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Catalina/Capri 25/250 Sailor's Forums

Catalina 25 Specific Forum

Keeping Pop Top up

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ricmon99
Deckhand

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Canada
7 Posts

Response Posted - 09/10/2007 : 15:43:36

thanx Frank much appreciated......

Rick

Edited by - on

ricmon99
Deckhand

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Canada
7 Posts

Response Posted - 09/12/2007 : 08:17:11

Does anyone have the installation instructions or no where on the the net they can be had....one of the things I would like to know is does the shock pivot around on the retainer as the top is going up?

Edited by - on

Frank Hopper
Past Commodore

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Pitcairn Island
6776 Posts

Response Posted - 09/12/2007 : 09:05:37

Poptops are not all the same, On a Catalina 25 the top lifts and crosses the verticle then comes to a rest against the mast down a couple of inches from its high point, the shocks on a Catalina 25 must belong enough to accomplish this cross over. I do not know the geometry of your poptop action. The shock does pivot...

Edited by - on

Dave Bristle
Master Marine Consultant

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Djibouti
10005 Posts

Response Posted - 09/12/2007 : 10:25:24

Frank--good solution with the black plastic retainer clips.

Edited by - on

ricmon99
Deckhand

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Canada
7 Posts

Response Posted - 09/12/2007 : 13:19:08

Hi Frank great pic helps to answer some of my questions, from what I am seeing here our pop tops are pretty much the same.....two big differences which would have no bearing on the power kit as I see it are 1) our Newport tops go back not forward to the mast like yours, we use two prop rods out front to keep the top stable (major pain and next on the to do list).....2 our pop top supports are big tubular like yours but run from one side up across the roof and down to the other side, where as yours terminates at the roof in the front and rear locations.....I don t have an inside shot but will take one this weekend, the attached pic shows the pop tops rear sweep......I would think because of our rear sweep line that the installation would probably be the reverse of yours as our lift action is up and back (not over the vertical as with yours, so that when we put the prop rods in forward of the roof the weight is carried by the prop rods)....

Frank two questions, what do you use the retaining clips for....and any idea what size opening is created when the top is up, I m going to measure mine tomorrow, I m try to determine what size (length shock with piston out) I am going to require.....needless to say I m tired of hoisting this beast every season!!!.........thanx

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v728/dirteemonkee/Raven2.jpg

Edited by - on

Frank Hopper
Past Commodore

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Pitcairn Island
6776 Posts

Response Posted - 09/12/2007 : 14:35:55

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by ricmon99
 Hi Frank great pic helps to answer some of my questions, from what I am seeing here our pop tops are pretty much the same.....two big differences which would have no bearing on the power kit as I see it are 1) our Newport tops go back not forward to the mast like yours, we use two prop rods out front to keep the top stable (major pain and next on the to do list).....2 our pop top supports are big tubular like yours but run from one side up across the roof and down to the other side, where as yours terminates at the roof in the front and rear locations.....I don t have an inside shot but will take one this weekend, the attached pic shows the pop tops rear sweep......I would think because of our rear sweep line that the installation would probably be the reverse of yours as our lift action is up and back (not over the vertical as with yours, so that when we put the prop rods in forward of the roof the weight is carried by the prop rods)....

Frank two questions, what do you use the retaining clips for....and any idea what size opening is created when the top is up, I m going to measure mine tomorrow, I m try to determine what size (length shock with piston out) I am going to require.....needless to say I m tired of hoisting this beast every season!!!.........thanx

<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

The clips hold the dogs out of the way while I lift the top. Most poptops seem to provide 6' of standing room. I am not sure a lift kit will work well for you, it puts a lot of force against our mast. I am not sure you could handle the top with the struts pushing while you set your support poles.

PS you own a fun and salty old boat, Have you looked into a Catalina 25? Not quite as salty but no Clorox bottle either, and a LOT more room for a couple.

Edited by - Frank Hopper on 09/12/2007 14:44:01

ricmon99
Deckhand

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Canada
7 Posts

Response Posted - 09/12/2007 : 15:30:53

My next step is too measure the opening to see what size shocks I will need to jam in there....I appreciate your caution Frank and will bear it mind, and make sure I have a number of hands availabe when I put it up for the first time....it is my intention to have the first Macgregor Newport with this feature!!!

LOL funny you should mention the 25 Frank I was just on Ebay looking at two!!!.....but as you say that salty look is in my blood, which will probably send me to a 28-30 Bayfield cutter next.....my finger partner who had a Macgregor 26X sold it and picked up an 05 31' Catalina, ssswwweeeetttt ride......heres the Raven dressed out......

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v728/dirteemonkee/RavenMiscPics023.jpg

Edited by - on

Dave Bristle
Master Marine Consultant

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Djibouti
10005 Posts

Response Posted - 09/12/2007 : 16:13:20

Rick: To make your photos show, highlight the URL and click
the

button. I've done it here:

You can edit your own post by clicking

in its header.

Edited by - on

ricmon99
Deckhand

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Canada
7 Posts

Response Posted - 09/12/2007 : 17:41:59

thanx Dave my header box only shows a dictionary icon where the others should be they are greyed out......at the side of the reply box it says html turned off....

