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? New Lines on the spreader bar

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Captmorgan
Navigator

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USA
220 Posts

Initially Posted - 05/14/2013 : 13:58:11

Hi. WE have just purchased a new Catalina 25.

I have a few questions

1) On the spreader bar there are two lines. One in the middle on both sides. They are probably 3/16 and run up and down through a small pulley both ends are tied the ring on the mast where you would attach a wisker pole or spinnaker pole. They look like they might be for flags or something. Any Ideas

2) On the boom stern end there is a cable running up to the top of the mast like a topping lift. IN some literature it says to take it off after raising the sail. Where would you put it. I dont have a boom vang and Im wondering what you need to stabilize the boom.

3) My main halyard winch is on the port side, the main halyard seems to run up and across to the other side of the masthead. Is that right? shouldnt it go up the same side.

4) there is a taught sheet that seems to just go up to the masthead . its on the bow side of the mast running straight up; I have no spinnaker. Is that to help step the mast.

Thanks for any help you can give me. were out of colonial beach va . Any advice is welcome.

"The Gal-Way" 1985 SR/SK Barnegat Bay, NJ

Enjoy Sailing =) Be Safe

Happy Sailing - John

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Edited by - on

John Russell
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
3444 Posts

Response Posted - 05/14/2013 : 14:30:53

John, Welcome to the forum and the association.

(1) The lines to the spreaders are as you thought. You could fly the Catalina 25 Association Burgee from there should you choose to become a member of the Association.

(2) It sounds like you're describing the topping lift. It's job is to keep the boom from dropping when the sail is down. No other job than that. A boom vang is for a very different purpose. They aren't interchangeable. The topping lift should be removed or, at least, loosened, once the sail is hoisted. It doesn't sound like you have that option. You could remove it from the aft end of the boom and secure it at the mast somehow.?.?.?

(3 & 4) I'm assuming here that you didn't put the mast up yourself and that the lines were in place when you got the boat? I'm also assuming you have limited experience. What it sounds like here is that you have 2 halyards and one of them has had the bitter end pulled to the top of the mast. A "sheet" is attached to the clew of the sail and is used to control sail shape. It wouldn't be routed to the top of the mast.

Ask a lot of questions here. You'll find a lot of information.

Edited by - on

Steve Milby
Past Commodore

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USA
5902 Posts

Response Posted - 05/14/2013 : 15:22:31

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by Captmorgan
 
2) On the boom stern end there is a cable running up to the top of the mast like a topping lift. IN some literature it says to take it off after raising the sail. Where would you put it. I dont have a boom vang and Im wondering what you need to stabilize the boom.<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">
I also think it's a topping lift. Some are adjustable, and others are not. There's no "standard" rigging for a C25 topping lift. You'll have to examine it to see what type you have. If it's non-adjustable, then try to raise the sails with it attached. If the sails set properly, then leave it attached. If they don't, then you can probably disconnect it and clip the line to the backstay to keep it out of the way until you are ready to use it again.

After you sail your boat downwind a little, I think you will find that a boom vang is an important control to keep the boom from lifting. A few people don't have them, and they seem to get by without them, but most boats have them and use them all the time. Personally, I wouldn't be without one.
<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">3) My main halyard winch is on the port side, the main halyard seems to run up and across to the other side of the masthead. Is that right? shouldnt it go up the same side.<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">The winch on the port side of the mast is used for the jib halyard, not the main halyard. The jib commonly needs much more tension on it than the mainsail, especially in strong winds. If you need to put extra tension on the luff of the mainsail, you can raise the sail all the way to the top of the mast, and then put one butt cheek on the boom and sit down, and you can add as much tension as you need. Then tie the boom down with the downhaul.

Edited by - on

islander
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
4024 Posts

Response Posted - 05/14/2013 : 15:49:42

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">2) On the boom stern end there is a cable running up to the top of the mast like a topping lift. IN some literature it says to take it off after raising the sail. <hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">
The cable is probably your topping lift if it runs to the top of the mast. I think your confusing what you have read in some literature this topping lift that does not have to be disconnected with the pig tail. The pig tail is a short piece of wire that is attached to your back stay above the boom end. This will have a clip that can be attached to the boom end when not sailing. Catalina sold the boats with only the pig tail to keep the boom from falling into the cockpit. The topping lift was extra or added later by the PO.

Edited by - on

Captmorgan
Navigator

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USA
220 Posts

Response Posted - 05/14/2013 : 18:34:02

Thanks for your help. I am new to sailing. but I have been crew for 2 years and US Sail certified in Keel boats. Im getting pretty familiar. At least its much better than it was. I think every Cat 25 has a different topping lift set up. Ill have to get some binoculars and see if it is a fixed lift. If it is I think I could move it to the backstay after I raise the sail. The halyard and sheet was more a typo.

I have a furled Jib now and I think the halyard is mounted on the roller. So the jib halyard may be pulled up and not in use.

Thanks Again

Edited by - on

Captmorgan
Navigator

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USA
220 Posts

Response Posted - 05/14/2013 : 18:45:11

Hey thanks for your help. If I have a Furled Jib. So I guess this winch not used?

I thought I read in the manual that the winch was for the main sail but I guess not. Lots to learn. But I know enough to be safe and have a good time.

Edited by - on

Captmorgan
Navigator

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USA
220 Posts

Response Posted - 05/14/2013 : 18:46:17

Thanks for your help. I ll check it out this weekend and see if the topping lift is adjustable or can connect to the back stay

Edited by - on

Captmorgan
Navigator

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USA
220 Posts

Response Posted - 05/14/2013 : 18:50:40

Thanks John what is the Catalina 25 Association Burgee and what do you get through the association. I think I joined already.

