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Catalina/Capri 25/250 Sailor's Forums

Catalina 250 Specific Forum

Crushed my hand - Warning - Graphic

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Turk
Admiral

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USA
736 Posts

Initially Posted - 04/24/2007 : 21:59:13

I decided today was the day to pull the boat out of the barn and bring her back home for her cleaning and outfitting for the new season. Everything seemed to be going fine as I pulled her out and got her on the parking lot in front of my plaza. I climbed up top to make sure everything was fastened down, and I opened the main cabin hatch to let the sun in. I secured everything and went to close the hatch, reaching over the cabin hatch board to knock back the support to free the hatch to close. At that angle, the hatch support sprung backward throwing me off balance a bit. I corrected myself but in the process of leaning back, the cabin top got away from me and down it came as I was pulling my other hand back as fast as I could. The top's corner came down on my hand with full force right on the webing between my thumb and first finger pounding my hand and bouncing up and back down hitting it once more. The force tore a hole in my hand and bruised it badly. At first I thought the small hole was not that bad. As I inspected it a little closer, I could see the muscle and tendons inside the opening. As I closed my hand the blood began to flow. Blood ran down my arm as I climbed off the boat looking for my first aid kit in the truck. I poured saline solution over it and wrapped it for the trip to the emergency room. The doc cleaned the wound and applied two stitched with some very special knots (no bowline jokes here) that pulled the inside skin upward so as to not allow the wound to fall into the space below.

My hand is very sore. My pride is shattered. My sailing is now sure to be delayed a week.

I wonder of anyone has ever installed shocks on that top to prevent this from happening? The catalina 22 "pop tops" have had kits for years. It seems to me, with the level of weight of the c250 top, something could be done to prevent this from happening again. Any Ideas? Also, be careful out there. These tops are heavy.

Turk

www.turk.mysailboatblog.com
2003 C250 WK #663
Northeast Ohio
Mosquito Lake/Lake Erie

Edited by - on

britinusa
Web Editor

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USA
5404 Posts

Response Posted - 04/25/2007 : 06:42:17

Wow, thanks for the heads up Turk. Heal quickly!
I agree that the tops are heavy, found that out when I removed mine a few weeks ago.

The free swinging support arms are as simple as could be and a safer method would have to be more complex. The roof is a huge pair of sissors!

Paul

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Champipple
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
6855 Posts

Response Posted - 04/25/2007 : 06:51:02

OUCH!!!

I think CD has a kit for that - gas lifts that is. Or you could probably make your own setup. Redden marine has carries them up to 120lbs. They should have 4 of those sitting on a shelf to be restocked. Heal quickly!!

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Dave Bristle
Master Marine Consultant

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Djibouti
10005 Posts

Response Posted - 04/25/2007 : 09:19:01

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by Duane Wolff
 I think CD has a kit for that - gas lifts that is...<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">
They do for the C-25 (which has a much heavier pop-top), but I don't think they do for the C-250. Might be worth discussing with them. Gas struts are available all over--I've seen them in WM stores--but it might take some research to figure out the correct size so you don't have to sit on the top to close it.

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bear
Admiral

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USA
909 Posts

Response Posted - 04/25/2007 : 09:36:31

I know hindsight is 20/20 but I am always under that cabin hatch when raising or lowering, cabin hatch board is first out last in when closing boat up or opening. Never did trust hatch unless it was full open...Sorry about your injury Turk......

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delliottg
Former Mainsheet C250 Tech Editor

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USA
4479 Posts

Response Posted - 04/25/2007 : 09:38:36

Ouch, Turk, makes me cringe just thinking about it. I had my hand crushed a long time ago in a rollover accident and can imagine what you're going through. Keep your chin up.

I haven't been able to find the link, but remember the Hunter 260 with the very attractive 1st mate from last year? They were cruising to the Bahamas with a cat down the ICW. They figured out a method of putting gas struts on their hatch. As I remember, he did a fair amount of math figuring it out, and it was a well documented effort. When I get some time today I'll see if I can find the article.

