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Catalina/Capri 25/250 Sailor's Forums

Catalina 25 Specific Forum

Boom Height

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Designwiz
1st Mate

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USA
59 Posts

Initially Posted - 07/05/2004 : 22:46:17

I recently purchased a Bimini from GMI, it was 45" tall, 75" wide and 5' long. I am now cutting it down to clear the boom under sail. My Catalina 25 is a 1987 model. standard rig, fin keel and currently does not have a topping lift, (but it is coming up fast on the "list"), also it has no boom vang. I have shortend the pig tail to hang the boom at 62 inches off the floor of the cockpit, a measurement I took last time I was under sail. With the Bimini mounted on the tracks but inboard by way of 5" long plates I am able to keep it all inside of the life lines and am still be able to adjust it forward and backwards. My problem is I have already cut 8" off the main bow and I still can not get the boom to clear the top of the bimini under sail. I am begining to think my main sail is "baggy" because under sail it always seem to have a belly in it at the boom. Is this normal and what is the distance to the bottom of the boom on a boat with a sail that is still in good shape? Doing the trig on the Bimini frame, 8" cut off the 45 degree main bow should lower the Bimini height to about 39", it appears to need another 2" cut off it which would make the bimini about 37" to 38" tall. Does all this sound correct or do I have main sail that needs to be replaced. My boom height is not adjustable and my tracks end just before the winches. I have the Bimini mounts moved forward two notches on the track which places the last bow right at the end of the boom and before the main sheet lines. What measurents to the bottom of the boom do other members get under sail? I must say I am very pleased with the quality of the top, thank you all for the information and helpful hints and ideas on this project.

Wind Dancer

Edited by - on

lcharlot
Master Marine Consultant

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Antigua and Barbuda
1301 Posts

Response Posted - 07/06/2004 : 08:21:44

The next time you take the mainsail down, spread it out on a lawn and measure it all around with a tape. If the luff and/or leach measurements are more than a couple of inches out of spec, you may have a sail that is "blown out", or perhaps one that wasn't originally made for a Catalina 25. You can get the exact measurements for what the sail is supposed to be in the Tech Tips section of this web site.

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dlucier
Master Marine Consultant

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Virgin Islands (United Kingdom)
7583 Posts

Response Posted - 07/06/2004 : 08:42:41

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by Designwiz
 ...I am begining to think my main sail is "baggy" because under sail it always seem to have a belly in it at the boom. Is this normal...?<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

The "belly" in the foot of your sail is probably from a shelf foot designed into the sail for use in low wind conditions and is normal. My previous mainsail, which was probably the original, had this type of foot and I could use it for a hammock.

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ddlyle
Captain

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302 Posts

Response Posted - 07/06/2004 : 15:21:13

Bruce,
What a timely post (timely for me that is.)
I don't have any answers for you, ...
I have a 1986 standard rig (swing) and I am ready to order a top from GMI. Glad to hear you like their quality.
Your measurements prompt me to measure mine again (3rd time?!).
My boom does slide up 3 or 4 inches when I hoist my main.
And I do have a topping lift although it isn't adjustable.
A prior owner had run a line (wire or cable I think) from the mast head down that ends in a loop a couple of feet above the boom. From that loop a short length of line completes the journey to the end of the boom. So, in essence, the height of my boom is adjustable if I want to stand on the seat and re-tie the knot. My factory original "pigtail" still hangs from the backstay.

I also had planned to install my bimini forward of the coaming winches as you described, but was thinking of using the 2' long tracks that GMI sells and mounting those inboard of the jib-car tracks by an inch or so.

How did you rig the bimini mounts onto "cars" that will go on the tracks? Was it difficult? (I'm lazy). Where did you get the "cars"?
Thanks a lot.
Sorry I can't help you with your question.
If I go to my boat this evening I'll measure and maybe I can help.

Edited by - on

dlucier
Master Marine Consultant

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Virgin Islands (United Kingdom)
7583 Posts

Response Posted - 07/06/2004 : 16:48:18

When mounting your bimini on the genoa track make sure that the bimini legs don't interfere with the jib cars or sheet lead angles from the winch to the track cars. With my 135 genoa, my cars are positioned around the Catalina 25 logo and are adjusted forward and astern of this point depending on my headsail trim (powered up or down). My track mounted bimini legs are located an inch or two ahead of the coaming winch and is out of the way of both the jib cars and sheets.

Edited by - dlucier on 07/06/2004 16:49:02

Designwiz
1st Mate

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USA
59 Posts

Response Posted - 07/06/2004 : 16:49:34

Hi:
Have some "PDF" files of CAD drawings I made of the cross section of the hull where the bimini mounts. Also "PDF" CAD files of how the Bimini looks once cut down from the starboard side. Found that measuring was the most difficult part of the whole process....nothing is flat, straight or at a good right angle to each other.

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GregOnC25
Deckhand

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USA
22 Posts

Response Posted - 07/07/2004 : 22:08:29

Are you sure this is a standard rig? 62 inches from the cockpit sole sounds like a tall rig? I measured mine today at ~60 inches (tallrig). I'm looking frward to seeing how your bimini project works out (see my post).
Greg

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Designwiz
1st Mate

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USA
59 Posts

Response Posted - 07/07/2004 : 22:55:32

Hi:
Standard rigs actually have a higher boom than a tall rig. Measured the distance from the cockpit floor to the bottom of the boom again yesterday. It was 62 inches with the sail raised as high as possible and the main sheet pulled as tight as I could get it. Bimini is 42" off the tracks, 77" wide and 5 feet long. Will send pics of the mounts I fabricated if needed. It is a 5" plate bolted (did not have a tig welder) to a car with the bimini mounts mounted on the inside edge of the plate. Alows me to slide it forward and backward but is narrow enough to fit it all inside the life lines. Support poles in rear instead of straps added a lot of rigidity to it. Note that any wider than 77" and your jib lines on the port side will rub against the main bow of the bimini. The forward straps were set up with the hooks and small eye bolts at the bimini end for easier disconnect to go forward, other end attaches to the outside of grab rail with a "D" ring and a padeye. Works out pretty well.

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