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Catalina/Capri 25/250 Sailor's Forums

Catalina 25 Specific Forum

spreader brackets

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bailey
Deckhand

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10 Posts

Initially Posted - 01/06/2005 : 19:25:10

I have a 1980 catalina 25 tall rig (purchased this past July) with the old aluminum spreader brackets. Should I replace them with the Catalina Direct retrofit kit? I am getting mixed opinions at the marina. thanks in advance, Jay Bailey

Edited by - on

dlucier
Master Marine Consultant

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Virgin Islands (United Kingdom)
7583 Posts

Response Posted - 01/06/2005 : 19:45:09

That depends on how nervous you are.

It is generally recommended that the aluminum spreader brackets be replaced with the stainless bracket because the older ones can crack, although I haven't heard firsthand of this happening and yours have held up for 24 years and my dockmates aluminum spreaders are 25 years old.

Having said that, the $75.00 upgrade kit is cheap peace of mind.

Oh, I almost forgot, welcome to the fleet Jay!

Have you bought your Catalina 25 Handbook from CD yet?

Edited by - dlucier on 01/06/2005 19:48:48

bailey
Deckhand

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10 Posts

Response Posted - 01/06/2005 : 20:26:06

Wow! Thanks for the quick reply. I have just completed refurbishing the "Nita B" except for a bottom paint job and maybe a balanced rudder. I have the retrofit kit from Catalina Direct, so I guess I'll figure out how to get the old one off and the kit installed. I really don't want to mess-up a good day sailing, or the summer re-masting the boat........Sorry, but I don't know about the CD you mentioned, but I always need helpful info on keeping my Catalina up to par. Thanks Jay Bailey

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Leon Sisson
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1893 Posts

Response Posted - 01/06/2005 : 20:29:50

Replace 'em. The upgrade kit is a lot less expensive than an entire mast. If the aluminum ones weren't a problem, why do you suppose Catalina came out with the SS upgrade?

-- Leon Sisson

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bailey
Deckhand

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10 Posts

Response Posted - 01/06/2005 : 20:38:16

Good point!Leon I called Catalina Boats and talked with one of their customer service engineers and he said that the brackets were ok and that the new 250's had aluminum brackets. decisions...decisions...decisions. Thanks for your input, Jay Bailey

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Charlie Vick
Captain

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USA
423 Posts

Response Posted - 01/06/2005 : 22:24:45

Baily,
Do a search on spreader brackets and I promise it will convince you to change them out. I was lucky, mine came with stainless.
As Leon said they're a lot less than a mast, but peace of mind is worth a lot more, especially if you have your family with children out sailing with you. IMHO
And welcome to the fleet! You've come to the best technical source of information for your sailboat anywhere.

Edited by - on

ClamBeach
Master Marine Consultant

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3072 Posts

Response Posted - 01/06/2005 : 23:15:02

Not that hard to change out... only tricky part is fishing the compression tube down the mast. (It keeps the tension on the bolts from squeezing the mast tubing.)

I used a long piece of 1 X 2" doug fir with a notch cut in the end... duct-taped the compression tube to it and worked it down into position. A piece of 1/2" PVC pipe would probably do the trick as well. Once a bolt was through the compression tube I twisted the wood and the duct tape pulled free.

I remember that I had to do a little grinding on the tube to get it to go down the mast with a 'hand in glove' fit.

Taking the masthead off will give you a good excuse to clean/inspect it for cracks or corrosion and check it's fastenings. Be sure to use thread compound on all the stainless threads... "Never-Sieze" (a graphite/copper goop), or loctite as appropriate.

Edited by - on

Tony Dillon
Navigator

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USA
168 Posts

Response Posted - 01/06/2005 : 23:55:17

Be sure to coat all the dissimilar metal parts (aluminum to stainless) parts with some kind of corrosion preventer like tef-gel. When I dissassembled my spreaders this year there was some serious corrosion between the spreaders and the stainless brackets. Took a lot of persuassion to take it apart.

Edited by - on

Jonathan Cuff
Navigator

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Cayman Island
173 Posts

Response Posted - 01/07/2005 : 08:24:13

Hi guys

What year did Catalina upgrade the spreaders?

