Catalina - Capri - 25s International Assocaition Logo(2006)  
Assn Members Area · Join
h.jpg Home.
a.jpg Association Forum
s.jpg Ships Store
c.jpg Cruising
r.jpg Racing
t.jpg Technical Tips
g.jpg Photo Gallery - New
o.jpg Boat Search - Updated
m.jpg Manuals & Brochures
3rdrpt.jpg Swap Meet
l.jpg Links
f.jpg Officer Flag Line & Staff
b.jpg Bylaws & Constitution
 
1.jpg Members Area
1.jpg 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
Association Forum
Home | Profile | Register | Active Topics | Forum Users | Search | FAQ
Username:
 Password:
Save Password
Forgot your Password?

 All Forums
 Catalina/Capri 25/250 Sailor's Forums
 Catalina 250 Specific Forum
 Mast raising and lowering		  New Topic  Topic Locked
 Printer Friendly
Author Previous Topic Topic Next Topic  

Albanker
1st Mate

Member Avatar

USA
40 Posts
Initially Posted - 11/18/2015 :  15:04:27  Show Profile
I want to lower the mast to redo electrical wiring while in my slip. As the ground slopes upward from the slip , I was planning to have a couple of guys hold an extended halyard to help have a controlled lowering( while I walk it back) --- just wondering if I should have them pull halyard from top of mast or use trailer raising loop to have them pull from around spreaders. ---? Assistance from any that have used this method would be appreciated
Thanks
Al Covington

DavidCrosby
Navigator

Members Avatar

USA
240 Posts
Response Posted - 11/18/2015 :  17:24:15  Show Profile  Visit DavidCrosby's Homepage
I would recommend the top of the mast. I use to have an E-Scow. While the mast is probably not as heavy as a C250 mast, it is probably close in weight and certainly a lot taller. When raising or lowering the mast, we would use two people leap frogging it up or down from one person to the next, while a third person on the ground would provide additional assist by pulling or releasing the spinnaker halyard.

You will have no problems lowering your mast, especially if you use the baby stays to provide sideways support and a line from the hill to the top of the mast. I do recommend two people walking it down though. It gives one person a break when things start to feel heavy. Also, you need to transition from the cabin top to the cockpit so a second person helps.
David Crosby "Small World"
'02 C250 WK #614
Go to Top of Page

Albanker
1st Mate

Members Avatar

USA
40 Posts
Response Posted - 11/18/2015 :  18:20:25  Show Profile
Thanks. I have a Capri 22 that only requires 2 of us to lower. 1 at mast step and me walking it back--- but I realize a 250 mast would be heavier--- Capri is easy compared to when I sailed a Star--- those masts were not a lot of fun to handle!!
Go to Top of Page

solvasoncc
1st Mate

Members Avatar

USA
46 Posts
Response Posted - 11/19/2015 :  07:07:47  Show Profile
We just bought #475 (a WK) and will be lowering the mast too, but luckily on the trailer. I was planning on using one person on the trailer winch, and one on the boat. Does anyone know how high you can extend mast raising roller? I saw only one hole a couple of feet from the top. I tried to raise it all the way out of the slot, but never saw another hole. Perhaps its at the very end like in this picture?

http://tinyurl.com/pr3wbj4

Incidentally, does anyone have a picture of how those baby side-stays attach to the mast? This boat didn't come with those side-stays, but I can rig up a replacement for now. The manual mentions something that slides in the mast track, but I've never seen it. I was going to repurpose the vang tang for this job. Thoughts?
Charles

Catalina 250 WK SR Hull #475
College Station, TX
Edited by - solvasoncc on 11/19/2015 07:17:24
Go to Top of Page

DavidCrosby
Navigator

Members Avatar

USA
240 Posts
Response Posted - 11/19/2015 :  14:50:06  Show Profile  Visit DavidCrosby's Homepage
The mast tower has one hole for the down position and one hole for the up position. So, raise it until you see the hole.

The baby stays have t fittings that insert into the side of the mast at about eye level. The other end of the baby stay is a pelican hook that clips on to the stanchion.

I have my owner's manual, so I will see if I can remember to scan and post tonight.

I can raise and lower the mast by myself. Two people is better. The most difficult part is keeping the roller furler under control.
David Crosby "Small World"
'02 C250 WK #614
Go to Top of Page

solvasoncc
1st Mate

Members Avatar

USA
46 Posts
Response Posted - 11/19/2015 :  15:39:49  Show Profile
quote:
Originally posted by DavidCrosby

The mast tower has one hole for the down position and one hole for the up position. So, raise it until you see the hole.

The baby stays have t fittings that insert into the side of the mast at about eye level. The other end of the baby stay is a pelican hook that clips on to the stanchion.

I have my owner's manual, so I will see if I can remember to scan and post tonight.

I can raise and lower the mast by myself. Two people is better. The most difficult part is keeping the roller furler under control.




