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Catalina/Capri 25/250 Sailor's Forums

Catalina 250 Specific Forum

Climbing the Mast

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Al
Captain

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USA
269 Posts

Initially Posted - 09/03/2004 : 17:22:37

I wanted to add a TV antenna and Windex to my mast, so, having a wing keel, was faced with paying someone to do it, finding a bunch of people to help me lower the mast, or invest in something to let me do it myself, plus allow me to go up again whenever I needed to. I decided on the do it yourself approach.

My first choice was the Prime Climb system http://www.prime-climb.com/primeclimb.htm, a solid system that you insert into the mast slot one section at a time. But they don’t make one for the narrow slot in Catalina’s masts.

So I ended up with the Mast Mate system <http://www.mastmate.com/> and I’m very happy with it. It's made of two-inch webbing with "stirrups" sewn into it. You buy and attach your own sail slugs, hook the main halyard to it, and hoist it up just like the main.

The first time up is a little daunting. Or a lot. I didn’t make it all the way. Once I got above the spreaders, it just started getting very…<i>lonely</i>… up there, and I came down. But I was back the next day with a full head of steam and made it up with no problem. I’ve been up several times since then, and it really is a piece of cake. But the first time is a little strange!

Once you get to the top though, it’s still fun getting some work done. Something as simple as drilling a hole is much more difficult than if the piece was on your workbench in the garage. Also, although theoretically you can position yourself higher than the top of the mast, the backstay limits you, and the closer you get to the top, the more you have to scrunch to get under it. You can move yourself to the side of the backstay, but working off center introduces another bunch of action/reaction effects that you didn’t anticipate.

But if you’re looking for a way to the top and think you’ll be doing it more than once, I can recommend the Mast Mate.

Al Maniccia
SeaWolf C250WK #698
Marina Del Rey, CA

Edited by - on

Derek Crawford
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
3321 Posts

Response Posted - 09/03/2004 : 19:00:08

Thanks Al! I often wondered how well that one worked.
Derek

Edited by - on

Ben - FL
Admiral

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880 Posts

Response Posted - 09/03/2004 : 20:31:24

That looks like the ticket.

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Keith D.
Navigator

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USA
233 Posts

Response Posted - 09/03/2004 : 23:24:31

Looks great. But I don't think I would make it to the top on the second day or the third day or fourth or fifth sixth...……………………………I hate heights! Being a trailer sailor is there any difference between lowering the mast on a WK vs. a WB? After having done it several times with the gin pole and the winch I have found it to be quiet easy to do it by my self. Last time in San Diego I found there was no parking at the ramp for the truck and trailer (except on the street past the stoplights) and a line for the ramp. So I took the mast down before I put the boat on the trailer so I could get it to the street, past the over head traffic lights, to secure it down for travel. Even taking it down just floating around wasn’t a problem.

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Al
Captain

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USA
269 Posts

Response Posted - 09/04/2004 : 01:07:34

I asked that question (how hard is it to take down the mast on a WK in the slip) about a year ago on this forum. I don’t remember the exact replies, but I got a lot of them, had several different methods suggested, and none, I believe, that said I could do it single-handed (which was important to me). But if it is as simple as you describe, I probably would have gone that route.

On the other hand, I’m really happy with the Mast Mate. No surprises! And I talked with the owner, Gary Wheeler at length, and he was very helpful. Plus, I bought the shortest non-custom one they make (35’) which is about 10’ longer than our “P” dimension, so if I ever upgrade and get that 310 (yeah, like that’s gonna happen….) it’ll work on the 310, too.

As far as the fear factor, it really annoyed me that I didn’t make it up the first time. I figured if I didn’t do it then, I’d never do it. But fear won out, and I wimped out and went down. But the second attempt just went off without a hitch. I was actually surprised how easily I got up there and was eyeball to eyeball with my anchor light!

