Association Forum - Mast Raising

Assn Members Area · Join

Home.

Association Forum

Ships Store

Cruising

Racing

Technical Tips

Photo Gallery - New

Boat Search - Updated

Manuals & Brochures

Swap Meet

Links

Officer Flag Line & Staff

Bylaws & Constitution

Members Area

Join the Association

Notice:
The advice given on this site is based upon individual or quoted experience, yours may differ.
The Officers, Staff and members of this site only provide information based upon the concept that anyone utilizing this information does so at their own risk and holds harmless all contributors to this site.

Association Forum

Username:	Password:
Save Password
Forgot your Password?

All Forums

Catalina/Capri 25/250 Sailor's Forums

Catalina 25 Specific Forum

Mast Raising

New Topic

Topic Locked

Printer Friendly

Author

Topic

Page: of 2

sweetcraft
Admiral

Members Avatar

USA
816 Posts

Response Posted - 04/30/2008 : 22:22:47

Tie the anchor in three places (don't laugh). First to the anchor chain then the bitter end and at a place as close to the center of the bow with a comfortable scope and so it might slow down the attempt of the boat to sail up on the rode. (how long to be anchored and are there currents?) Everyone has a method and stories of this activity.

Edited by - on

Dave5041
Former Mainsheet Editor

Members Avatar

USA
3758 Posts

Response Posted - 04/30/2008 : 23:26:59

I was considering some kind of system to bridal the rode over both cleats - thought about it a long time. Then somebody on the forum recently mentioned that he ties a bowline on a bight and attaches to both cleats. The simple solution completely escaped me. The advantage is that it keeps the load centered to reduce hunting. I imagine the technique involves tying off with a couple of half hitches on a bight around the pulpit to take the strain, then do the bowline and cleat and release the half hitches. Perhaps he will chime in here. In less than horrendous conditions I wouldn't bother with the bow eye. Be sure to tie off the bitter end of your rode before releasing the anchor. A lot of skippers haven't. To sail is very simple, to sail well is more complex, but it comes with time. Relax and enjoy!

Edited by - on

Deric
Captain

Members Avatar

USA
408 Posts

Response Posted - 05/01/2008 : 21:03:12

I had posted information regarding the a frame set up that came with my boat. Here are the pictures for reference:

fork end of the center pole toward mast

Sleeve on the center pole glides along pole when raising and lowering the mast.

Edited by - on

GaryB
Master Marine Consultant

Members Avatar

USA
4312 Posts

Response Posted - 05/21/2008 : 22:58:30

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by Davy J
 Here you go. You will at least need an A-frame and block for the stem fitting.

Part 1
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r33VCObNroY

Part 2
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EsLxujYRsMQ

Sorry, I have not been able to record part3 yet.
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

Davy J,

Any chance you've had time to record Part 3? I'm planning on dropping my mast this weekend to replace the mast wiring and add a topping lift and any pictures would be of interest.

Edited by - GaryB on 05/21/2008 22:59:51

Davy J
Master Marine Consultant

Members Avatar

USA
1511 Posts

Response Posted - 05/22/2008 : 07:36:53

Sorry, No. One of my employees left and I am now working just about 7 days a week. I haven't been sailing for about two weeks. If you have specific questions about the procedure, I can try to answer them.

Edited by - on

GaryB
Master Marine Consultant

Members Avatar

USA
4312 Posts

Response Posted - 05/22/2008 : 20:06:35

I thought I read somewhere the tangs that you attach the stays to were 6" long. Is that correct and is that measurement overall or center to center of the bolt holes?

Also, do you have much problem with the mast trying to swing to one side or the other while lowering underway? I'm basically using your A-Frame setup and may be doing this solo at my slip. You make this process look so simple!

Thanks for your help!

Edited by - GaryB on 05/22/2008 20:07:08

Davy J
Master Marine Consultant

Members Avatar

USA
1511 Posts

Response Posted - 05/23/2008 : 06:36:12

The holes on the tangs are 5" center to center. The mast cannot swing more than about 12" to 18" side to side. As the mast begins to lower, the upper shrouds keep it in check until about 30 degrees, then the forward lowers begin to tighten up and prevent swinging to about 70-80 degrees. At that point you can just about reach the mast and prevent any further movement. I begin the whole process by loosening upper shrouds five turns, then I loosen forward lowers ten turns, and then attach them to the tangs.

Edited by - on

Scumbucket
1st Mate

Members Avatar

USA
53 Posts

Response Posted - 05/23/2008 : 09:08:13

Davy J, I am going to build one of these tomorrow because the Admiral just can't help me raise or lower the mast anymore due to a back injury. This will solve this problem and really increase my sailing time being able to raise it solo.

