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Catalina/Capri 25/250 Sailor's Forums

Catalina 25 Specific Forum

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Metoac
Deckhand

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23 Posts

Initially Posted - 04/15/2002 : 13:11:58

The Pop Top on my 1989 C-25 wing keel has a Slide piece mounted on the mast that appears to be made as a safety support for use when the top is in the up position. In my opinion this is really not enough to safely support the top when it is up. Once I bumped into the top and it came down, yes they are heavy! Thank goodness no one was hurt. I do not want this to happen again. I think the poptop is a niece feature on the C-25 and I even have the canvas cover for it. Does anyone have any suggestions for this potentially danergous problem.

Edited by - on

OJ
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
4382 Posts

Response Posted - 04/15/2002 : 13:41:49

I've used the slide on the mast for years with no problems - knock on wood. The nylon or plastic knob on the slider can become hard which makes it difficult to turn and make tight.
A good safety supplement would be the hydraulic assist units that became available in the last couple of years - not sure of best source for those would be though.

Steve Madsen
#2428
OJ (Ode to Joy)

Edited by - on

Champipple
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
6855 Posts

Response Posted - 04/15/2002 : 13:47:53

<BLOCKQUOTE id=quote>quote:<hr height=1 noshade id=quote>
Does anyone have any suggestions for this potentially danergous problem.
<hr height=1 noshade id=quote></BLOCKQUOTE id=quote>

Metoac,

As you know, the weight of the top should rest almost entirely on the mast and that little slide clip should keep it from going forward. We don't seem to have a problem with ours, however we generally don't raise unless we are all in the cabin and or all the work on the deck is done for the evening. You may want to make some sort of a harness do it that would attach on the mast.

What comes to mind are those hook and eye ring things people use on screen doors. I know they make them in stainless and you could easily at them for additional security. I would put the eyelet on the mast so as not do snag any lines, then find a way to velcro down the hook until you would need it.

dw

Duane Wolff
"The Flying Wasp"
C-25, #401 std,sk
Chief Measurer C-25/250 national Org.
<img src="http://im1.shutterfly.com/procserv/47b2dc20b3127cce9cd2f45b211a0000004010" border=0>

Edited by - on

Shelby
Navigator

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USA
155 Posts

Response Posted - 04/15/2002 : 14:02:13

Mine also has a hook type of slide on the mast that when pushed up under the pop top tightly keeps it from falling back down.

When I was at the lake a couple of weeks ago, I was following a fellow pulling his boat into the dry slip area and his wife was still in the cockpit area with the pop top up. As they were moving along the mast collapsed onto the pop top. The pop top was cracked a little, the wife wasn't hurt, but certainly a little scared. We gave him a hand getting the mast down and somewhat supported. I would say that the pop top in this case saved the wife from getting hit on the head.

Shelby on "Third S" '82 C25 #3208 SKSR

Edited by - on

tinob
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1883 Posts

Response Posted - 04/15/2002 : 14:05:00

<BLOCKQUOTE id=quote>quote:<hr height=1 noshade id=quote>
The Pop Top on my 1989 C-25 wing keel has a Slide piece mounted on the mast that appears to be made as a safety support for use when the top is in the up position. In my opinion this is really not enough to safely support the top when it is up. Once I bumped into the top and it came down, yes they are heavy! Thank goodness no one was hurt. I do not want this to happen again. I think the poptop is a niece feature on the C-25 and I even have the canvas cover for it. Does anyone have any suggestions for this potentially danergous problem.

<hr height=1 noshade id=quote></BLOCKQUOTE id=quote>

Hi,
You'll find a ton of information regarding this phenomena in the archives since most everyone has had feelings regarding their bad experiences. Some suggest buying the gas assisted supports offered by Catalina Direct. Others recommend lassoing the top to the boom with bungies/ropes etc. securing the top thusly. I managed not to have a problem with the pop simply because I don't use it. That works as well.

Val on the hard DAGNABIT

Val Bisagni

Edited by - on

John G-
Admiral

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793 Posts

Response Posted - 04/15/2002 : 14:20:58

Ted – I tie a safety line from one of the pop-top’s forward legs around the mast and back to the other pop-top leg. Before I knew what the hook in the junk drawer was this was the only way I kept the pop-top up. I now use it just to be sure it won’t come down when launch drives by a little too fast.
I loves my pop-top in summer!
I’m in Oyster Bay where do you sail out of?

[url="http://www.peregrinefund.org/"]<img src="http://www.peregrinefund.org/images/intro_mid_image.GIF" border=0>[/url]
 John G- "PEREGRINE" C25-#4762 FK

Edited by - on

Metoac
Deckhand

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23 Posts

Response Posted - 04/15/2002 : 14:41:27

<BLOCKQUOTE id=quote>quote:<hr height=1 noshade id=quote>
 Ted – I tie a safety line from one of the pop-top’s forward legs around the mast and back to the other pop-top leg. Before I knew what the hook in the junk drawer was this was the only way I kept the pop-top up. I now use it just to be sure it won’t come down when launch drives by a little too fast.
I loves my pop-top in summer!
I’m in Oyster Bay where do you sail out of?

Hi John
I sail out of W. Sayeville, Long Island. This will be my second season with the sailboat, after many years with a powerboat
Ted
[url="http://www.peregrinefund.org/"]<img src="http://www.peregrinefund.org/images/intro_mid_image.GIF" border=0>[/url]
 John G- "PEREGRINE" C25-#4762 FK 

<hr height=1 noshade id=quote></BLOCKQUOTE id=quote>

Edited by - on

Buzz Maring
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1772 Posts

Response Posted - 04/15/2002 : 15:28:08

Aside from propping the pop top up with those styrofoam "noodles" or a homemade brace (both ideas in the tech section), does anyone sail with the pop top up? I've heard the boom vang is in the way, and it seems someone mentioned another drawback to sailing with it up, but I can't remember what it was ... 'any suggestions?

