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Catalina/Capri 25/250 Sailor's Forums

Catalina 25 Specific Forum

Experiences with the Fixed Gooseneck?

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dacc
1st Mate

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USA
40 Posts

Initially Posted - 06/13/2012 : 21:15:45

Hello Board,

As you can see, the casting on my sliding gooseneck has become one with the tack pin. I'm putting on a new main soon, and thankfully Catalina Direct has a fixed goosneck kit:

http://www.catalinadirect.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=product.display&product_ID=459

Do any of you have experience with this modification? I don't see anything on there about instructions. Mostly I'm wondering how far up the mast to mount the thing.

This will remove the need for the downhaul, which suits me fine as it's the last reason I have to go up on deck other than reefing the main. (Assuming I can get the darn lazy jack kit installed -- mast stepping is pretty well covered around here, but I still have first timer jitters.)

Thanks!

- Dan

"Windhorse" 1978 Catalina 25
Std Rig, Swing Keel, Pop Top

Edited by - on

Boomeroo
Navigator

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Australia
129 Posts

Response Posted - 06/14/2012 : 04:49:19

Dan , I am changing to a sliding goose-neck .
Your goose-neck looks fine and with a little clean up a bit of wd40 and then some soft heat (With a softer tap with a very little hammer ) will free up better than new. The goose-neck can then be set (fixed or adjustable ) in the correct position for your new main . The adjustable mast fitting is stronger than the Pop rivet and holes in the mast of the fixed one ( and cheaper ).
The Cat direct lazy jack kit is one of the best things Ive fitted and works really well .
Goodluck

Edited by - on

awetmore
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1144 Posts

Response Posted - 06/14/2012 : 06:58:58

I have the sliding gooseneck, but don't mess with the downhaul. I leave it tied off tight with the gooseneck sitting just above my downhaul cleat. This let's the main raise to about the top of the mast and I control tension with the halyard.

Edited by - on

Prospector
Master Marine Consultant

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Canada
3159 Posts

Response Posted - 06/14/2012 : 07:08:55

We have replaced our tack pin with a nut & bolt. Last night I noticed that its about time for a new nut & bolt. I think I can afford the $1.95 (plus tax).

Sail stops in the mast will lock the position of the boom. No more uppy-downy.

Downhaul? We don't need no stinkin' downhaul. Get some crew up there to pull that badboy down by hand.

Lazyjacks would be nice to control the sail as it drops though.

Edited by - on

islander
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
4024 Posts

Response Posted - 06/14/2012 : 17:31:03

Gee wiz Dan, When was the last time you took the main off? I would go with the clean up route as stated above and then lock the boom with the sail stops. This will do the same thing as the fixed boom fitting. Save your money.

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Stinkpotter
Master Marine Consultant

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Djibouti
9082 Posts

Response Posted - 06/14/2012 : 19:59:40

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by Prospector
 ...Downhaul? We don't need no stinkin' downhaul. Get some crew up there to pull that badboy down by hand...<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">Jargon check: The downhaul pulls the gooseneck down (to tension the luff). What pulls the sail down is a dousing line (if you have one).

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Prospector
Master Marine Consultant

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Canada
3159 Posts

Response Posted - 06/15/2012 : 03:36:11

Isn't that what a vang does? Now that I think of it though the downhaul on a spin boat pulls teh pole down. Hmmmm.

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Ape-X
Admiral

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USA
662 Posts

Response Posted - 06/15/2012 : 04:13:27

let me see if I got this right: -
Downhaul - tightens the luff of the main (how does this differ from a Cunningham?)
Vang - should tighten the leach of the sail / flattens the sail and prevents the boom from lifting
Topping Lift - opposite the vang, and lifts the boom up. I use the vang and topping lift in combination when sailing downwind....???

Edited by - on

Steve Milby
Past Commodore

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USA
5906 Posts

Response Posted - 06/15/2012 : 05:20:19

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by Ape-X
 let me see if I got this right: -
Downhaul - tightens the luff of the main (how does this differ from a Cunningham?)
Vang - should tighten the leach of the sail / flattens the sail and prevents the boom from lifting
Topping Lift - opposite the vang, and lifts the boom up. I use the vang and topping lift in combination when sailing downwind....???
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">You have it right.

