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Catalina/Capri 25/250 Sailor's Forums

Catalina 25 Specific Forum

Whats this block used for?

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Tomas Kruska
Admiral

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Czech Republic
522 Posts

Initially Posted - 07/27/2010 : 03:59:43

What is this block between the mooring cleats used for (see pic bellow)?

thanks

Dalpol Phobos 21, 2013, Sole Mio, hull #27, current adventures - We sail Phobos 21

PO of Catalina C25, 1978, High Anxiety, hull #701, SR, FK, L-dinette, inboard diesel Volvo Penta MD2010C w/saildrive - more info

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Champipple
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
6855 Posts

Response Posted - 07/27/2010 : 05:18:51

The downhaul on a spinnaker pole. Formally the line that runs through that block is known as a foreguy.

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Tomas Kruska
Admiral

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Czech Republic
522 Posts

Response Posted - 07/27/2010 : 05:24:51

Aah...

Is this what you mean?
http://pacificnorthwestboating.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/05/newport-30-spinnaker-gear-layout.jpg

What about to use the mast step attached block?

thanks

Edited by - Tomas Kruska on 07/27/2010 05:36:09

Champipple
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USA
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Response Posted - 07/27/2010 : 05:39:40

Yes that is what I mean.

On a 25 ft boat a block on the forward part of the mast step should be more than sufficient. Especially if there is a bridle on the pole for both the topping lift and the foreguy. In my opinion, that original foreguy block is pretty far forward for a spinnaker pole rigged for end for end jibes.

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djdurrett
Navigator

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124 Posts

Response Posted - 07/27/2010 : 08:55:58

I have seen it used as a jib downhaul or douser...

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Champipple
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Response Posted - 07/27/2010 : 09:34:57

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by djdurrett
 I have seen it used as a jib downhaul or douser...
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

would work well for that too

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clenfestey
Deckhand

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USA
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Response Posted - 07/27/2010 : 09:40:14

It could be functional as a tack line block for an asymetrical spinnaker.

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clenfestey
Deckhand

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USA
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Response Posted - 07/27/2010 : 09:41:09

It could be functional as a tack line block for an asymetrical spinnaker.

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redeye
Master Marine Consultant

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Response Posted - 07/27/2010 : 10:26:55

That and the coaming behind it are designed to tangle your anchor line. Works every time, pull the anchor, get the line sorted out, look up and realize you are about to be on the rocks.

From the book, "The Joy of Single Handed Sailing"...

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JohnP
Master Marine Consultant

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1520 Posts

Response Posted - 07/27/2010 : 10:49:16

I think it is the sole piece of Catalina 25 lore that has no function, has never existed, and will forever remain nameless.

The artist added a block where none should be located - right in line with the anchor rode and attached to neither the stem fitting nor the rail.

I bet no one has one of these on their boat!

The devil's advocate

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djdurrett
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Response Posted - 07/27/2010 : 12:01:22

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by JohnP
 I think it is the sole piece of Catalina 25 lore that has no function, has never existed, and will forever remain nameless.

The artist added a block where none should be located - right in line with the anchor rode and attached to neither the stem fitting nor the rail.

I bet no one has one of these on their boat!

The devil's advocate
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

Come to think of it, the jib downhaul I have seen was attached to the chain plate thingy where the tack connects... it was a micro block

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Champipple
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Response Posted - 07/27/2010 : 16:25:32

it exists - if I recall you needed to get the spinnaker package to get it. We didn't have one on our 25 back in the day (i.e. 4 years ago)

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Champipple
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Response Posted - 07/27/2010 : 16:26:13

it exists - if I recall you needed to get the spinnaker package to get it. We didn't have one on our 25 back in the day (i.e. 4 years ago)

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Champipple
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Response Posted - 07/27/2010 : 16:27:58

it exists - if I recall you needed to get the spinnaker package to get it. We didn't have one on our 25 back in the day (i.e. 4 years ago)

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JohnP
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Response Posted - 07/27/2010 : 17:41:11

OK, so let's see someone come up with an actual photo!

I dare ye, matey! Arghhhh!!! It's evidence that's lackin', so where is it? Where is it?!!

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JohnP
Master Marine Consultant

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Response Posted - 07/27/2010 : 18:27:06

OK, some of you will say "it's the foreguy standup block" (#1). But I say "BULL!" In the picture above it's forward of the anchor locker. The guy who was hired to draw this stuff was just a temp, I guess.

