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Catalina/Capri 25/250 Sailor's Forums

General Sailing Forum

Center mast support

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Frank Hopper
Past Commodore

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Pitcairn Island
6776 Posts

Initially Posted - 12/31/2003 : 16:23:32

This is the support I made for the center of my mast. It is fabricated from a plastic fence post from Home Depot- $17. As usual I could have done a better job but as a first pass I am ok with it. The step for a 25 needed slots cut fore and aft of the post, I am not sure what a 250 would need. Mine is at the height for my winter cover. I will probably make another road version. I used two bolts in the step slot to secure it better, and a zip tie at the top for no reason what so ever. I used a little closed cell foam wash rag under the mast for added chafe padding. It is quite strong.

Edited by - Frank Hopper on 12/31/2003 18:14:13

NuNees
Navigator

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USA
125 Posts

Response Posted - 01/01/2004 : 23:21:09

Frank,
i have never stepped my mast. So, I am confused.
I had thought that the mast rested on or about the height of the stern/bow pulpits.
Why is yours so high?

Edited by - on

Frank Hopper
Past Commodore

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Pitcairn Island
6776 Posts

Response Posted - 01/02/2004 : 00:07:41

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by NuNees
 Frank,
i have never stepped my mast. So, I am confused.
I had thought that the mast rested on or about the height of the stern/bow pulpits.
Why is yours so high?
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">
In the first picture you can see my aft "mast-up" mast support, it has several adjustments and I have it set at the tallest. The tallest setting is what you are supposed to use when you raise your mast, it helps with theat first 20 degrees. I have another mast-up at my bow, I have them so high so that I can have my winter cover/tarp high enough that I can get in and work on the boat. It is very nice to have the mast that high so that I am not always dodging shrouds and the mast itself. I wanted a center support to better handle the strain of snow. When I trailer the boat I will have the mast-ups set to the pullpit height. I am planning to make another center support that matches that height.

Please oh please, practice stepping your mast so that you realize that it is no big deal. There are exstensive posts on the subject and some people need to make the process a one or two person job and there are accessories that will do that. I sail at a club where there are always people around who are glad to help. The first couple times have someone who knows what they are doing help and have at least four if not five people. After that it is an easy three man job, (A tougher two man job!).

Edited by - on

Steve Milby
Past Commodore

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USA
5909 Posts

Response Posted - 01/02/2004 : 10:51:59

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Why is yours (mast) so high?<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">
When you cover the boat with a tarp for winter storage, raising the mast higher gives the tarp a steeper pitch. When rain and snow fall on the tarp, they slide off, instead of sticking to it and pooling in it. The weight of accumulated snow and water pulls the grommets out of your tarps.

Edited by - on

NuNees
Navigator

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USA
125 Posts

Response Posted - 01/03/2004 : 08:45:07

Frank, Steve,
Thank you, both.
I must have been suffering the after effects of the holidays.

Now it all makes so much sense.
As always, I appreciate your comments.

Have a Great Year.

Edited by - on

Bubba
Admiral

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USA
542 Posts

Response Posted - 01/03/2004 : 23:10:47

Frank, do you take your spreaders off before covering? Looks like they'd interfere with the cover at that height.

Edited by - on

Frank Hopper
Past Commodore

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Pitcairn Island
6776 Posts

Response Posted - 01/03/2004 : 23:36:43

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by Bubba
 Frank, do you take your spreaders off before covering? Looks like they'd interfere with the cover at that height.
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">
I will before I put it back on, I hoped I would not need too since the spreaders are fairly heavy but I poked a small hole in my new tarp, so I will pull the spreaders next time the snow is coming. I fear snow and ice and the expansion that the freezing causes.

Edited by - on

Bubba
Admiral

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USA
542 Posts

Response Posted - 01/04/2004 : 00:27:57

I hear that!
I'm just now making mast crutches for my C250. I hope to get the mast up high like yours so the tarp will have that nice pitch on it like Steve mentioned - so that snow and ice slide right off.
Great pictures by the way...

Edited by - on

Buzz Maring
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1772 Posts

Response Posted - 01/04/2004 : 00:32:42

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by fhopper@mac.com
 <blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by Bubba
 Frank, do you take your spreaders off before covering? Looks like they'd interfere with the cover at that height.
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">
I will before I put it back on, I hoped I would not need too since the spreaders are fairly heavy but I poked a small hole in my new tarp, so I will pull the spreaders next time the snow is coming. I fear snow and ice and the expansion that the freezing causes.
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

Hi Frank,

I'd bet you already know this, but just in case you haven't thought of it ... there are compression tubes inside the mast, and the bolts that hold the spreaders to the mast go through them ... if you remove the bolts, be sure to "capture" the tubes to keep them in place. If they fall out, you will be making up curse words after you run out of the first round of %%##!!**&^%$#@!!! while you try to get them to line up with the holes again.

'Just a thought ...

Edited by - on

Steve Milby
Past Commodore

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USA
5909 Posts

Response Posted - 01/04/2004 : 10:07:39

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">...the bolts that hold the spreaders to the mast go through them ... if you remove the bolts, be sure to "capture" the tubes to keep them in place. <hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">
You shouldn't remove the bolts that hold the spreader mounts to the mast. Just pull the cotter pins that hold the spreaders to the spreader mounts. (Because they are so crucial to the support of the mast, I replace them each year with new stainless steel cotter pins.) Before covering the mast with a tarp, I wrap an old tee shirt or towel around the spreader mounts, to prevent them from punching a hole in the tarp.

Edited by - on

Buzz Maring
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1772 Posts

Response Posted - 01/04/2004 : 10:30:05

You shouldn't remove the bolts that hold the spreader mounts to the mast. Just pull the cotter pins that hold the spreaders to the spreader mounts. - Steve

Oops! I forgot about those ...

Edited by - on

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