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Catalina/Capri 25/250 Sailor's Forums

Catalina 250 Specific Forum

Forestay turnbuckle

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americanrascal
1st Mate

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USA
50 Posts

Initially Posted - 04/07/2006 : 19:26:28

I'd like to tune my 250 WK mast a bit forward and started on the project yesterday. I have a CDI furler and tied off the mast forward to release pressure on the forward pin to get to it. Also loosened the side stays and rear stays.

I believe the manual calls for the mast to be raked about 4 inched back (measured with a plumb bob). Mine appears to be about 6 inches at the base (to top)

As soon as I started the project I realized I was in big trouble with a lack of info on how to deal with the furler over the forward turnbuckle. Frankly it was pretty intimidating and scared me off. Rather than getting to deep I decided to check here for advice and help.

Is this turnbuckle easy to get to and am I missing something easy or is this a real major project to access this with the mast up. The CDI manual was a bit itimidating and almost no help. Thanks for any advice.
Joe

Millennium Falcon
Hull 551
250 WK

Edited by - americanrascal on 04/07/2006 19:32:09

Tom Potter
Master Marine Consultant

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1913 Posts

Response Posted - 04/07/2006 : 20:55:18

Joe,
You can get to the forward turnbuckle without removing forestay. There is a pin up toward the top of the plastic drum that the grey furler rest on, you can lift the furler up a little to take the weight off the pin and remove it. Then let the grey furler slide down the forestay, it will rest on the turnbuckle. Then you can slide the plastic drum up to expose the turnbuckle. So you can make your rake adjustments then. But there are some other things you need to look at first. Check and make sure you boat is level and as close to being on her lines as possible. What I mean by on her lines is; most wing keels are light in the bow. I added weight forward to bring the bow down in the water and close to being on her lines. Here's a [url="http://webpages.charter.net/potterhouse/Our%20New%20Catalina%20250/bow2.jpg"]picture[/url] of my boat after I added the weight. Take a look at the bow of your boat and see if its up, if so you may want to weight it down before you start your adjustments. Reason being, when I first tried to set the rake on my mast, I ran the turnbuckle all the way in and still had 6 inches of rake. It was then I realized that if I weighted the bow down and got the boat level the mast would be leaning more forward and the adjustment would be easy to obtain. After I weighted the bow it was easy to get the 4 inches Catalina says and had plenty of adjustment left on the turnbuckle.

Where in Georgia are you located? If your near Lake Lanier, I would be glad to run by and help.

Edited by - Tom Potter on 04/07/2006 21:10:23

americanrascal
1st Mate

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USA
50 Posts

Response Posted - 04/07/2006 : 21:11:29

Thanks very much for the reply. I have already moved the battery forward and added a second battery for weight to get the bow down. Then I added about 80 lbs of sand. Still a bit off on the rake. I do (finally)have the bow in the water now with about 1 inch below the surface level of the water. Don't want to add to much more up front as I'd like to save some room forward.

There is a large pin near the top of the plastic cover on top of the furler and I think thats the pin you are refering to. So there is no risk or need to tie off the mast if I pull that pin? I pull that pin and then slide up the plastic cover to expose the turnbuckle. Will try tommorrow after the squalls pass!

I would also like some peace of mind in seeing that turnbuckle to make sure its not wound out all the way or damaged.

Many thanks for the info. I'm on West Point with about half a dozen 250's wk and wb's.
Joe

Edited by - on

Tom Potter
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1913 Posts

Response Posted - 04/07/2006 : 21:27:12

The pin is horizontal and a couple inches from the top of drum. You'll need to lift the grey furler to get the pressure off the pin, its heavy so be careful. When you grab the furler get a grip up high because your going to need to let it slide down once the pin is removed and your hand could get pinched (I know)against the drum as you lower it. You'll also need a way to hold the grey furler up off the turn buckle to make your adjustments. A second set of hands would be very helpful, or you'll just have to rig something up. Once you get the drum up all that will make sense. You may want to pack a pair of vise grips.

Here's some [url="http://www.blumhorst.com/potterpages/forestay-adjustment-with-cdi.htm"]instructions[/url] I found on the web.

I counted 9 250's on the 2 docks next to mine today, (5wk, 4wb) To many C25's to count.

