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Catalina/Capri 25/250 Sailor's Forums

General Sailing Forum

bimini on a tall rig

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jdk9185
Deckhand

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16 Posts

Initially Posted - 03/18/2006 : 14:12:42

I have a new to me catalina 25 wing keel with the tall mast. I am considering moving the boom up the mast and buying a standard sail in order to install a bimini. I would like to know others thoughts and if there would be any danger to the mast. I live in hot west texas and need the shade. Thanks

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Steve Milby
Past Commodore

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USA
5933 Posts

Response Posted - 03/18/2006 : 14:50:03

It can be done, but I think there's an easier way to raise the boom on your boat without making any major alterations to the sails or rigging. Have your sailmaker put a flattening reef in your mainsail. A flattening reef shouldn't be expensive. It's simply a grommet, just like the one at the clew of the sail, but it's about one foot above the clew. You can use either the outhaul or the reefing system (whichever works better on your boat) to pull the outboard end of the boom up to the flattening reef grommet. It'll raise the boom about a foot, leaving extra clearance for people or for a bimini. If the wind is light or you want to race, and you want as much sail area as possible, you can just fold your bimini, shake out the flattening reef, and you'll have your full-sized mainsail.

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jdk9185
Deckhand

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16 Posts

Response Posted - 03/18/2006 : 15:14:47

Thanks Steve for the idea. I see what you are talking about and that may very well fix my problem. The only thing that might not allow it to work would be the hight of the boom at the mast. i will try and call catilina direct and get dementions of a bimini. Thanks again for the idea
jdk

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Brooke Willson
Admiral

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USA
983 Posts

Response Posted - 03/18/2006 : 15:24:58

Here's my solution, which involves relocating the traveler and using a Capri 25 main. I wish The Powers That Be would put this in the Tech Tips -- I haven't a clue how that happens.

http://www.catalina-capri-25s.org/forum/topic.asp?ARCHIVE=true& TOPIC_ID=6903

Brooke

Edited by - Brooke Willson on 03/18/2006 17:46:03

Steve Milby
Past Commodore

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USA
5933 Posts

Response Posted - 03/18/2006 : 15:59:39

JDK, that's the way I intended to install my bimini, but I sold the boat before doing so. Most mainsails have a cunningham that is 1' above the foot of the boom. If you raise the aft end of the boom 1' with the flattening reef, and raise the forward end of the boom 1' using the cunningham, then that will raise the entire boom by 1', and that'll put the boom at the same height as a standard rig boom.

I'm fairly sure a bimini will fit just by raising the aft end of the boom by 1', and that's the best way to do it, but if that won't do it, you can raise the whole boom by 1', and I know it'll work that way.

Edited by - Steve Milby on 03/18/2006 16:00:39

Tom Potter
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1913 Posts

Response Posted - 03/18/2006 : 16:11:31

I have a tall rig 250. I really don't know how much difference there is between the 250 and 25 tall rigs, but I had a flatten reef installed like Steve said. By adding the flatten reef you are able to raise the back of the boom and and get plenty of height for the bimini. Also allows for a high bimini, note the head room.

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jdk9185
Deckhand

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16 Posts

Response Posted - 03/18/2006 : 16:22:04

Steve, I just went to look over my boom. The boom connects to the mast with a pop riveted plate to the mast. the boom will not slide up or down on the mast. This was not the case with my cat 22. If by raising the aft end of the boom will work then that is what i will do. I sure don't want to grind off that fitting on the mast and move it.
Thanks again
John

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jdk9185
Deckhand

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16 Posts

Response Posted - 03/18/2006 : 16:32:39

tompotter- I don't know the difference in the 25 and 250 either. yours looks like there is no problem. Did you get your bimini from catalina?
Thanks
john

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Tom Potter
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1913 Posts

Response Posted - 03/18/2006 : 16:41:04

It was built from scratch to fit the boat by the SailLoft near Lake Lanier (Atlanta). The Loft came down took measurements, did the tube bending and mounting. They used all SS tubing and fittings, also added the flatten reef while they were at it. It was a bit pricey but nice.

I would check into the flatten reef idea first before moving the boom and getting a new sail. Much cheaper and you get to keep the tall rig.

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Steve Milby
Past Commodore

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USA
5933 Posts

Response Posted - 03/18/2006 : 17:43:49

John - You must have one of the late 80's vintage C25s. Some of us just learned a few weeks ago that Catalina changed to a fixed boom in those late models. I suspect Catalina made the change without giving much thought to the installation of a bimini on the tall rigs, because it certainly complicates the problem, but I still think tilting the boom up a foot will do the trick. It'll raise the clearance by 8-9" in any event, and, when you install the bimini, the instructions tell you to adjust it's height by cutting the legs to fit. Just keep thinking about that hot Texas sun, and you'll figure out a way to squeeze a bimini under the boom!

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Champipple
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
6855 Posts

Response Posted - 03/18/2006 : 18:00:19

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by Steve Milby
 John - You must have one of the late 80's vintage C25s. Some of us just learned a few weeks ago that Catalina changed to a fixed boom in those late models. <hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

Even so I would suspect that the kerf still runs the length of the mast. You could look into drilling out the rivets and replacing the boom end to one of these....
[url="http://www.catalinadirect.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=product.display&Product_ID=934"]Catalina Direct boom end[/url]

I would guess the boom is the same, but it is only a guess.
dw

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