Edited by - on

Jeff McK
Captain

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USA
389 Posts

Response Posted - 09/04/2004 : 11:02:34

Al,

I can sympathize with the "altitude anxiety". Now that you've beaten that, try doing a climb up a 100" aerial ladder on a fire truck! If you can do that you are cured.

Anyway, the obvious question for me would be "how much heel occured while you were up there?" I weigh about 190#. If you start adding tool weight it could get interesting. I know the righting factor is pretty good on these boats, but would hate to find out the hard way.

Did you take any extra precautions to inhibit any heel?

Edited by - on

Al
Captain

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USA
269 Posts

Response Posted - 09/04/2004 : 13:41:16

Jeff,

100 feet!? Ummm, I'll leave that to you. I may be stupid, but not suicidal!! That’s amazing…..!

I just got as much slack out of my four dock lines as I could before going up, and heeling and being tossed around wasn’t an issue (I'm 215#). I had attached a block up there so my son could send things up via a linesman's tool bucket…

...and I did have to ask him to be a little more considerate of me up there, but at worst, it was just annoying to have to stop for a moment and hold on till the boat settled down. Not a big deal, though.

I forgot to mention in my original post that you’ll also need a harness and tether, and a linesman belt (goes around the mast so you can lean back) is almost a necessity. I had resurrected a discarded one at work, so already having that was another thing that swayed (pardon the expression…) me to the Mast Mate.

Edited by - Al on 09/04/2004 14:42:18

Jeff McK
Captain

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USA
389 Posts

Response Posted - 09/04/2004 : 15:36:10

Al,

Other features if on the fire ladder: climbing up & down wearing a 30# protective suit & 20# air pack, heat, smoke, swaying induced by the backpressure of a hose pumping >200 GPM. Doing work on a 30' mast is a piece o' cake!

Thanks for the info. Sounds like you've got a nice arrangement if you can keep your kid from moving around too much while you are aloft.

Edited by - on

Al
Captain

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USA
269 Posts

Response Posted - 09/04/2004 : 15:51:12

Jeff,

So on top of all this stuff you drag UP the ladder, you're still supposed to be able to throw a limp 180# person over your shoulder and get back down-without dropping them....!?!

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Jeff McK
Captain

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USA
389 Posts

Response Posted - 09/04/2004 : 16:05:56

Yup. Lot of fun.

Dropping the poor soul you are trying to rescue isn't cool, so they usually send someone along to help get them down.

After 18 yrs of doing it as a volunteer firefighter/paramedic, I don't do this anymore. Let the young guys have the glory. I'll climb a mast as needed & go sailing instead.

Edited by - Jeff McK on 09/04/2004 16:06:33

Al
Captain

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USA
269 Posts

Response Posted - 09/04/2004 : 16:09:04

Right on! And thanks for your 18 yrs. of helping folks....!

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Cheshire_Cat
Deckhand

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USA
1 Posts

Response Posted - 09/05/2004 : 10:05:32

What a Maverick! Great pics too!

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Keith D.
Navigator

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USA
233 Posts

Response Posted - 09/05/2004 : 18:10:23

Al I didn’t realize you are out of Marina Del Ray. I was just down there two weeks ago on a friend’s 25’ (not a Catalina). He has it in Basin G. We were talking about taking his mast down to put up a radio antenna. Things are pretty tight down there and one of the biggest problems we came up with is when you lower the mast you would block the channel until you got the mast forward. There isn’t enough room if you back the boat in. Your solution may be the best considering the room considerations. I am in Riverside and Marina Del Ray is just a little further than Long Beach. I saw a ramp that I could launch from. We should get together the next time I am down there.

Edited by - on

Al
Captain

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USA
269 Posts

Response Posted - 09/05/2004 : 23:24:40

Keith,

If your friend uses 3/8” sail slugs and his mast slot is 3/16”, you can use my MastMate and harness. I’ll even set it up for you (don’t worry, I wouldn’t deprive you guys of the joy of climbing up there…!). Have him check his dimensions and if you want to borrow it, email me and we’ll go from there.

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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.