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Rigging Rods Inside Cabin Under Load?

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MartinJW
Navigator

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USA
241 Posts

Initially Posted - 08/06/2008 : 09:49:22

Hello Everyone,

Here's another brainteaser / mystery for anyone with a late model C-250:

There are two threaded/adjustable rods - port and starboard - inside the cabin that appear to connect the deck chainplates to the hull. When my boat arrived from the factory, these rods were loose. Now that the mast has been stepped and the rigging has been tensioned, these rods are still completely loose and bear no load whatsoever.

Should the rods inside the cabin be under tension? If so, can you give me an idea of how "tight" they should be?

I also sent this question to Kent Nelson (Kent@CatalinaYachts.com) this morning; I'll post his answer when and if I receive a reply.

As always, THANKS!

Martin

C25/250 Int'l Ass'n Member
2008 C-250 WK #973
"Bluebell"
Lake Tahoe, CA/NV

Edited by - on

Nautiduck
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
3704 Posts

Response Posted - 08/06/2008 : 18:11:35

Mine are tight. A friend here in Eugene with a C250 had the same situation you do. He removed the rods and cut a bit off of them and re-installed. They are now tight. I'll be interested in what Catalina has to say. It would seem that if they are not tight that the deck is taking the load.

Edited by - on

MartinJW
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241 Posts

Response Posted - 08/07/2008 : 10:30:26

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by Nautiduck
 Mine are tight. A friend here in Eugene with a C250 had the same situation you do. He removed the rods and cut a bit off of them and re-installed. They are now tight. I'll be interested in what Catalina has to say. It would seem that if they are not tight that the deck is taking the load.
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

Thanks, Randy.

Actually, cutting wouldn't be necessary. The rods are threaded and adjustable, but they simply aren't tightened on my boat.

I think I'm going to adjust them so that they're just snug or hand tight until I hear back from Catalina.

Thanks again,
Martin

Edited by - on

Mariposa
Deckhand

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USA
11 Posts

Response Posted - 08/07/2008 : 13:21:06

I tuned my rig the way Arlyn and Randy have described and the tension rod on the port side was loose, even when sailing. So loose it would rattle around. I decided to tighten the rod, so I pulled the clevis pin and slipped the rod sideways to free it. When I turned the rod to screw it in, the end of the rod hit the stay so it would not go in further. Because the threaded portion of the rod extended about ½” beyond the turnbuckle, I brought the rod home and cut 1/8” off the end of it.

I will try again to put some tension on the rod, but does anyone know how much and how to do it? I thought I would loosen the shrouds on the port side and have a couple people stand on the deck by the stay.

Edited by - on

MartinJW
Navigator

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USA
241 Posts

Response Posted - 08/07/2008 : 23:18:49

Here's the reply I received from Catalina:

Martin,

The tie rods should be hand tight before the rig is tuned, so I would tighten them up until they are tight by hand and then give them one more half turn. The decks on the C 250s are very stiff so I doubt that you will be able to notice any deflection. In heavy winds the tie rods transfer the rig loads to the hull liner / hull.

Good Sailing,
Kent Nelson

Engineering Department
Catalina Yachts
21200 Victory Blvd.
Woodland Hills, CA 91367
(818) 884-7700 ext. 236
(818) 884-3810 Fax
kent@catalinayachts.com
www.catalinayachts.com

Edited by - on

MartinJW
Navigator

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USA
241 Posts

Response Posted - 08/18/2008 : 22:53:26

I took a closer look at this, and, unfortunately, the tie rods can't be tightened as Kent Nelson has described. The rod is threaded at one end, but welded at the other fork. Thus the rod can't be adjusted like a turnbuckle, but can only be adjusted in 180 degree increments. If I take another 1/2 turn to tighten this up, the rod will be too short for the clevis pin to fit into the hole in the hull liner tab. Right now the rods can be "rattled" by hand when the boat is at the dock, so there's really not much (if any) tension on them at rest.

In any case, both Kent Nelson and my local Catalina dealer (Michal Tolda of Sailing Ventures) have indiated these rods are only important in heavy winds, and I'm sure these guys are correct. (Next time I'm sailing in a stiff breeze, I'll have a look at the windward tie rod in the cabin.)

(I've sent a note to Kent about this as well.)

However, can anyone tell me: on YOUR C-250, do these tie rods (inside the cabin) have threads at BOTH ends - so that they can be adjusted like a turnbuckle? (or is one end of the rod welded to the fork?)

Thanks!

Martin

Edited by - on

Mariposa
Deckhand

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USA
11 Posts

Response Posted - 08/19/2008 : 16:23:49

Martin,

On my 2001 wing keel the top of the rod is welded and the bottom is threaded, thus you can only adjust 1/2 turn at a time. This sounds the same as yours.

Because the rod was to long, I had to trim 1/8" off the end of it. When I reinstalled the rod, I took a couple of half turns (I didn't count them), until the clevis pin would not go in. I had two people stand on the deck and I was then able to just insert the clevis pin.

However, I don't have any idea how much tension there is on the rod, but I figure some tension is better than no tension.

This winter I'll take a look at it again with the mast down and not tension from the shrouds.

Edited by - on

MartinJW
Navigator

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USA
241 Posts

Response Posted - 08/19/2008 : 16:58:31

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by Mariposa
 Martin,

On my 2001 wing keel the top of the rod is welded and the bottom is threaded, thus you can only adjust 1/2 turn at a time. This sounds the same as yours.

Because the rod was to long, I had to trim 1/8" off the end of it. When I reinstalled the rod, I took a couple of half turns (I didn't count them), until the clevis pin would not go in. I had two people stand on the deck and I was then able to just insert the clevis pin.

However, I don't have any idea how much tension there is on the rod, but I figure some tension is better than no tension.

This winter I'll take a look at it again with the mast down and not tension from the shrouds.
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

Thanks for the reply, Jim.

I think you're right about the tension. I'm going to take up one more 1/2-turn, then use a little force to get the clevis pin re-inserted so the tie rod is "just snug". I'll try the 2-people-on-the-deck method, and, if necessary, I'll also try loosening the standing rigging.

I'm assuming that once we've got the tie rods snug and locked into place with cotter rings, we shouldn't have to do this again - or at least not for several years.

By the way, when I was in college I used to sail on Fern Ridge in an AMF Puffer (12') and Hobie 14/16s. I suspect it's a nice place to have your C-250.

Thanks again,
Martin

Edited by - MartinJW on 08/19/2008 16:59:30

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