Just to make sure you are using 3/4" standard electrical conduit? Correct??

Thanks

Edited by - on

Davy J
Master Marine Consultant

Members Avatar

USA
1511 Posts

Response Posted - 05/23/2008 : 10:27:02

My a-frame is 1" conduit. You might be able to use 3/4", but I don't think it will fit over the chainplates. I had to squeeze the 1" conduit slightly to make it fit over the chainplates

Edited by - on

Scumbucket
1st Mate

Members Avatar

USA
53 Posts

Response Posted - 05/23/2008 : 11:39:56

1" Conduit it shall be then :)

Thanks again!

Edited by - on

GaryB
Master Marine Consultant

Members Avatar

USA
4312 Posts

Response Posted - 05/23/2008 : 14:03:48

Scumbucket,

I just built mine and I used 1" electrical tubing from Home Depot and a 3/4" X 3" pipe nipple. The pipe nipple fits over the chain plates without any problems and has less slop than 1".

I should know by this time tomorrow whether I will need to replace my mast and/or mast plate.

Edited by - GaryB on 05/23/2008 14:05:38

Scumbucket
1st Mate

Members Avatar

USA
53 Posts

Response Posted - 05/23/2008 : 20:27:00

Good Luck Gary, and I will look forward to hearing how it went.

I am off to Lowes to get my supplies for this!

Edited by - on

GaryB
Master Marine Consultant

Members Avatar

USA
4312 Posts

Response Posted - 05/23/2008 : 22:40:49

How high should I set the roller on my mast-up? I can go as high as 11-1/2' but that seems too high to reach after getting the mast down.

Edited by - on

GaryB
Master Marine Consultant

Members Avatar

USA
4312 Posts

Response Posted - 05/26/2008 : 22:22:18

Well I finally dropped my mast this morning. After all the worry and stress it turned out to be anticlimatic.

Once I had everything attached it took maybe three minutes to actually drop the mast. I did it completely solo and in my slip with a 12 - 15 knot direct crosswind. I used Davy J's setup and it worked perfect. Attaching the forward lowers to the 6" straps at the base of the A-Frame kept the mast perfectly in line.

I'd like to thank everyone for answering all my questions!

Now all I have to do is get it back up!

Edited by - on

Scumbucket
1st Mate

Members Avatar

USA
53 Posts

Response Posted - 05/26/2008 : 22:51:43

I dropped mine on Saturday and it was a piece of cake using the A-Frame. It came down nice and smooth and I agree the key is that tab for the lowers.

Thanks Davy J for making those videos, especially #2.

Edited by - on

Davy J
Master Marine Consultant

Members Avatar

USA
1511 Posts

Response Posted - 05/26/2008 : 23:55:06

Raising the mast is just as easy as lowering. Three things to watch out for as you raise it; 1) Put three to four turns on the starboard winch, use your body/back, with a straight arm, to winch it up. You will only be able to get three to four "clicks" per crank. 2) Use your left hand to keep a grip on the a-frame line. If someone is available to help, have them pull in the jib halyard as you raise it. 3) Watch the shrouds, backstay and main halyard so they do not get hung-up on anything. You will feel the weight of the mast as it goes up, but, if it seems excessive, a shroud is probably catching on something. Good luck and thanks.

Edited by - on

GaryB
Master Marine Consultant

Members Avatar

USA
4312 Posts

Response Posted - 05/28/2008 : 12:25:01

Well, I got my mast back up by myself yesterday. I just read your email from late on the 26th. I used my back and shoulder to get the mast started up while winching in the a-frame line. That worked great.

The problem I had was once I got the mast most of the way up I couldn't get it to go over the "hump" without putting excessive pressure on the line. I tried to push it over the "hump" but it wouldn't go. Turns out I missed the part in your earlier email about backing off the turnbuckles on the uppers (when I took the mast down I had to put only mild pressure on the mast to get it started going down). Once I loosened the uppers I was able to easily push the mast up the rest of the way.

I hope I didn't do any damage to the shrouds or deck. I inspected all of the shrouds while I had the mast down and didn't see anything unusual.

BTW, I'd like to thank Davy J for his You Tube Video of this process and for his A-Frame Mod using the 5" straps for the forward lowers. These made this task much, much easier.

Edited by - GaryB on 05/28/2008 12:28:47

Page: of 2

Topic

New Topic

Topic Locked

Printer Friendly

Jump To:

Association Forum

Notice: The advice given on this site is based upon individual or quoted experience, yours may differ.
The Officers, Staff and members of this site only provide information based upon the concept that anyone utilizing this information does so at their own risk and holds harmless all contributors to this site.