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Catalina/Capri 25/250 Sailor's Forums

Catalina 250 Specific Forum

Topping Lift & Boom Removal

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Diversion
Deckhand

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5 Posts

Initially Posted - 10/08/2004 : 17:39:09

Hello All-

I need to remove the boom from my 2001 WK so the marina can lower the mast for winter storage and I'm not sure what to do with the topping lift. I believe it is connected at the masthead and runs through the boom. Should I use a messenger line pulled through the boom to replace the topping lift ? Should I cut the topping lift above the boom and add a shackle so I can have a quick disconnect for the future? Any advice from you experienced trailer sailors is appreciated. Do those who trailer use a topping lift ?

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bren737
Captain

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291 Posts

Response Posted - 10/08/2004 : 23:48:50

'Diversion',

In regard to the boom/topping lift, when I trailer, I remove the mainsail, disconnect the boom at the gooseneck and set it in the cockpit, then lower the mast. Once I have unpinned the mast at the tabernacle and slipped it forward onto the forward mast support I then simply detach the toppping lift from the top of the mast. Initially it was secured with a knot but I have since attached it to the top of the mast via a shackle for easier removal/installation. Unless the topping lift itself is worn and needing to be replaced, I would not run it out of the boom. Just my take on it. . .

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Diversion
Deckhand

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5 Posts

Response Posted - 10/09/2004 : 09:35:21

Thanks bren737,

I figured that is what most people do. Unfortunately, the marina is taking my mast down and they requested that the boom be removed first. I'm trying to figure out how to detach the boom from the mast, and of course the topping lift is keeping them connected. When the marina raises the mast, they'll similarly want to raise the mast without the boom attached.

Any other thoughts ?

Edited by - on

cathluk
Admiral

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USA
513 Posts

Response Posted - 10/09/2004 : 22:26:01

How if your topping lift attached at the boom? On our boat the topping lift is attached to a sheave which is clipped to the end of the boom. We just remove the topping lift from the end of the boom & tie it off at the mast. Maybe your topping lift is attached to the boom differently?

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jedperkins
Deckhand

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USA
8 Posts

Response Posted - 10/09/2004 : 22:56:43

My topping lift is in two parts, one tied to the top of the boom, extending to about 5 feet above deck. The second part runs into and out of the boom, where it is cleated on the opposite side of the boom from the outhaul cleat. The two parts of the topping lift are tied together with two bowlines, one on each end end of the topping lifts, with the two bowlines tied togetherso that the loops tie together. When I take my boom off I just untie the lower bowline and leave the second part running through the boom. In the spring I will just retie them together by knoting another bowline through the bowline that is on the part of the topping lift connected to the top of the mast. You could cut your line and implement this approach as long as you have enough slack line in topping lift to tie a couple of bowlines.

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Diversion
Deckhand

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5 Posts

Response Posted - 10/11/2004 : 07:58:59

Thanks Jed:

Sounds like the plan I had for the topping lift is exactly what Jed described on his boat. My line does run like his through the length of the boom. I think I'll cut the topping lift as he described. Thanks for the info.

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Frank Hopper
Past Commodore

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Pitcairn Island
6776 Posts

Response Posted - 10/11/2004 : 08:30:23

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by Diversion
 Thanks bren737,

I figured that is what most people do. Unfortunately, the marina is taking my mast down and they requested that the boom be removed first. I'm trying to figure out how to detach the boom from the mast, and of course the topping lift is keeping them connected. When the marina raises the mast, they'll similarly want to raise the mast without the boom attached.

Any other thoughts ?
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

Why do you need the marina to drop your mast? It is no big deal; very easy to do. Why risk someone else messing up your equipment and having to pay for it to boot!

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cathluk
Admiral

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USA
513 Posts

Response Posted - 10/11/2004 : 16:13:12

It might be cheaper. Let's see - first you've got to buy the baby stays, then build the gin pole or A-frame or whatever method you prefer. Then you've got to have somewhere to store the extra stuff...

For dropping the mast once every few years it might just be easier & cheaper to pay the yard.

