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Catalina/Capri 25/250 Sailor's Forums

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Mainsail Cover

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OLarryR
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
3482 Posts

Initially Posted - 10/18/2006 : 11:40:25

I need a new mainsail cover. The one I have is the original and the twist snaps are still holding but need reinforcement but the biggy is the zipper just broke at the bottom and makes it hard to zip up. I am willing to chuck this one and go for a new one (or give it to anyone local that wants to fool with it).

Okay...so what is a good replacement and do any have the Catalina Logo on it ? I took a look at various ones on the Web from Ccatalina Direct and etc with prices ranging from ~ $160 - ~ $260. Some come with twist snaps on the boom and the mast and others come with twist snaps on the boom and zipper on the mast like the old one. What works best and what is a good replacement ? Any thoughts ?

(Bringing my boat over tomorrow morning to a nearby marina for lifting out and bottom assessment/painting. No sailing for about 5 days or so.

Larry
'89 Robin's Nest#5820, Potomac River/Quantico, Va
http://catalina25.homestead.com/olarryr.html

Edited by - on

Frank Hopper
Past Commodore

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Pitcairn Island
6776 Posts

Response Posted - 10/18/2006 : 12:21:05

I use the CD with twists everywhere, they have nice reinforcement at the vang and topping lift. I like twist locks, I bought some here.
(Common Sense Fasteners) http://www.sailrite.com/Tips/commonsense.htm

Edited by - on

mashedcat
Navigator

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USA
194 Posts

Response Posted - 10/18/2006 : 12:32:18

Larry
robert pyfrom
E-mail Address(es):
neetra@comcast.net

This guy is reasonable, prompt and does very nice work

Edited by - on

Bruce Baker
Captain

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USA
402 Posts

Response Posted - 10/18/2006 : 16:05:11

Larry,

I bought the custom sailcover from Catalina Direct (in green to match my boat) and I'm glad that I did. It was expensive (about $280) but worth it. It goes on very easily and is made of a nice heavy duty canvas. You can see my boat on H-Dock (number 16).

Edited by - on

Jonathan Cuff
Navigator

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Cayman Island
173 Posts

Response Posted - 10/18/2006 : 16:08:51

Does the CD version accommodate Lazy Jacks?

Cheers Jonathan

Edited by - on

saribella
Captain

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USA
286 Posts

Response Posted - 10/18/2006 : 16:18:15

Larry, contact a company called sSftopper ( http://www.softopper.com/products_boating.html ) I bought a very high quality mainsail cover as well as a boom tent from them for a very reasonable cost. They are listed on ebay as well.

Edited by - on

Frank Hopper
Past Commodore

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Pitcairn Island
6776 Posts

Response Posted - 10/18/2006 : 16:23:41

Jonathan, never admit that you have lazy jacks on a boat under 28 ft.

Edited by - on

stampeder
Master Marine Consultant

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1608 Posts

Response Posted - 10/18/2006 : 17:46:49

<blockquote id="quote"><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Jonathan, never admit that you have lazy jacks on a boat under 28 ft<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote"></font id="quote">

Too funny.
PO had lazy jacks stowed away under a settee and I finally got around to putting them up late this summer(I'm a little lazy). A little later this summer and they are now safely stowed away again under a settee.
If anything, I'd rig a downhaul for the main.

Edited by - on

OLarryR
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
3482 Posts

Response Posted - 10/18/2006 : 21:28:43

Some mfrs have more complete mainsail cover info on the web than others. I checked out what I could of the above suggestions. 2 above bought it from Catalina Direct (CD) and that was also what I was leaning towards. The one on the Softopper website is a lot more reasonable in cost but not much info is provided on how constructed. I'll take another look at them.

Bruce - You on H Dock of Washington Sailing Marina ? Well....I am taking off Tomorrow and sailing/motoring over to the Washington Sailing Marina. They will be liftng my boat out, pressure washing it and then bringing it over to their mtn areas for the paint/prep.

Edited by - on

Bruce Baker
Captain

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USA
402 Posts

Response Posted - 10/19/2006 : 07:39:49

Larry,

Yes, I'm at the WSM. I thought you were too, until I saw the pictures of your boat with the houseboat next door.

You didn't say whether you plan to paint the boat yourself or if you want the marina staff to do it for you. I'm pretty unimpressed with their skills.

Bruce

Edited by - on

OLarryR
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
3482 Posts

Response Posted - 10/19/2006 : 19:00:59

Bruce,

I decided to have them paint it. I am going to do a few odds and ends myself but I have other things going on right now (ie. I organized an office bike ride for tomorrow near Hagerstown, MD - It goes thru the Antietam Battlefield). I also wanted an assessment of the blisters that were spotted last year when I had it pressure washed.

