Association Forum - Where can I get BABY STAYS ?

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 250 Specific Forum

Where can I get BABY STAYS ?

New Topic

Topic Locked

Printer Friendly

Author

Topic

jbkayaker
Captain

Member Avatar

USA
299 Posts

Initially Posted - 01/31/2009 : 10:52:08

After searching through a number of old topics I am convinced that I need a set of baby stays for my 1999 Catalina 250 WK. I have tried the Catalina Yachts website and the Catalina Direct websites looking for a place to order a pair. No luck. Do you know where I can buy a set of baby stays or the parts to make my own ?

Jim Butler

Edited by - on

John Russell
Master Marine Consultant

Members Avatar

USA
3444 Posts

Response Posted - 01/31/2009 : 12:02:14

Give Catalina Direct a call. I've found that they have things that aren't on the website. If not, call the Catalina Yachts parts department.

Edited by - on

delliottg
Former Mainsheet C250 Tech Editor

Members Avatar

USA
4479 Posts

Response Posted - 01/31/2009 : 12:21:53

I agree with John, but if those two venues fail you, you can get the necessary rigging bits from RigRite or Fisheries Supply. You'll need two T-ball connectors (this assumes you have a standard C-250 mast), and two pelican hooks and either the means to swage the cable yourself, or find a shop to do it. I'd offer to measure mine for you, but I've got a tall rig & I don't know if they're the same size as a standard rig.

Edited by - on

Nautiduck
Master Marine Consultant

Members Avatar

USA
3704 Posts

Response Posted - 01/31/2009 : 12:54:19

I suggest calling Catalina Yachts at 818 884-7700 and ask for the Parts department. You definitely do want these stays. They are essential safety items during mast raising and lowering.

Edited by - Nautiduck on 01/31/2009 12:55:14

jbkayaker
Captain

Members Avatar

USA
299 Posts

Response Posted - 01/31/2009 : 16:49:41

Thanks for the quick responses from John Russell, Randy Kolb, and Sirius Lepak. I will try the suggested options on Monday and post any details that others might find helpful.

I was looking at building an "A" frame and just could not see the whole thing being stable enough without something else.

Jim Butler
C250 WK #405 Aiken, SC

Edited by - on

Arlyn Stewart
Master Marine Consultant

Members Avatar

USA
2980 Posts

Response Posted - 01/31/2009 : 18:34:24

The baby stays were part of the original mast raising system that used a mono gin pole and the subsequent design change to a trailer mast raising system that was also essentially a mono system.

They are not a necessity with an A frame system as long as the boat is level as the A frame itself provides the lateral stability.

If raising the mast by hand, the baby stays would be helpful.

Keep in mind also that the A frame is configured in two ways, a standing and the more complicated articulating. Here is a page describing the [url="http://pages.suddenlink.net/arlyn/sailing/mrs.html"]Standing A Frame.[/url]

Edited by - on

jbkayaker
Captain

Members Avatar

USA
299 Posts

Response Posted - 01/31/2009 : 18:47:56

Arlyn,
My concern with a ten foot tall "A" frame stems from how narrow the base must be to fit on the deck of my boat between the lifeline stanchions. In addition my boat is a wing keel and will not be in perfectly calm water when I lower and raise the mast. So the boat is bound to be rolling 5 or 10 degrees.

By the way I appreciate all the informative posts I have seen from you.
Jim
Jim

Edited by - on

Arlyn Stewart
Master Marine Consultant

Members Avatar

USA
2980 Posts

Response Posted - 01/31/2009 : 20:02:03

Jim, the base distance IMO is not a problem... the lateral movement generated by side swell would be and I can appreciate your desire to check it.

Edited by - Arlyn Stewart on 01/31/2009 20:03:46

jbkayaker
Captain

Members Avatar

USA
299 Posts

Response Posted - 02/01/2009 : 09:32:58

Thanks to all who contributed to answering my questions. I'll get the baby stays before I try the A-frame.

Edited by - on

Nautiduck
Master Marine Consultant

Members Avatar

USA
3704 Posts

Response Posted - 02/02/2009 : 14:45:02

You will find that an A-frame is not needed. The baby stays are sufficient all by themselves to allow mast raising and lowering. I use them in conjunction with my trailer mast rasing system and with a gin pole I fabricated for on-water mast raising and lowering.

