlarge them??
ther4e a little small and i like your idea.

thanks
dave holtgrave
5722 sk/tr
sailing carlyle lake in southern illinois

Edited by - on

sweetcraft
Admiral

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USA
816 Posts

Response Posted - 10/07/2008 : 22:53:23

Dave, I tried last night but it has been so long since I posted a picture can't seem to push the right key. Help, I even reread the directions but the preview still comes up small. I have more pictures that I took of my system for raising and lowering the mast but will have to learn to make the big pictures.

Edited by - on

sweetcraft
Admiral

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USA
816 Posts

Response Posted - 10/07/2008 : 23:49:37

How's this, still not sure of what I did.

Edited by - on

dave holtgrave
Captain

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USA
427 Posts

Response Posted - 10/08/2008 : 21:44:41

jim sweet
thanks for the effort.
this really explains what you were talking about.

dave holtgrave
5722 sk/tr

sailing carlyle lake in southern illinois

Edited by - on

Jefffriday
Navigator

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USA
198 Posts

Response Posted - 10/11/2008 : 14:48:51

I have CD's version, The only problem I have had is that it twists a bit when trying to roll the mast forward or aft (I have the lines like Frank had to keep it from exerting any aft loads) the roller bracket can scratch the mast when it twists (it was way too much work stripping and repainting my mast and boom with Awl-grip to let that happen) I have been temporarily clamping a piece of wood to the crutch and aft pulpit to stabilize it till I come up with a permanent fix.

Edited by - on

sweetcraft
Admiral

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USA
816 Posts

Response Posted - 10/11/2008 : 15:19:51

I put plastic tubing over the guides at the roller but because the pole sets over the traveler on the 79 and is secured with a pin it doesn't turn or twist. You have to watch a cable or line jambing the roller but other wise the mast wants to roll downhill. I do use a support of 2 x 4's with carpet and holes to secure the mast and boom for travel. I stay in the boat on the road so it helps keep the cabin clear.

Edited by - on

tinob
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1883 Posts

Response Posted - 03/23/2009 : 10:27:33

I once made a mast crutch, in 1992 I think, that had all the aspects of those herein except that it mounted in the scuppers. I've since bought from the swap forum a Catalina crutch that mounts on the gudgeons that is superior to my conception save that it's mounted on the gudgeons.

Val on the hard DAGNABIT, # 3936, Patchogue, N.Y.

Edited by - on

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