Edited by - Tom Potter on 04/07/2006 21:38:59

americanrascal
1st Mate

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USA
50 Posts

Response Posted - 04/07/2006 : 21:30:38

Great information and advice! Can't thank you enough.
If your down West Point way near the dam some weekend drop by and say hi to all at Southern Harbor!

Edited by - americanrascal on 04/07/2006 21:37:52

Arlyn Stewart
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
2980 Posts

Response Posted - 04/08/2006 : 08:18:54

Tom has the bases covered here and I've only one simple addition... for some the turnbuckle has the range of adjustment needed but the nylon bearing block of the CDI doesn't.

If you run into this problem, there are two cures<ol type="1"><li>counter bore the nylon bearing</li><li>buy the ball bearing upgrade</li></ol id="1">
If I recall correct, CDI says that the nylon bearing can be counterbored half its depth. The ball bearing upgrade is counterbored.

Edited by - on

americanrascal
1st Mate

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USA
50 Posts

Response Posted - 04/08/2006 : 09:21:26

Thanks Arlyn for the follow up. I won't be able to understand that issue though until I visualize the assembly. I've never seen then guts of this assembly before and don't understand the limitation you refer to. I guess I will if I lift the cover over the buckle it will become evident????

Sounds like quite a chore. Joe

Edited by - on

Tom Potter
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1913 Posts

Response Posted - 04/08/2006 : 09:49:53

Joe, its much easier than it sounds. Take a look at your manual or the manual in the instructions I supplied in my earlier post. Really its a piece of cake. The CDI comes with either nylon bushing or a bearing. (The bearing is an upgrade, makes the drum turn much easier). When you slide the drum up just look for either the nylon washer (which is quite large, 2" round) or the bearing which is also large. You won't mis either of them. Chances are it won't move from where its suppose to be and you won't have to fool with it. The pin is shown as [url="http://www.sailcdi.com/sailpdf/FF2%20manual%204.04.pdf"]"C" on page 4 here.[/url] and the bearing is "E" on the same page.

Edited by - Tom Potter on 04/08/2006 09:55:27

americanrascal
1st Mate

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USA
50 Posts

Response Posted - 04/08/2006 : 10:10:06

Will do thanks Tom-- may get into it this afternoon if the weather breaks-- rough here-- hope no damage up there.
Joe

Edited by - on

americanrascal
1st Mate

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50 Posts

Response Posted - 04/09/2006 : 08:51:36

Well got into it well yesterday. Had the large nylon bushing ( or bearing) with what looked like a meteal washer on top. Seems there is room for some adjustment of the tuenbuckle but didn't make any adjustments due to foul weather yesterday. Thanks for the assitance -- it made the difference!
Joe

Edited by - on

Tom Potter
Master Marine Consultant

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1913 Posts

Response Posted - 04/09/2006 : 09:02:02

Joe,
Seems things went okay for you. Hope you didn't pinch any fingers. Did ya'll get any damaging weather? Had quite a bit of [url="http://www.gainesvilletimes.com/news/stories/20060409/localnews/85360.shtml"]damage[/url] at my marina. No damage to Knotty Cat.

Edited by - on

Tradewind
Admiral

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USA
531 Posts

Response Posted - 04/09/2006 : 11:27:10

Tom, sorry about the damage, glad you fared well. Saw it on the news, they were interviewing a few liveaboards, didn't realize that was permitted on Lanier.

Sorry for the hijack.

Edited by - on

americanrascal
1st Mate

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USA
50 Posts

Response Posted - 04/10/2006 : 11:40:22

West Point area had a few tough squalls but nothing like y'all had up there. No noticible damage in these parts.

Glad Knotty Cat OK. Sorry for damage to other boats though. Watched it all on Atlanta news and sure was scary.

Son was in town so exploited his muscles to lift tension off on CDI furler. Next chance with good weather will try to tighten a bit.

But Sunday we started our racing season here for the local club with a 4 mile course--- nothing serious. Love the speed on this boat!!!!

Edited by - americanrascal on 04/10/2006 11:54:50

Tom Potter
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1913 Posts

Response Posted - 04/10/2006 : 14:39:52

Steve, I believe the marina rules are you can live aboard for 11 months a year. Makes me wonder how they know which month you're not. I really don't think its inforced.

Edited by - on

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