PS I know the Boom Vang and Topping lift serve differnt functions but I mention them because depending on wind cant they both be used to adjust main sail tension. IN light wind use topping lift to loosen and fill sail and boom vang to tighten and hold less air>?

Is that right. Im just learning and I hear a lot of different things from different people. but I learn the most when I sail.

1<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by John Russell
 John, Welcome to the forum and the association.

(1) The lines to the spreaders are as you thought. You could fly the Catalina 25 Association Burgee from there should you choose to become a member of the Association.

(2) It sounds like you're describing the topping lift. It's job is to keep the boom from dropping when the sail is down. No other job than that. A boom vang is for a very different purpose. They aren't interchangeable. The topping lift should be removed or, at least, loosened, once the sail is hoisted. It doesn't sound like you have that option. You could remove it from the aft end of the boom and secure it at the mast somehow.?.?.?

(3 & 4) I'm assuming here that you didn't put the mast up yourself and that the lines were in place when you got the boat? I'm also assuming you have limited experience. What it sounds like here is that you have 2 halyards and one of them has had the bitter end pulled to the top of the mast. A "sheet" is attached to the clew of the sail and is used to control sail shape. It wouldn't be routed to the top of the mast.

Ask a lot of questions here. You'll find a lot of information.

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

Edited by - on

Stinkpotter
Master Marine Consultant

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Djibouti
9081 Posts

Response Posted - 05/14/2013 : 18:54:55

I agree about the topping lift. The instruction you saw is undoubtedly for the "pigtail" on the backstay (which you might not have if the backstay has ever been replaced). It must be removed to sail, while the topping lift from the mast-head should be fine with the sail up, as long as it goes a little slack then.

If your furler is a CDI, then it has its own halyard, and the original jib halyard becomes a spare, or a drifter or spinnaker halyard.

Catalina put the mast winch on the jib halyard side for some reason... I never had a problem with that since (1) it was useful for tensioning my Hood furling system, and (2) I led the main halyard back to the cockpit, and could tension the mainsail luff with the downhaul on the sliding gooseneck if necessary.

Welcome! And I'll suggest adding your boat's year, keel (SK, FK, WK), and rig (TR or SR) to your signature, in case these things are needed to answer some of your questions. You'll see this on many signatures here.

Edited by - Stinkpotter on 05/14/2013 18:57:21

Stinkpotter
Master Marine Consultant

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Djibouti
9081 Posts

Response Posted - 05/14/2013 : 19:25:59

...and yes, the vang can help flatten the main in heavier air, and helps maintain shape downwind with the boom out--especially with end-boom sheeting and a tiny little traveler on the transom. But I'm not a fan of using the topping lift for light air--if somebody wants to really improve light-air performance, they should get a "loose-footed" main (no bolt rope in the boom) so they can adjust the shape with the out-haul. That allows the sail bend around a more vertical axis to direct the wind aft, while lifting the boom directs it more upward and lets the top twist off too much. (That opinion is controversial here...)

Edited by - Stinkpotter on 05/14/2013 19:31:20

hubbardbilly
1st Mate

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USA
44 Posts

Response Posted - 05/15/2013 : 02:31:52

Ok, while we're on the topic of rigging... I attached my main sheet block to the end of the boom. Only problem is that I'm not quite sure I did it correctly. Where does the main sheet attach? Is it on the swiveling piece at the tip of the boom? If that's the case, should that swivel be extremely loose? I tried to tighten it but the bolt that holds it on just spins without tightening.

Edited by - on

dlucier
Master Marine Consultant

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Virgin Islands (United Kingdom)
7583 Posts

Response Posted - 05/15/2013 : 02:45:29

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by hubbardbilly
 Ok, while we're on the topic of rigging... I attached my main sheet block to the end of the boom. Only problem is that I'm not quite sure I did it correctly. Where does the main sheet attach? Is it on the swiveling piece at the tip of the boom? If that's the case, should that swivel be extremely loose? I tried to tighten it but the bolt that holds it on just spins without tightening.
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

The mainsheet attaches to the tang on the end of the boom which should be free to move. The bolt head on the end of my boom is maybe an 3/16 of an inch from the boom end casting which allows plenty of movement of the tang.

Edited by - on

redeye
Master Marine Consultant

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3476 Posts

Response Posted - 05/15/2013 : 04:19:49

Flag halyards most often come down from the spreaders.
.

Edited by - redeye on 05/15/2013 04:36:03

pastmember
Master Marine Consultant

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2402 Posts

Response Posted - 05/15/2013 : 10:28:19

Nicely set Ray.

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Captmorgan
Navigator

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USA
220 Posts

Response Posted - 05/15/2013 : 15:31:44

My topping lift is a solid wire that you can remove. Yours looks like a solid wire with a mechanism to release or increase tension.

After you raise the main do you release the tension of the topping lift on the boom. Does it get in the way?

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by redeye
 Flag halyards most often come down from the spreaders.
.

Pigtail on the left, adjustable topping lift next to the right. I use the topping lift all the time to adjust sail shape, most often opening the leach on my sail which has a pretty tight leach. Reduces the windward helm.

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

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Captmorgan
Navigator

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USA
220 Posts

Response Posted - 05/15/2013 : 15:33:47

Just saw the rest of your post below the picture.
I think thats a great way to have it. Ill have to modify mine so I can optimize the sail shape. thanks

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by Captmorgan
 
My topping lift is a solid wire that you can remove. Yours looks like a solid wire with a mechanism to release or increase tension.

After you raise the main do you release the tension of the topping lift on the boom. Does it get in the way?

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by redeye
 Flag halyards most often come down from the spreaders.
.

Edited by - on

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