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Catalina/Capri 25/250 Sailor's Forums

Catalina 250 Specific Forum

lowering the mast

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Bubba
Admiral

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USA
542 Posts

Initially Posted - 11/18/2003 : 21:43:47

My C250wk is to be hauled out soon

and I'm contemplating lowering the mast for the winter. I suppose it's intuitively obvious to the trailer sailors, but how do you keep the base of the mast from slipping forward as the top is lowered toward the stern? Where the mast is bolted is not slotted like some boats I've seen, so I see no way for the mast to pivot on it. What am I missing here? Thanks to Buzz Maring's post and Ted Kuenzli's tech tip, I plan to use an A-frame gin pole to lower the mast. It's the mast base that I can't figure.

Dave & Deb

Frayed Knot
C-250wk #270

Edited by - on

Arlyn Stewart
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
2980 Posts

Response Posted - 11/18/2003 : 22:39:25

I'm perplexed... Is the slot possibly in the mast itself?

Also, regarding the A frame... Here is a cool graphic seen recently.

I also noted a variant of that method recently that doesn't require pivoting the A frame. It uses a fixed line from the bow stem to the apex of the A frame. A sheave at the top of the A frame receives a line that pulls the mast up from just beneath the spreaders (hauled and supported there by the main halyard). A trailer winch could be mounted on one of the A frame legs or the line routed back to a sheet winch by using another block near one base of the A frame.

Some advantages...
<ul><li>the frame legs don't have to pivot so they can be anchored easier </li><li>the apex of the A frame stays closer to the mast so there would be less tendancy for lateral movement prior to the shrouds firming up </li><li>if a trailer winch is mounted on one of the A frame legs, single handed raising would place the operator where the furler luff could also be handed while cranking </li><li>the A frame height is not as critical because it doesn't have to stay within the forestay because it doesn't drop</li><li> without the need to pivot, wood 2X4s would make construction simpler</li></ul>

Edited by - Arlyn Stewart on 11/18/2003 22:53:45

Frank Hopper
Past Commodore

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Pitcairn Island
6776 Posts

Response Posted - 11/18/2003 : 22:42:47

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by Bubba
 My C250wk is to be hauled out soon

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

The base of your mast is shaped like a cam and will pivot just fine. What is the discoloration under your mast step?

Edited by - on

Bryan Beamer
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1038 Posts

Response Posted - 11/18/2003 : 23:36:18

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">I plan to use an A-frame gin pole to lower the mast.<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

Is the mast raising system that is incorporated into the trailer not an option?

You won't have a problem with the base I just loosen the wing nut a little and lower it down. The factory mast raising system is a breeze to work. If you can, I would give that a try.

Edited by - on

Arlyn Stewart
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
2980 Posts

Response Posted - 11/19/2003 : 08:21:13

Regarding the mast raising on the C250... Two emails recently asked for information about using a small collaspable gin pole because in both cases, they needed to carry the gin pole on the boat.

One had to traverse under a bridge to get to open water and the other wanted the gin pole to use as I do to hoist the dinghy to the foredeck while cruising and set the outboard on the dinghy. The c250 provides quite well for carrying the dingy on the foredeck for longer passages. It fits under the life lines and lies cross wise on the deck but does not interefere with access to the anchor locker. Going forward is no problem, just step through the dinghy.

I've added the drawing for such a pole to my site. For those who don't have the hole in the mast base, a strap on attachement for the mast base can be used.

Drawing only http://www.stewartfam.net/arlyn/ginpole.jpg

Full page http://www.stewartfam.net/arlyn/ginpole.html

Edited by - on

Buzz Maring
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1771 Posts

Response Posted - 11/19/2003 : 11:49:40

Also, regarding the A frame... Here is a cool graphic seen recently. - Arlyn

WOW Arlyn ... 'neat!

Not only is a picture worth a thousand words, so is your graphic!

Edited by - on

Bubba
Admiral

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USA
542 Posts

Response Posted - 11/19/2003 : 21:01:32

Frank, I noted the bevel in the base but it doesn't seem like it matches up with the radius from the bolt. I plan to take it very slow...
The discoloration you noted is just grime that was trapped there after Hurricane Isabel. I took the pictures a while back. The dock was half destroyed and we've been without water ever since. More of a challenge to keep things clean. I though about lowering a bucket over the side and rinsing things off but the Chesapeake is pretty muddy around our marina: too thin to plow, too thick to drink. The rains have kept things pretty clean.

Bryan, I don't have a trailer or any kind of mast raising system. I'll be taking my forum notes to Home Depot and putting something together.

Arlyn, nice graphic. I'll think about that fixed-line A-frame.
Nice thing about the A-frame system is I can take it very slooooowwww.

Thanks everyone for the feedback. I'll let you know if there are any surprises.

Edited by - Bubba on 11/19/2003 21:03:27

Oscar
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
2030 Posts

Response Posted - 11/21/2003 : 10:46:02

Dave,

Your base looks like mine and indeed it pivot's just clear. Based on your hull # the trailer set up was not incorporated yet. Do you not have the hole in the front of the mast for the gin pole? If you do, making a setup should be fairly straight forward. Maybe there is one amongst us with the earlier setup willing to set it up and take a picture? Of particular importance are the temporary "baby stays" that hook into the oval holes on the side of the mast that you always wondered about what they were for and the loop on the bottom of the stanchion abeam the mast foot. They stabilize the mast laterally, as the shrouds loose all tension on the way down. (If this is a one time, more than one person, operation a capable assistant could fulfill this role...)
<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">just step through the dinghy<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

Arlyn, do I understand you have it right side up? You're not worried that it could fill up and add some serious weight up there? Or come off it's "moorings?"

Oscar, in San Antonio making BU's

Edited by - Oscar on 11/21/2003 10:51:15

Arlyn Stewart
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
2980 Posts

Response Posted - 11/21/2003 : 11:24:39

dinghy has drain plug

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Bubba
Admiral

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USA
542 Posts

Response Posted - 11/21/2003 : 16:53:26

I do have the slots for the baby stays - but no stays. I'm sure I can rig some up if I have to. Would an A-frame rig eliminate the need for the baby stays? (I plan to have help while lowering the mast too.) I don't have any holes in the front of the mast for a gin pole.

Edited by - on

Arlyn Stewart
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
2980 Posts

Response Posted - 11/21/2003 : 18:00:08

The A frame is not dependent on the baby stays. A mono gin pole is.

Edited by - on

bear
Admiral

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USA
909 Posts

Response Posted - 11/22/2003 : 08:20:49

Bubba,
Until last Sept I [we] lowered and raised the mast on my C250 by hand, two people on the ground holding the second halyard strung out, one guiding the furler and furler drum and one watching over the mast. Never used the baby stays until last Sept. Basically the two people on the cabin top can take over lowering the mast once it is in arms reach. Same for raising. Last Sept used Arlyn's mod with two people, both on the cabin top. Considerations must be given to furler once you pop the front pin loose, it can do some scratching if not held or tied off. Also "T" bolts must be tied upright with cable ties or you will bend them coming down with mast. Just my two cents for your considerations. "Bear" on the hard in upstate N.Y.

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Bryan Beamer
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1038 Posts

Response Posted - 11/22/2003 : 08:34:00

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Considerations must be given to furler once you pop the front pin loose, it can do some scratching if not held or tied off<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

One thing that works well on the furler. Take a winter stocking cap and put that over the furler drum then it won't scratch

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