Todays's status: I was sailing at 630am this morning - very light winds. I cut across just north of the Power Plant into the channel to the WSM. I was at the travel lift at 900am and they lifted it out at 930am. Pressure washed and now it's in the mtn yard. If you go to the mtn yard, you can see it since it is fully visible as you approach the gate. (By the way...just as they entered the yard, my VHF antenna and the Windex Bird Stopper were grazed by a high tree branch that was hanging out. Antenna was fine but the Bird Stopper snapped off and fell into the cockpit. So much for preventing birds from landing on the Windex.
Of the 20-30 small blisters ranging from the size of a dime to a quarter, after sanding, the majority are just paint blisters. The very few that are in the fiberglas are barely raised after inspecting them with paint removed from that area. They are going to look them over again and they may cut one or two out but that is about it. Hull/Wing Keel are in good shape. (Keel has one ding.)

I had a heck of a time with just changing the lube oil in the lower end of my 2006 9.9Hp Honda outboard. A week ago I had to special order a few parts - oil filter, small wrench for it and the adapter that fits on the end of the little plastic pump used to pump the Hypoid Oil thru the drain plug and out the vent (according to the Honda Operating manual). Just before the boat was taken out today, I checked on the status of the adapter and Washington Marina (in DC) checked - 14 more days ! That was not going to cut it. I wanted to change the oil while the boat was out of the water so I would not have to take the motor off the mount this year. (I am going to later use a vacuum pump to suck the engine oil out but I can do that at my finger slip.) So.....well ...it's a long story but after getting an adapter (from West Marine in Woodbridge no less) it did not fit and so I had to improvise which turned out to be a sort of gloppy mess with first filling into the drain hole, then capping it and then using a small tube, filled it the rest of the way thru the vent hole. Oil is up to the vent hole and I then tightened it up.

From a distance, I was able to see your boat with the green mainsail cover from Catalina Direct. Looks fine ! Hey ! Your hull looks real good...nice shine...and your wood ..well some like the grey look.

By the way...late last night I decided to order the Catalina Direct Mainsail Cover. Should be delivered in less than a week.

My boat will be at your Marina till late next week..~ Thursday. I will probably be down there one day this weekend and maybe one late afternoon next week.

Meet you one of these days out sailing.

Edited by - on

dave andersen
1st Mate

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85 Posts

Response Posted - 10/22/2006 : 12:28:22

I bought my sailcover on ebay. New, by a guy who regularly sells them there. It is very well made. with great adjustable extensions along the boom for various models -- probably fits up to a
Cat 30. Cost about $130 plus modest shipping

Edited by - on

StSimon
Captain

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USA
298 Posts

Response Posted - 10/22/2006 : 21:39:10

Dave, what's the website?

Edited by - on

bbriner
Captain

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349 Posts

Response Posted - 10/23/2006 : 11:36:31

I bought my mainsail cover from sailnet. They asked for certain measurements (easy) and it took about 2 weeks I think. Cost was not much more than $100 (I don't remember the exact cost) .. this was 3 years ago and it still looks new. The boat is in the water fear-round.

Edited by - on

DaveR
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
2015 Posts

Response Posted - 11/01/2006 : 15:15:45

Larry,
I found what seems to be a nice cover at a reasonable price...
http://www.sailorstailor.com/

Edited by - DaveR on 11/01/2006 15:16:20

Champipple
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
6855 Posts

Response Posted - 11/01/2006 : 19:25:03

Theres a boat cover canvas thing that pops up every so often on the ads...I'll keep an eye out for it.

Edited by - on

OLarryR
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
3482 Posts

Response Posted - 11/01/2006 : 22:47:51

I bought the Catalina Direct Mainsail Cover and...a few days ago decided to bring it onboard but continue using the old one...see if it would last the winter. BUT...that very first day I brought the new cover onboard, I was going to go sailing but could not get the old cover off. The zipper had unzipped below the zipper and try as I could, I could not get it to budge ...until finally it came loose...along with some zipper teeth. That's the end of the old cover !

New cover fits fine ! Not as inexpensive as some suggetions made above but it's a done deal...
...Now I am eyeing the tiller handle cover....I think I will lwt that go to another year.

Edited by - on

Champipple
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
6855 Posts

Response Posted - 11/02/2006 : 05:34:02

use a good peice of fabric from the main cover and make one.

Edited by - on

OLarryR
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
3482 Posts

Response Posted - 11/02/2006 : 05:56:59

Duane,

Had not thought about using the old fabric for anything. Your suggestion to use it for a new tiller cover...that's a good one ! You know...the basic fabric (original cover) is still in good shape. The zipper is shot and there are some of those twist snaps that are close to coming thru but the material is definitely usable. Sounds like a new project to add to the list !

Edited by - on

Frank Hopper
Past Commodore

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Pitcairn Island
6776 Posts

Response Posted - 11/02/2006 : 10:06:33

I just used some Sunbrella last night to patch a hole in my treasured leather sofa; My dog moved the cushions off and dug a hole in the base. If he does it again I will sew Sunbrella socks on him.

Edited by - on

Champipple
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
6855 Posts

Response Posted - 11/02/2006 : 20:53:25

This is the company that had canvas stuff that I saw in the ads to the left..

http://www.IndyCanvas.com

Edited by - Champipple on 11/02/2006 20:56:39

Frank Hopper
Past Commodore

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Pitcairn Island
6776 Posts

Response Posted - 11/02/2006 : 21:43:09

I just had a bad experience with them, very poor service, ignored my choice of material, very slow, not cheap. I will never use them again.

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