Thanks!

Buzz Maring, C-25 SK/SR #68, "Freya"

Edited by - on

n/a
deleted

Members Avatar

29 Posts

Response Posted - 04/15/2002 : 16:11:38

Catalina warns against it in their manual and I'd say they were right. To my eye, the pop top looks like a pretty shaky proposition even anchored in a flat calm and adding about 20 degrees of heel is not likely to improve things.

Andy P.
#5708

Edited by - on

MattL
Admiral

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USA
990 Posts

Response Posted - 04/15/2002 : 18:17:52

I have motored around with my pop top up with out insidence. I took the sliding hatch off to finish the teak runners. Andy makes a good point, just this top seems heavy to me to be held up by those light weight arms. With the vang in the way you'd probably be better off sailing with it down.

Matt
EC Rider
Cat 25 86'
FK SR

Edited by - on

cfoucht
Deckhand

Members Avatar

USA
19 Posts

Response Posted - 04/16/2002 : 00:23:05

Has anyone installed the hydraulic assist arms available from Catalina Direct on the 1989 version of the 25? CD isn't sure that they will fit.

Edited by - on

jellyfish
Navigator

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USA
171 Posts

Response Posted - 04/22/2002 : 15:32:37

I use the boom vang run under the top and attached to the eye of the sliding hatch to secure the pop top. we leave it up while motoring and sailing in light air when the boom vang is not needed. with the strengh of the boom vang you never have to worry about it falling!

Edited by - on

Derek Crawford
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
3323 Posts

Response Posted - 04/22/2002 : 16:40:10

As I use the poptop hook as a stopper for the gooseneck (!) it's not available to hold up the poptop. Being a proponent of the K.I.S.S. principle (and a bit of a cheapskate), I measured the vertical open space when the top was raised and then cut two pieces of 2" x 2" about 2" longer than this, and then V-notched the top ends to fit over the poptop edge and U-notched the bottom to fit over the edge of the cabin. Lift poptop (after loosening vang !) insert wood, and voila! Poptop held firmly. <img src=icon_smile_approve.gif border=0 align=middle>
Derek ion "This Side Up"

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Metoac
Deckhand

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23 Posts

Response Posted - 04/23/2002 : 12:35:09

Derek,
Thanks, I like your solution to the pop-top problem! I also like the price for this modification.

Ted Schulte

Edited by - on

Bristle
Admiral

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USA
834 Posts

Response Posted - 04/23/2002 : 12:49:32

<BLOCKQUOTE id=quote>quote:<hr height=1 noshade id=quote>
I use the boom vang run under the top and attached to the eye of the sliding hatch to secure the pop top. we leave it up while motoring and sailing in light air when the boom vang is not needed. with the strengh of the boom vang you never have to worry about it falling!
<hr height=1 noshade id=quote></BLOCKQUOTE id=quote>

Hi Jellyfish... Your first post is a great one! Vang problem solved, pop-top problem solved, cost: $0. Way to go!

Dave Bristle, 1985 C-25 SR-FK #5032 "Passage" in CT

Edited by - on

gnorgan
Admiral

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USA
563 Posts

Response Posted - 04/28/2002 : 01:36:58

How about that! I also use the vang to secure the pop top but it still a good idea, especially when you've got wife and teenagers jumping around (and teenagers CAN be clumsy, right?)
(That should be 40)

C25 tall/wing
Classical Cat #5944

Edited by - on

tinob
Master Marine Consultant

Members Avatar

USA
1883 Posts

Response Posted - 04/28/2002 : 13:07:21

<BLOCKQUOTE id=quote>quote:<hr height=1 noshade id=quote>
I use the boom vang run under the top and attached to the eye of the sliding hatch to secure the pop top. we leave it up while motoring and sailing in light air when the boom vang is not needed. with the strengh of the boom vang you never have to worry about it falling!

<hr height=1 noshade id=quote></BLOCKQUOTE id=quote>

Hi Jelly,

Though I seldom raise the pop top, relying when I do on the "J" fixture supplied by Catalina and never having had a problem with that setup, I like the idea of using the vang as a safety device. On our little boats it's adventageous to have as many things as possible serve multipurposes.

Val on "CALISTA" #3936 '83 C-25 Tall Wing
Patchogue,N.Y.

Val Bisagni

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Mike Vaccaro
1st Mate

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77 Posts

Response Posted - 04/28/2002 : 17:36:51

Agree with Val...have used the Catalina fitting without problems. The pop-top is slightly "over-center" when attached to the fitting (i.e., it leans forward a bit--against the mast). We use the pop-top frequently and have found that you occasionally need to tighten the large screws in the supports. As they loosen, the hatch moves laterally as well as vertically, and this puts undo stress on the supports as well as making raising the pop-top a bit unwieldy.

Cheers,

Mike Vaccaro on the Swoose
84 TR/SK #4707

Edited by - on

jellyfish
Navigator

Members Avatar

USA
171 Posts

Response Posted - 05/08/2002 : 17:41:05

thanks guys, glad you like the idea! Ive been cruising in and out of here for a while and picked up lots of good ideas from yall! anyone cruising the Panhandle of Fl look us up.

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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.