Association Forum - Whisker Pole Track Kit Heavy Duty

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

Whisker Pole Track Kit Heavy Duty

New Topic

Topic Locked

Printer Friendly

Author

Topic

Steve Blackburn
Master Marine Consultant

Member Avatar

Canada
1091 Posts

Initially Posted - 03/11/2009 : 01:41:00

Anyone have experience with this kit from Catalina Direct? My idea is to have the track from the base of the mast going up about 6.5 feet. With the whiskler pole still attached to the car I can pull the car to the bottom position so it can rest on the foredeck while not in use. For racing I believe this would also be faster when setting up/down the pole.

Questions:
1. How long is that track?
2. Is this overkill and would a pad eye do the same?

[url="http://www.catalinadirect.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=product.display&Product_ID=608"]

[/url]
We have located a very nice heavy duty car at a reasonable price. We have therefore reduced the price of our heavy duty kit. Our heavy duty and light duty kits are the same with one important difference, the car itself. The heavy duty car is investment cast stainless steel with a robust welded ring. The light duty car is folded from sheet stainless and is suitable for whisker pole use in light to moderate winds. The investment cast car is much stronger. The extra strength makes it suitable for use with a heavy duty whisker pole in heavy winds or with a spinnaker pole. We don't recommend the light duty car for use with a spinnaker.

Steve Blackburn, Calgary, AB
C250WB - 1999 - Hull 396

Edited by - Steve Blackburn on 03/11/2009 01:43:40

DJAnderson
1st Mate

Members Avatar

USA
29 Posts

Response Posted - 03/11/2009 : 09:08:55

Hi Steve,
I bought that kit and installed it a couple of months ago. Nice track, easy to install. I think it's about 4 feet long, maybe 3. The bottom of mine is just above the lightning warning sticker or about half the height of the boom on the other side. Didn't want it too low in case I want to use it for a spinnaker pole in the future. A simple ring would, of course, work too, but with the track you're all set for different headsails that may be in your future.

Only thing I don't like about the kit is the "very nice" car that comes with it. It is indeed nice but actually a little too wide for the track making it cock to the side and a bit fussy to find the pin hole.

Edited by - on

delliottg
Former Mainsheet C250 Tech Editor

Members Avatar

USA
4479 Posts

Response Posted - 03/11/2009 : 10:23:21

What did the kit run you? I thought I had a track when I bought my spinnaker pole, but turns out that was on my San Juan 21, SL only has a padeye.

Edited by - on

Steve Blackburn
Master Marine Consultant

Members Avatar

Canada
1091 Posts

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

Thanks David,

Track is too short then. I don't like the idea of the car being slack on the track either. Maybe I can do better with off the shelf components? You guys with 6.5 foot tracks, where did you get it from?

David: $113

Edited by - on

jbkayaker
Captain

Members Avatar

USA
299 Posts

Response Posted - 03/11/2009 : 14:29:24

What diameter and length are the screws used to attach the track ?

Edited by - on

Nautiduck
Master Marine Consultant

Members Avatar

USA
3704 Posts

Response Posted - 03/11/2009 : 14:45:46

I bought a similar setup from WM last year and use it for our whisker pole. Easy install and it works well. We only needed 2' of the 1" track and went with the silver color.

[url="http://www.westmarine.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?productId=5587&storeId=10001&langId=-1&catalogId=10001"]Ronstan Car[/url]

[url="http://www.westmarine.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?productId=278175&storeId=10001&langId=-1&catalogId=10001"]Schaeffer Track[/url]

Edited by - Nautiduck on 03/11/2009 14:47:27

DJAnderson
1st Mate

Members Avatar

USA
29 Posts

Response Posted - 03/11/2009 : 16:30:44

Bolts in the CD kit are 1/4-20 if I remember correctly. Just make sure you get the right ones for the particular track you have. Just long enough to go through the track and the aluminum mast but not so long that they would possibly interfere with other stuff in there. In case you're wondering, the internal conduit for the wiring is offset from the front of the mast, on my boat anyway--thank you Catalina for anticipating the need to drill holes here!

Edited by - on

Steve Blackburn
Master Marine Consultant

Members Avatar

Canada
1091 Posts

Response Posted - 03/17/2009 : 00:33:27

David, 4 feet seems reasonable but not 3 if I would be to install this from the deck. The idea is that I want the whisker pole to be lowered to the deck and clips on the bow. This for racing purposes and being faster to deploy. How long is the track exactly, and is it long enough for what I want to do?

Edited by - on

DJAnderson
1st Mate

Members Avatar

USA
29 Posts

Response Posted - 03/17/2009 : 08:59:24

Hi Steve,
Sorry, might be a while before I get down to the boat to measure the track. I would call/email CD and ask them. As for keeping the pole always attached to the car, are you sure you want to do that? Unless you're going to use a really long track and run the inboard end of the pole up the mast (another option for storing the pole), isn't it going to be hard to reach the outboard end of the pole to get the sheet in it? When I use my pole, I always clip the lazy (windward) sheet in first which is easy to reach while standing aside the mast and then push the pole out and clip the inboard end to the mast. Maybe you have a better technique in mind.
--David.

Edited by - on

Steve Blackburn
Master Marine Consultant

Members Avatar

Canada
1091 Posts

Response Posted - 03/17/2009 : 11:15:16

Thanks David. I'll email CD and report here. I currently have no real "technique" but want to do this right the first time. Another idea would be to push the car all the way down with the inboard end still attached and clip the pole overhead on the mast. Maybe it is easier to clip the jib first then the mast. Any racers out here care to comment and the best technique?

If I'm not going to leave the pole attached to the mast, then why even bother with a track? I have a feeling that people adjust it at a certain height and keep it that way forever. Kind of discards the need for a track and I would probably be better off with a HD padeye?

Edited by - on

Turk
Admiral

Members Avatar

USA
736 Posts

Response Posted - 03/17/2009 : 11:41:41

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by Steve Blackburn
 
If I'm not going to leave the pole attached to the mast, then why even bother with a track? I have a feeling that people adjust it at a certain height and keep it that way forever. Kind of discards the need for a track and I would probably be better off with a HD padeye?
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

My ring on the mast is permanent and I hate it!. The jib sheet has a tendency to catch on the ring requiring crew to go up and free it. I'm ready to put a track in.

Edited by - on

Nautiduck
Master Marine Consultant

Members Avatar

USA
3704 Posts

Response Posted - 03/17/2009 : 16:30:48

Turk, here is a thread on putting a track on the mast. We really like this mod and the adjustability it giives. Easy project.

[url="http://www.catalina-capri-25s.org/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=17812&SearchTerms=track"]Mast Track[/url]

Edited by - on

DJAnderson
1st Mate

Members Avatar

USA
29 Posts

Response Posted - 03/21/2009 : 13:51:50

Hi Steve,
Sorry I forgot to measure my track, but here's a picture from sailing yesterday. Should give you some idea of how long it is.

--David.

Edited by - on

Steve Blackburn
Master Marine Consultant

Members Avatar

Canada
1091 Posts

Response Posted - 03/22/2009 : 01:38:25

Thanks David, that looks like it's gonna work. CD says it's 4 feet, so I'm ordering one. Beautiful picture by the way! Nice tiller extention, I was looking at this today at my sail shop, $185.

Edited by - Steve Blackburn on 03/22/2009 16:08:02

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.