Edited by - on

Mike013
1st Mate

Members Avatar

USA
64 Posts

Response Posted - 02/03/2009 : 10:38:10

Shortly after I purchased my C250, I also needed to find baby stays for the mast lifting system. The previous owner did not use a trailer so I had to start from scatch. I called Catalina Yachts Parts Department and they were able to supply the parts I needed. The baby stays also come with the mast strap and some other hardware essential for doing the job safely.

My experience with them was good so I would start there first.

Edited by - on

jbkayaker
Captain

Members Avatar

USA
299 Posts

Response Posted - 02/03/2009 : 12:04:28

A set of baby stays for my 1999 Catalina 250 Wing Keel is Part Number 80529 for $88.16 from the Parts Dept. of Catalina Yachts. The canvas mast strap is Part No. 80564 for $22 and change. Phone number there is 818-884-7700.

The method for handling the order is a little strange. You call and get the part information. Then email or fax that data plus your Address, Phone,and Boat Model to <salesperson's name goes here>@catalinayachts.com. Then they call you for credit card information. ???

Edited by - on

Prospector
Master Marine Consultant

Members Avatar

Canada
3159 Posts

Response Posted - 02/03/2009 : 13:28:03

Our little guy has started crawling. Nothing is safe. I've had to move everything momma deems "Hazardous to his healt" up 4 feet off the floor. Would these baby stays help with this situation? ;o)

Edited by - on

Nautiduck
Master Marine Consultant

Members Avatar

USA
3704 Posts

Response Posted - 02/03/2009 : 20:56:07

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by Prospector
 Our little guy has started crawling. Nothing is safe. I've had to move everything momma deems "Hazardous to his healt" up 4 feet off the floor. Would these baby stays help with this situation? ;o)
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

They would but you might get a call from Children's Services.

Edited by - on

essen48183
Navigator

Members Avatar

USA
143 Posts

Response Posted - 03/18/2009 : 17:42:54

"A set of baby stays for my 1999 Catalina 250 Wing Keel is Part Number 80529 for $88.16 from the Parts Dept. of Catalina Yachts. The canvas mast strap is Part No. 80564 for $22 and change. Phone number there is 818-884-7700. "

Same part # for a 1995 250 water ballast. Just placed an order. Thanks for the phone # and details.

Edited by - on

jbkayaker
Captain

Members Avatar

USA
299 Posts

Response Posted - 03/18/2009 : 22:16:11

I learned a couple of things from my first lowering and raising of the mast. First watch the baby stay tension. They got tighter as my mast came down. With the mast fully lowered there was so much tension I had to take the mast part way back up and loosen the baby stays. The second thing is remove the pelican hooks from the stanchions completely when the mast is close to the deck. Don't just leave them unlatched or you may find a pelican hook wedged in an odd position that is difficult to get loose.

Edited by - on

Nautiduck
Master Marine Consultant

Members Avatar

USA
3704 Posts

Response Posted - 03/19/2009 : 09:27:37

Good point about the tension. The babystays do not need to be tight to be effective. Their goal is to prevent major sideways movement. If you keep them loose enough then the issue with the pelican hook should not happen. We always leave our pelican hooks attached to the stanchions all the way through the process. I have noticed that it is easier to attach the pelican hooks so that the pull pin will face up. If it faces down then it can be tough to get at and deploy sometimes.

Edited by - on

welshoff
Captain

Members Avatar

USA
253 Posts

Response Posted - 03/19/2009 : 11:26:16

Also, the mast crutch is offset to port on stern of the boat. My starboard baby stay is a couple inches longer then the one on the port. This compensates for the offset mast crutch on stern of the boat.

I agree keep them loose when mast is vertical as they will tighten when the mast is lowered.

Edited by - welshoff on 03/19/2009 11:27:19

delliottg
Former Mainsheet C250 Tech Editor

Members Avatar

USA
4479 Posts

Response Posted - 03/19/2009 : 12:30:12

We keep ours loose as well. As far as the different lengths, at least on our mast, the holes in the mast are offset by about six inches vertically from each other, so one stay is longer than the other. I've painted the bolts in the pelican hook turnbuckles red & green so it's easy to tell them apart. I usually only get it wrong once per raising or lowering. I also agree that it's easier to insert the pelican hooks bail release up, especially when you're raising the mast, because it's definitely easier to get to than the other way around when the shrouds are crowding for space.

Edited by - on

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.