Cheers Jonathan
C25 SR/WK 1987 #5686

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Gloss
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1916 Posts

Response Posted - 01/07/2005 : 09:07:56

Hey Tony,
What is this Tef-Gel stuff you are talking about? Never heard of it. Who makes it? I do use never seize on all of my stainless fasteners. I wonder if never seize would do the same thing? I'll be installing a padeye for my new whisker pole soon and there I will have a stainless to aluminum connection. I'll also be installing some blocks for single line reefing so I guesse I'll need that stuff there too.

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Jonathan Cuff
Navigator

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Cayman Island
173 Posts

Response Posted - 01/07/2005 : 09:32:22

Tef Gel is distributed by a company called Ultra Safety System #561 845 1086. We sell it down here in Cayman. It's excellent for lubrication and rust prevention.

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existentialsailor
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1180 Posts

Response Posted - 01/07/2005 : 09:33:39

Frank,

Try here:

http://www.spursmarine.com/tef_main.htm

Edited by - on

Frank Hopper
Past Commodore

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Pitcairn Island
6776 Posts

Response Posted - 01/07/2005 : 10:03:12

mast failure = new mast from insurance company = internal halyards, new wireing, all ne rigging. Hmmm

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Dave Bristle
Master Marine Consultant

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Djibouti
10005 Posts

Response Posted - 01/07/2005 : 11:58:51

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by fhopper@mac.com
 mast failure = new mast from insurance company = internal halyards, new wireing, all ne rigging. Hmmm
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">
...and perhaps somebody getting hurt badly.

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Tony Dillon
Navigator

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USA
168 Posts

Response Posted - 01/07/2005 : 13:26:44

Frank,
I got my Tef-Gel from Brion Toss, but Rick's lead to Spurs Marine has a better price, save about $2.00 on a one ounce kit. One ounce will do a lot of fasteners. Toss told me that it only needs to be one molecule thick between the two metals to do the trick. It's lubricating properties will also help prevent galling when you tighten stainless fasteners.

Edited by - on

bailey
Deckhand

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10 Posts

Response Posted - 01/10/2005 : 18:40:49

Thanks for all the help...........the Catalina Direct retrofit kit will be installed in a week or two, pending weather on Lake Conroe

P.S. anyone have numbers for setting the tension, other than the 1/2" chest-high method? Thanks again Jay Bailey

Edited by - on

Leon Sisson
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1893 Posts

Response Posted - 01/10/2005 : 20:07:59

Jay,

I'm glad to hear that you're going to upgrade your spreader brackets.

Now that you will be diving in, there are a few points I'd like to emphasize (even though they may have been mentioned already).
<ul>
<li>The largest (3/8"?) spreader base bolt has a tight fitting aluminum compression sleeve inside the mast. Several of us have run into difficulties involving corosion between the bolt and sleeve. I suggest that you get the mast down as soon as you can, and start soaking penetrating fluid into that area. Worst case, it can be a major hassle in an otherwise fairly straight forward task. If you run into problems there, take your time, be patient, and ask us for help.</li>
<li>Never assemble stainless steel threads "dry". Always use some sort of lubricant or sealant between the threads. I suggest: Tef-Gel, Anti-Sieze (molybdinum disulfide, I think), very high quality heavy waterproof grease, or if you are worried about the threads creeping, Loc-Tite(sp?), polysulfide sealant, polyurithane adhesive, or even silicon sealant. (I make no promises about my spelling of any chemicals or brand names.

)</li>
<li>Compression sleeves are good. I even made up my own to supliment the ones supplied in the kit by Catalina Yachts.</li>
<li>This would be a good time to think about your in-mast wiring and/or internal halyards. I'm not trying to shove either additional project down your throat, just pointing out the opportunity to knock out some overlapping work.</li>
<li>While the mast is down, spend an hour inspecting the whole assembly with great attention to detail. Some day you will find yourself subjecting the rig to more stress than you planned on. Knowing that you did your best to spot (and fix!) impending weaknesses will be one less thing to worry about at a time when there are already plenty of things on your mind. (The voice of experience.

)</li>
<li>Always take notes -- even if you don't think you'll ever need them yourself, they could prove useful to some other C-25 owner.</li>
</ul>Good luck!

-- Leon Sisson

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77Gypsy
Captain

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USA
356 Posts

Response Posted - 01/10/2005 : 23:29:46

i replaced mine and am happy i did.

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