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Catalina/Capri 25/250 Sailor's Forums

Catalina 250 Specific Forum

Stepping C250 Mast when afloat

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kevinmac
Admiral

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USA
732 Posts

Initially Posted - 02/26/2006 : 23:07:27

Has anyone experience with stepping the C250 mast while the boat is afloat? Gary and Ray, both C25 owners, say they do it easily with their boats. I would think it would be no harder in a C250.

Any comments would be appreciated.

Kevin Mackenzie
Former Association Secretary and Commodore
"Dogs Allowed"
'06 C250WK #881
and
"Jasmine"
'01 Maine Cat 30 #34

Edited by - on

britinusa
Web Editor

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USA
5404 Posts

Response Posted - 02/27/2006 : 05:50:39

Would want to use some kind of leverage pole from the base of the mast fwd rather than put that huge strain on the bow plate. Other than that it should not be a big deal .. calm water! Wouldn't do it single handed though.

I'm sure that someone on the forum has done this successfully, looking forward to their input.

It would make a big difference down here where several of the entrances from the ocean in the keys are via low fixed bridges.

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RSHOOTER
Navigator

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USA
101 Posts

Response Posted - 02/27/2006 : 07:13:32

I have lowered my Mast while on the water. It involves initially removing your rudder and using the Mast Support. When the Mast is down you can move it to a side Stern Rail and reinstall your Rudder. I imagine this process could be reversed but I haven't tried it.

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Arlyn Stewart
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
2980 Posts

Response Posted - 02/27/2006 : 08:24:30

Raising and lowering the mast depends on how many strong bodies are available. Three healthy bodies can handle it with some effort or a mast raising system can handle it easily single handed.

An onboard system can be build fairly simply... the latest evolution in onboard systems is a standing A frame.

[url="http://www.stewartfam.net/arlyn/mrs.html"]Standing A Frame mast raising system[/url]

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s3tbuell
1st Mate

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47 Posts

Response Posted - 02/27/2006 : 10:19:48

I have a 95 WB and they had what I thought was a great system for lowering/raising the mast. Its a pole that plugs into the base of the mast and uses the jib halyard. It is a system I can use to raise my last solo even while watching my kids. The first time I used it was opening day and there were about 15 boats raising thier mast. People yelling, couples speaking to each other for the last time(I have seen more divorces from mast raising blunders) When I started raising mine with the kids running around, me trying to get them under control but still raising the mast all eyes were on me...it got real quite and one guy sais"boy catalina sure got that figured out"
It also works great to lower the mast on the water. I keep the pole on the boat it stows under the cockpit fine.

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kevinmac
Admiral

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USA
732 Posts

Response Posted - 02/27/2006 : 10:47:47

Doyle,

Can you post or email a picture of what you have?

Thanks,

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johnsonp
Admiral

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USA
606 Posts

Response Posted - 02/27/2006 : 13:27:49

Kevin,
Did you get my e-mail?
paulj C250wh #719

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britinusa
Web Editor

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USA
5404 Posts

Response Posted - 02/27/2006 : 19:19:52

Yae! Doyle, where's the pics

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Keith D.
Navigator

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USA
233 Posts

Response Posted - 02/27/2006 : 21:04:46

Kevin I have lowered the mast once while on the water. It wasn’t a problem but you will need the proper equipment. The first thing I would add to the boat if it already doesn’t have it is the extra set of gudgeons. With these you do not need to remove the rudder and will still be able to maneuver the boat with the mast back.

The second item is a gin pole. Here is a short cut to a post I did on this as to how to either modify the mast for the Catalina gin pole or an example of an adapter I made if you don’t want to modify your mast. Both ways work just fine.http://www.catalina-capri-25s.org/forum/topic.asp?ARCHIVE=true&TOPIC_ID=7909
The third item is getting the pin out of the forestay. The hardest part of lowering or raising the mast. This is a short cut to a post on how I get the tension off of the pin so I can release it and also how I retention it to replace it. You will need some way to do this on the water. http://www.catalina-capri-25s.org/forum/topic.asp?ARCHIVE=true&TOPIC_ID=6352
With these simple items available and the process pre thought out. Laying the mast back is not a big problem. Hope this helps.

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kevinmac
Admiral

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USA
732 Posts

Response Posted - 02/27/2006 : 21:36:16

Great writeups! Thanks Keith! -Kevin

Edited by - kevinmac on 02/27/2006 21:55:46

s3tbuell
1st Mate

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47 Posts

Response Posted - 02/28/2006 : 10:06:42

I will get a pic this week sometime....the boat is in storage at the currecnt time.

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kevinmac
Admiral

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USA
732 Posts

Response Posted - 02/28/2006 : 13:47:04

Thanks! -Kevin

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Russ.Johnson
Commodore

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USA
855 Posts

Response Posted - 02/28/2006 : 15:28:30

Keith D.
It warms my heart to see my picture used in your post.
I talked to my dealer last week and here's why some boats have 2 sets of gudgeons and some don't.
For the past several years, if you ordered the boat and trailer together it includes the "Trailer Package".
The mast raising shrouds, mast strap & line, aft mast carrier, 2nd set of gudgeons.
I don't know if this was the case for hull #8.
Russ (#793)

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Keith D.
Navigator

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USA
233 Posts

Response Posted - 02/28/2006 : 19:30:42

Russ Back when the built hull #8 they did not have a trailer based system. All they had was the gin pole and a bock and tackle arrangement. Arlyn came up with the ides of adding a winch to the pole, which really helps control, the raising and lowering of the mast. I have added the second set of gudgeons. I tried to use your picture from where you had it but it would not work. I copied it off and moved it on to shutterfly, a free picture-sharing site. From there it displayed just fine.

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Arlyn Stewart
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
2980 Posts

Response Posted - 02/28/2006 : 19:32:13

I'm not sure of my perspective, but for some reason I'm wont to say that the second set of gudgeons may have to do with the wheel steering option.

If anyone has a tiller with the second set it would set me straight.

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528
Navigator

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USA
181 Posts

Response Posted - 03/01/2006 : 12:02:58

I have one set of gudgeons on a 2001 WB. I didn't want to remove the rudder evey trip to the water. Below is a pic of the modified crutch base. You have to shave some of the nylon on the bottom and redrill the hole for the extension so the roller aligns. It works beautifully.

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Ben - FL
Admiral

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880 Posts

Response Posted - 03/01/2006 : 21:48:43

I have lowered and raised my mast at least four times at the slip. My biggest concern for anyone doing this is SAFETY! Take your time setting up and double check yourself. And what ever you do, do not get under a load. If something breaks, you will not be able to jump fast enough. Much better to see the mast crash through your companion way than your head!

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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.