There are generally 3 ways you can adjust the luff tension of the mainsail. You can use the downhaul, or the halyard, or a cunningham. On a smaller boat, when the sail is under load, it isn't too difficult to add tension with the halyard, by "sweating" the halyard. On a big boat, it's difficult or impossible, because the loads are too great.

On my C25 Tall rig, I could sit on the boom, near the gooseneck, and put as much tension on the luff as I wished, and then tie it down with the downhaul.

The quickest and easiest way to add tension to the luff is to use a cunningham. Even on a big boat, tension can usually be added while the sail is under load.

Edited by - Steve Milby on 06/15/2012 05:21:47

Davy J
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1511 Posts

Response Posted - 06/15/2012 : 05:25:34

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Downhaul - tightens the luff of the main (how does this differ from a Cunningham?)<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">
This line is not adjustable. Once the boom is pulled down to a track/sail stop, the line is tight and keeps the boom from rising. I need this line because I must remove the boom. I can untie the line and lift the boom out of the track. A Cunningham can be used in addition to this line to tension the luff.

Edited by - on

Steve Milby
Past Commodore

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USA
5906 Posts

Response Posted - 06/15/2012 : 05:48:02

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by Davy J
 <blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Downhaul - tightens the luff of the main (how does this differ from a Cunningham?)<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">
This line is not adjustable. Once the boom is pulled down to a track/sail stop, the line is tight and keeps the boom from rising. I need this line because I must remove the boom. I can untie the line and lift the boom out of the track. A Cunningham can be used in addition to this line to tension the luff.
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">
I made my downhaul adjustable by removing the track stop. I always raised the mainsail to the top of the mast, and then used the downhaul to adjust the luff tension appropriate to the wind strength.

When you have 3 devices from which you can choose, then you can use the one that seems to work best for you.

Edited by - on

Davy J
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1511 Posts

Response Posted - 06/15/2012 : 05:51:14

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">I made my downhaul adjustable by removing the track stop. I always raised the mainsail to the top of the mast, and then used the downhaul to adjust the luff tension appropriate to the wind strength. <hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">
What then, prevents the boom from sliding down the mast when you lower the main?

Edited by - on

Ape-X
Admiral

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USA
662 Posts

Response Posted - 06/15/2012 : 06:21:45

our track stop is approx 1" south of boom position with a fully raised (and tightened luff) mainsail

Edited by - on

Steve Milby
Past Commodore

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USA
5906 Posts

Response Posted - 06/15/2012 : 06:57:12

"Removed" was a poor choice of words. I moved the stop down on the mast to a point where it wouldn't interfere with the tensioning of the mainsail.

Edited by - on

redeye
Master Marine Consultant

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3476 Posts

Response Posted - 06/15/2012 : 07:17:51

The Smart pig differs from the downhaul as it runs through a cringle.

This is more fun than I had thought....

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redeye
Master Marine Consultant

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3476 Posts

Response Posted - 06/18/2012 : 05:06:58

<< What then, prevents the boom from sliding down the mast when you lower the main? >>

Mine stops on the cleat in the track that I cleat the downhaul to.

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Davy J
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1511 Posts

Response Posted - 06/18/2012 : 05:21:41

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Mine stops on the cleat in the track that I cleat the downhaul to.<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">
I guess every rig is slightly different. My cleat for the boom is about 18" from the normal position of the boom. I just use the track/sail stop and the line to make the boom stationary. It does not rise or fall when I raise or lower the sail.

Edited by - on

redeye
Master Marine Consultant

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3476 Posts

Response Posted - 06/18/2012 : 05:44:02

<>

Perzactly... that's why the pictures are so fun. I prefer the sliding goose.. means you get a tight bend at different spots on the halyard at the top. Changes the wear spot.

and other reasons. set up the boom high if you reef and want to open the bimini .. etcetc

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Joe Diver
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1218 Posts

Response Posted - 06/18/2012 : 05:46:40

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by redeye
 << What then, prevents the boom from sliding down the mast when you lower the main? >>

Mine stops on the cleat in the track that I cleat the downhaul to.
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

Mine is that way too....Glad to hear this as I thought maybe mine was sorta jury-rigged.....guess not.

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