Edited by - on

ricmon99
Deckhand

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Canada
7 Posts

Response Posted - 09/13/2007 : 10:49:10

Frank do you think the direction (front to aft) the shock is installed in has any bearing on the installation....I see on your boat the piston is attached to the inside of the boat facing rear and shock is attached to the roof....I guess what I m getting at is does the thrust of the shock have any bearing on direction

Edited by - on

Frank Hopper
Past Commodore

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Pitcairn Island
6776 Posts

Response Posted - 09/13/2007 : 11:37:20

Since they are pneumatic rather than hydraulic I would not expect any difference.

Edited by - on

mrapkins
Navigator

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USA
124 Posts

Response Posted - 08/17/2008 : 07:52:23

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by Dave Bristle
 <blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by jerlim
 Gotta say, the pop-top mast slot lock has always worked very satisfactory for me. It's important to tighten the thumb screw...<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">
I used a wing-nut for better tightening. A toothed lockwasher might not be a bad addition. Also worthwhile is Catalina Direct's pneumatic strut kit--I think there's one listed in the Swap Meet.
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

What is the thread pitch for this nut? I have a "rubber" knurled "nut" that has strupped threads. A Wingnut would be perfect.

Edited by - on

Dave Bristle
Master Marine Consultant

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Djibouti
10005 Posts

Response Posted - 08/17/2008 : 10:06:58

Dunno... Take the little J-bracket to your WM (or whatever) store and buy whatever fits.

Edited by - on

mrapkins
Navigator

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USA
124 Posts

Response Posted - 08/17/2008 : 15:07:47

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by Dave Bristle
 Dunno... Take the little J-bracket to your WM (or whatever) store and buy whatever fits.
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

On 7/5/07 Dave Bristle said "I used a wing-nut for better tightening. A toothed lockwasher might not be a bad addition. Also worthwhile is Catalina Direct's pneumatic strut kit--I think there's one listed in the Swap Meet."

I was hoping you would recall the thread pitch. I'm not at the boat but IIRC the bracket is in the mast track and will require the boom to be removed to remove the bracket. But I could be wrong!

Edited by - on

Dave Bristle
Master Marine Consultant

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Djibouti
10005 Posts

Response Posted - 08/18/2008 : 09:44:19

Sorry... If you have the sliding gooseneck (you don't mention your vintage), it's easy to slide up above the gate to slip the bracket out.

Edited by - on

Blue Heron
Deckhand

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Canada
5 Posts

Response Posted - 08/29/2008 : 23:56:20

I was out sailing one afternoon and the pop top accidently fell and almost crushed the commodore’s fingers. After that there was no question about what my next up grade would be. Go for the CD upgrade and you can’t go wrong. The kit came with everything for the installation. I purchased the full hydraulic strut kit from CD and it work great

Edited by - on

dmpilc
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
4593 Posts

Response Posted - 08/30/2008 : 09:18:18

If I was going to sail with the pop-top up, I think I would devise a way to lash it to the mast in addition to the slide lock.

Edited by - on

JohnP
Master Marine Consultant

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1520 Posts

Response Posted - 08/30/2008 : 10:12:55

Welcome BlueHeron (Lloyd),

As often discussed here, it's dangerous to sail with the pop-top up, and I have a low threshold for lowering the pop-top when underway - anything more than a faint breeze, any noticeable waves, or any sailing maneuvers requiring going forward on the deck.

I often sail under quiet conditions with the top up but shift to battened-down mode the moment the conditions change. Others who always sail in ocean waves, like JimB, never sail with the top raised.

Like Dave mentioned above, I have a wing nut over the pop-top sliding lock, and mine has never fallen.

Edited by - on

Dave Bristle
Master Marine Consultant

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Djibouti
10005 Posts

Response Posted - 08/30/2008 : 11:35:38

My rule was to never, ever leave the top up under way--sail or power. Way too much weight to take a chance. One boat wake could ruin your whole day. If that came down on some fingers, the fingers would be crushed beyond repair. If it came down on a head, there could be a broken neck. I don't know whether the struts would've changed my policy on that--probably not.

Edited by - on

dmpilc
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
4593 Posts

Response Posted - 08/30/2008 : 14:19:39

All things considered, Dave, I think your rule is a good one. I've sailed our C-22 with the pop-top up, but only in relatively calm, summer winds. I've yet to even raise the pop-top on our C-25.

Edited by - on

GaryB
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
4316 Posts

Response Posted - 08/30/2008 : 21:06:38

Any idea why they don't offer a lift kit for the '89's?

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jerlim
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1484 Posts

Response Posted - 09/01/2008 : 06:57:57

We're w/ Dave on this one, we never leave the dock w/ the top up, lashed or otherwise, it's just asking for trouble.

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pastmember
Master Marine Consultant

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2402 Posts

Response Posted - 09/02/2008 : 08:06:08

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by GaryB
 Any idea why they don't offer a lift kit for the '89's?
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">
They have not found the right shocks. The supports are shorter on an 89.

Edited by - on

GaryB
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
4316 Posts

Response Posted - 09/02/2008 : 22:01:57

Thanks Frank! Is '89 the first year the top was flush with the deck?

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Prospector
Master Marine Consultant

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Canada
3159 Posts

Response Posted - 09/03/2008 : 06:42:56

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by ricmon99
 Can anyone tell me what the total length of the cylinder and piston is when the schock is fully extended....also what the opening size with the top up from the bottom of the poptop to the top of the cabin roof.....would like to incorporate this lift into my Venture Newport 23....thanx

Rick
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

Rick, I don't know where you are in Canada, but if you are near a Princess Auto, they have gas struts in stock for cars. you might want to check if there are any there that would fit your application.

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