Thank you. I was guessing that was what the loops on the stanchions near the chainplates were for. Incidentally, would you happen to know the maximum height of the rear mast crutch? Since this boat didn't come with one, I am attempting to repurpose one from another boat (shown below).

http://1drv.ms/1O6FSqk
Charles

Catalina 250 WK SR Hull #475
College Station, TX
Go to Top of Page

TakeFive
Master Marine Consultant

Members Avatar

2272 Posts
Response Posted - 11/19/2015 :  16:06:23  Show Profile
I have all homemade components for my mast raising/lowering. The baby stays were going to take too long to deliver, so I bought a set of four winch straps, available at Home Depot, Harbor Freight, or Amazon. They work fine, and are adjustable. I need four instead of two because my gin pole needs to stay "in column" just like the mast. It's a little different from using the trailer attachment.

Details here: http://www.catalina-capri-25s.org/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=28799

...and here....

https://www.facebook.com/RickSonntag/videos/3989656028581/?l=8164384695698815524
Rick S., Swarthmore, PA
PO of Take Five, 1998 Catalina 250WK #348 (relocated to Baltimore's Inner Harbor)
New owner of 2001 Catalina 34MkII #1535 Breakin' Away (at Rock Hall Landing Marina)
Edited by - TakeFive on 11/19/2015 16:07:53
Go to Top of Page

DavidCrosby
Navigator

Members Avatar

USA
240 Posts
Response Posted - 11/19/2015 :  16:09:43  Show Profile  Visit DavidCrosby's Homepage
Ah a San Juan 21. I had one of those prior to my C250.

I do not know the actual length of the rear crutch. I can only say that my mast is pretty level from front to back when in the trailer and stern crutch.

If you have a couple people, you really do not have to have the baby stays. They just keep the mast from going sideways. Just have someone walk it down, while someone else lowers via the winch. And, maybe one more person to control the roller furler.
David Crosby "Small World"
'02 C250 WK #614
Go to Top of Page

Stinkpotter
Master Marine Consultant

Members Avatar

Djibouti
9080 Posts
Response Posted - 11/19/2015 :  21:41:56  Show Profile
quote:
Originally posted by DavidCrosby

If you have a couple people, you really do not have to have the baby stays. They just keep the mast from going sideways. Just have someone walk it down, while someone else lowers via the winch...
Just be ready for the substantial increase in weight and loss of control from the winch as the halyard approaches parallel to the mast.
Dave Bristle
Association "Port Captain" for Mystic/Stonington CT
PO of 1985 C-25 SR/FK #5032 Passage, USCG "sixpack" (expired),
Now on Eastern 27 $+!nkp*+ Sarge
Edited by - Stinkpotter on 11/19/2015 21:43:42
Go to Top of Page

solvasoncc
1st Mate

Members Avatar

USA
46 Posts
Response Posted - 11/23/2015 :  07:13:51  Show Profile
quote:
Originally posted by Stinkpotter

quote:
Originally posted by DavidCrosby

If you have a couple people, you really do not have to have the baby stays. They just keep the mast from going sideways. Just have someone walk it down, while someone else lowers via the winch...
Just be ready for the substantial increase in weight and loss of control from the winch as the halyard approaches parallel to the mast.


Done. We ended up using the jib halyard, winched the strap all the way out, used the ratchet straps mentioned earlier as the baby stays, and lowered from the cockpit so the mast came straight to me.

Observations:

  • There was more tension than I liked to the top of the furling drum from the jib Halyard. I plan to setup a spin halyard so that there is more clearance here in the future.

  • Also, even with one side of the backstay removed, I could barely get enough play with the furler to get the pin out. I can imagine that this would be difficult putting the mast up. So the plan is to put a adjustable backstay on the boat like I did for my SJ21 and give myself a little more play.

  • The covers on the turnbuckles were a nightmare. Sure they look clean, but the just hold grime, and adjusting anything is way more difficult, especially that backstay. I am likely going to yank 'em all off.

  • Finally, this job was much more difficult than my SJ21, solely because I have quick disconnects on everything on that boat and this boat has none. I estimate addressing that will reduce the job time by almost an order of magnitude.


Here is a pic just prior to lowering.
http://1drv.ms/1IaCjJa

Here is a pic after lowering and heading out of the yard.
http://1drv.ms/1IaCWSX
Charles

Catalina 250 WK SR Hull #475
College Station, TX
Edited by - solvasoncc on 11/23/2015 14:56:29
Go to Top of Page

Ben - FL
Admiral

Members Avatar

880 Posts
Response Posted - 11/23/2015 :  16:22:37  Show Profile  Visit Ben - FL's Homepage
Remember to ALWAYS keep everyone out from under any load when doing a lift (or lower). I rig on big cranes and it is no different on the boat. All it takes is one small link in the chain to break and the mast could come crashing down. I've lower my mast on the water by myself using the jib sheet winches and a 2x4 gin pole to gain a mechanical advantage and a block shackled to the stem. I tie a bridle to the main halyard and raise it to the spreaders. Then route it through the block at the stem and to the winch, using baby stays to stabilize the mast. On trailer I use the system shown earlier.
Safe voyages,
Ben
sloop Chick-a-pea,
C250wk#364
Go to Top of Page
  Previous Topic Topic Next Topic  
 New Topic  Topic Locked
 Printer Friendly
Jump To:
Association Forum © since 1999 Catalina Capri 25s International Association Go To Top Of Page
Powered By: Snitz Forums 2000 Version 3.4.06
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.