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Nautiduck
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
3704 Posts

Response Posted - 04/25/2007 : 10:52:39

Turk, may Neptune bring healing to you quickly!

David, the couple with the Hunter 26 are Brian and Stef and their boat is Empty Pocket. They post a lot on the sailboatowners.com forum. The stupid cat (I am not a cat guy) is Whiskers. They have modded the heck out of that boat.

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Turk
Admiral

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USA
736 Posts

Response Posted - 04/25/2007 : 15:39:20

Just back from the doc. He checked out my hand and the stiches, said it will be alright. He said I was pretty lucky. That area has a tendency to get infected inside and then you have lots of troubles. I'm on an antibiotic to stop the bugs from growing.

CD does not have anything for a 250. I'm usually standing on the cabin floor when I moved the top, this time I wasn't. I was reaching over from the cockpit. Everyone take a lesson!

I'll take a closer look at it later when it stops raining, to see what could be added to help "pop" the top. One thing that seem to cause the problem was that I had just replaced the little rubber"feet" on the supports and they have not settled in yet. They tend to move easier than the old ones. By the way they are 1/2 inch diameter if you're gonna replace them. Check yours as the support tends to cut through them after a year or two. Don't get the teflon variety! (Just kidding!)

Thanks to all that have shown concern. I'll be alright.

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britinusa
Web Editor

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USA
5404 Posts

Response Posted - 04/25/2007 : 16:08:10

And another thanks Turk. I just checked our cabin top legs and both end caps are showing steel through the ends!!!!

Someone posted an article on replacing these, any recall?

Paul

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delliottg
Former Mainsheet C250 Tech Editor

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USA
4479 Posts

Response Posted - 04/25/2007 : 16:11:02

Here's the link to a [url="http://www.sailboatowners.com/upload/pix.tpl?folder=73286565946&sku=1152410357103874564&fno=17"]picture of their pneumatic lift[/url] for their pop top, but I can't find the page where he detailed it out.

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Tom Potter
Master Marine Consultant

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1913 Posts

Response Posted - 04/25/2007 : 16:19:51

Sorry about the hand Turk.

You can pick up the replacement (1/2" ID) rubber feet at ACE hardware, I expect any of the Big Box hardware stores have them too.

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Turk
Admiral

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USA
736 Posts

Response Posted - 04/25/2007 : 16:25:45

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by delliottg
 Here's the link to a [url="http://www.sailboatowners.com/upload/pix.tpl?folder=73286565946&sku=1152410357103874564&fno=17"]picture of their pneumatic lift[/url] for their pop top, but I can't find the page where he detailed it out.
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

Theirs is a "pop top" ala catalina 22 where the entire top pops up - no hinge. The 250 is hinged and would be a lot simpler. I think I just need to go out to the garage and look at my car hood.

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delliottg
Former Mainsheet C250 Tech Editor

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USA
4479 Posts

Response Posted - 04/25/2007 : 16:54:08

Turk,
I was thinking the same thing, it wouldn't be too tough to install some gas struts or something to help open & close the hatch. Rita struggles with it, although she manages.

Paul,
I found replacement rubber feet (1/2") at Target of all places, but you should be able to find them almost any big store, Sears, Walmart, hardware boxes, etc., look for furniture accessories. The pack I bought had four of the feet in it, so I replaced the ones on my Danforth anchor as well. Both the struts and the anchor ears could use a spot of glue or something to hold the feet in place better.

I want to replace the rubber feet on my ladder with a piece of wood that spans the width, I can see the fiberglass flexing each time I go up and down the ladder (I have my own rights of gross tonnage). I figure a piece of teak or ipe with 1" holes drilled at the appropriate places and a silicone or rubber backing to keep from marring the gelcoat.

Edited by - delliottg on 04/25/2007 16:59:26

willy
Captain

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USA
422 Posts

Response Posted - 04/25/2007 : 21:37:45

Regarding the rubber "feet" on the hatch supports, I have found that fabricating them from rigging tape has made for a a good sticky "shoe".

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