Then they hired another artist who had her own ideas. So, in another schematic diagram this block is aft of the pulpit stanchions where the imaginary cowl vent above was also located.

A boat with a cowl vent positioned where an important spinnaker block is set may have the water line feed into the fuel tank and the mast harness attached to the chain plates!!! Fire the bunch of these naval architects and start over!!! Arghhhhh!

But they didn't do that. After the management at Catalina thought about it for a minute after seeing these 2 incompatible diagrams, they decided to "let sleeping dolphins lie" and instead sell a nicer mast step, where everyone hitches their spin pole foreguy. Forget about that other stuff. It's just pictures, not boats!!!

I think I'll go sailin' where there's just boats, not pictures.

Edited by - on

Tomas Kruska
Admiral

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Czech Republic
522 Posts

Response Posted - 07/28/2010 : 05:21:47

Hehe ... Its not a hoax, I have it on my boat

(but dont have actual photo right now).

Here is for example the Justin's C25

But I agree, I would rather have a better mast step plate :)

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JohnP
Master Marine Consultant

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Response Posted - 07/28/2010 : 08:41:17

Thanks, Tomas!

Learn something every day!

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JohnP
Master Marine Consultant

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Response Posted - 07/28/2010 : 09:02:39

Tomas,

Where do you sail your unique C-25?

Edited by - JohnP on 07/28/2010 09:05:51

Tomas Kruska
Admiral

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Czech Republic
522 Posts

Response Posted - 07/29/2010 : 05:36:49

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

Where do you sail your unique C-25?

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

Well, its quite a problem here as we don't have a sea.
Now I have it in little marina on the river Labe and near by lakes.

http://www.google.com/maps?f=q& source=s_q& hl=cs& geocode=sll=50.190778,14.650812& sspn=0.000267,0.000712& ie=UTF8& hq=& ll=50.206022,14.670353& spn=0.067789,0.182304& z=13

It's pretty challenging as the river is pretty narrow.

But next year, I'm planning to have it on Orlik dam - Vltava river. http://www.google.com/maps?f=q& source=s_q& hl=cs& geocode=& sll=50.115262,14.540294& sspn=0.271669,0.729218& ie=UTF8& hq=& ll=49.585899,14.191933& spn=0.068665,0.182304& z=13
I have a 5 month old newborn right now, so not much time for her

How far you have to travel to your marina when you want to sail?

Edited by - Tomas Kruska on 07/29/2010 05:41:34

Champipple
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Response Posted - 07/29/2010 : 07:01:24

I wonder how that little boat made it's way to that neck of the woods.

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JohnP
Master Marine Consultant

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Response Posted - 07/29/2010 : 08:18:33

Tomas,

I travel 30 minutes to my boat. Many sailors on this Forum travel an hour or two, and some drive 4 hours to their boats! A few lucky guys live or work within 5 minutes of their sailing spots.

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Champipple
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Response Posted - 07/29/2010 : 08:29:42

I have a 10 minute drive

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skrenz
Captain

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USA
351 Posts

Response Posted - 08/02/2010 : 14:48:56

That block is also pretty critical if you use any kind of gin pole or A frame to raise your mast. Line goes from the end of the gin pole or A frame down to that block and then back to the jib winch.

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Prospector
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Canada
3159 Posts

Response Posted - 08/02/2010 : 20:23:26

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by skrenz
 That block is also pretty critical if you use any kind of gin pole or A frame to raise your mast. Line goes from the end of the gin pole or A frame down to that block and then back to the jib winch.
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

Well, maybe we are diferent then. We take a block off the deck plate from the bottom of the mast (a halyard block) and relocate it to the holes for the tack shackles. Run a line through it to teh A-fram, and everything is peachy.

I wonder if a similar technique would work for a jib downhaul, but with a permanent block.

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skrenz
Captain

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USA
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Response Posted - 08/03/2010 : 16:27:11

I actually do the same because I don't have the block under discussion mounted on my foredeck. I'm not saying that you "have" to have this block because, obviously, many of us do not have it and we raise the mast using whatever block we have at hand. I'm just saying that this block could have been provided by Catalina for that, and probably several other, purposes.

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