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Frank Hopper
Past Commodore

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Pitcairn Island
6776 Posts

Response Posted - 10/12/2004 : 11:20:20

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by cathluk
 It might be cheaper. Let's see - first you've got to buy the baby stays, then build the gin pole or A-frame or whatever method you prefer. Then you've got to have somewhere to store the extra stuff...

For dropping the mast once every few years it might just be easier & cheaper to pay the yard.
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

IMHO All you need is two more people. No equipment. One person can pick it up, it is not heavy. One of the reasons we own the size boats we do is because we can do all the work ourselves. I am just always surprised when mast raising and lowering is treated as if it is an issue. It is only an issue if you are alone.

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cathluk
Admiral

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USA
513 Posts

Response Posted - 10/12/2004 : 16:08:19

I thought without the baby-stays there was a problem with bending something while walking the mast up/down. It DOES seem like you could just walk it down (like we used to on our Prindle 16), but after reading some of the discussions about damage from raising/lowering problems we've been leery of just trying to lower it by hand.

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bear
Admiral

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USA
909 Posts

Response Posted - 10/12/2004 : 16:51:34

Bad Idea walking down a C250 mast. Takes four of us MEN to manually
lower mine and that is with one of the halyards plus fifteen more feet of rope added on. Two on the ground and two on the cabin roof. Baby-stays keep the mast from tipping sideways-good idea to use them. I'm sure on this forum is a tried and true method that is safe and secure. Check Arlyn Stewart's web site for a good procedure. I have raised and lowered this mast for four years so have some knowlege of what could go wrong. Do not walk it down it will overwhelm you. "Just my three cents worth" "Bear" on the hard in upstate N.Y.

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Jeff McK
Captain

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USA
389 Posts

Response Posted - 10/12/2004 : 16:51:57

Please don't take this as a slam, but it shouldn't be all that tough if you proceed logically. I routinely raised & dropped the mast on my old boat (BW Harpoon 5.2) unassisted as I kept it on a trailer. While obviously not as big a chore as on our boats, it still took planning.

IMHO the main concerns are control through mechanical advantage, safety & proper body mechanics. As Frank pointed out, the mast is not all that heavy by itself. With a planned & efficient lowering process, 2 reasonably fit adults should be able to manage this using the advice below and the guidance of the owner manual. When in doubt, get more help & save your backs.

Good luck.

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528
Navigator

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USA
181 Posts

Response Posted - 10/13/2004 : 07:03:01

Here is a shot of 2 of us walking the mast up. I think you will know pretty quickly if you have enough "horsepower" to do it. http://www.catalina25-250.org/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=5837&SearchTerms=never+enough+time

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Ray Seitz
Captain

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USA
416 Posts

Response Posted - 10/13/2004 : 12:24:01

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">My topping lift is in two parts, one tied to the top of the boom, extending to about 5 feet above deck. The second part runs into and out of the boom, where it is cleated on the opposite side of the boom from the outhaul cleat. The two parts of the topping lift are tied together with two bowlines, one on each end end of the topping lifts, with the two bowlines tied togetherso that the loops tie together. When I take my boom off I just untie the lower bowline and leave the second part running through the boom. In the spring I will just retie them together by knoting another bowline through the bowline that is on the part of the topping lift connected to the top of the mast. You could cut your line and implement this approach as long as you have enough slack line in topping lift to tie a couple of bowlines.<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote"> Dido. This is how the dealer delivered my boat. He did not feel a continuious topping lift was any advantage

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Keith D.
Navigator

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USA
233 Posts

Response Posted - 10/13/2004 : 22:06:44

I walked the mast down with one other person when I picked up my boat and I will never do that again. We got it down but I don’t think we could have gotten it back up by hand. It was a real killer of a job. Since then I have gotten the correct tools from Catalina and putting the mast up and down by myself is no problem and very safe. Catalina only charges $59 for a set of baby stays and $60 for the gin pole. Here is a post I put out on the subject. http://www.catalina25-250.org/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=6352 Keith

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