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Catalina 25 Specific Forum

I also just bought a Cat 25!

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Aceguy
1st Mate

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USA
77 Posts

Initially Posted - 07/24/2005 : 22:24:19

Hello all! I just read Dave's post. Congrats Dave! I also just brought my new(to me) 1985 Catalina 25 home Friday night. I purchased "Charisma" from a great guy down in Long Beach and towed her home to Sacramento (Folsom). Charisma is a swing keel standard rig. My family and I have big plans for her. Her previous owner was a woodworker and added some neat teak features. She was well taken care of. I plan to add Huntington style rigging for stepping the mast. (I have questions about that, but I'll put them in a separate post) Charisma is my first sailboat as well. I laughed when I read the responses to Dave's post, as this weekend I have gone out and stared at her at least 20 times, including both nights before I went to bed.

Picking her up was quite an adventure. Including my 12 hour CSUS sailing course, I have about 30 total hours experience on the water=major newbie. The previous owner had to work Friday, so I went down to the slip (having been there only once before), detached the main and mast, figured out how to start and lower the outboard, and motored out of the slip and down the channel to the shipyard to be hoisted. I'm sure you all would have had a few good laughs. First I kind of panicked when I didn't get forward to engage at first and I was sure I was going to back into two other boats. Then I stopped the motor a good 50 yards short of the shipyard dock because I was so scared I was going to hit one of the other parked boats. By the time I got to the dock I was moving so slow I was getting passed by mosquito larvae. Then me and a buddy stepped the mast for the first time. One word "scary". Managed to get her all secured to the trailer and headed for home. On the way out of L.A. I watched as the guy towing a boat in front of me lost the entire wheel off of his single axle boat trailer. Now, I had my trailer completely gone through by a shop before I got there, so I wasn't too worried, but it wasn't a great omen. I am experienced pulling a car trailer, but man that boat is big back there! I'm also used to electric brakes, so those surge brakes took awhile getting used to them. I'm still not sure I like them. After the grapevine I relaxed, and the rest of the trip was uneventful (except one of my brand new bearing buddies fell off my trailer somewhere). Anyway, now she's next to my house and man am I excited to go sail her!

Eric

Eric Freedman
1984 SR/WK #4671
Folsom, CA

Edited by - on

Aceguy
1st Mate

Members Avatar

USA
77 Posts

Response Posted - 07/24/2005 : 23:01:17

There isn't an edit function on this board? I just read over my reply and noticed I said "main and mast" instead of "main and boom". One of many newbie mistakes to come, I'm sure.

Edited by - on

cclark
Navigator

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USA
104 Posts

Response Posted - 07/25/2005 : 02:49:43

Congratulations on the new boat! and Welcome to the forum. I have owned mine for 3 yrs now and I think you will really love this boat. One thing I am always looking for are ideas for modifications. This site is loaded with ideas so look around for help. Also, if you haven't already, join the association.
When you can, post pictures of some of the modifications the PO made.
Thanks,
Chris

Edited by - on

Gloss
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1916 Posts

Response Posted - 07/25/2005 : 09:49:30

Hey Eric,
Welcome to the club.

Another newbie to buy the first round

Edited by - on

Leon Sisson
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1893 Posts

Response Posted - 07/25/2005 : 10:23:11

Aceguy,<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"> There isn't an edit function on this board?<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">Unlike many BBS, there IS an edit function on this one. Look at that row of icons just above each post. Posts you have made will have an extra icon (a diagonal yellow thing representing a pencil, with a tooltip of 'Edit Reply'). Click on that, and edit away.

And speaking of BBS features, when you post a URL link (which you haven't yet, so I 'm not picking on you specifically

), first switch "Format Mode" to "prompt", and then enter a brief description of what you're linking to when prompted for "Text to be shown for the link". In the next dialog when prompted for "URL for the link" paste the actual link. That way, long links don't force horizontal scrolling for the remaining life of the thread!

-- Leon Sisson

Edited by - on

ClamBeach
Master Marine Consultant

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3072 Posts

Response Posted - 07/25/2005 : 10:32:56

Sounds like you've done the homework and are ready to enjoy your boat.

Don't know that I'd mess with changing the rig... in fact, very strongly advise against it.

Adding a lifting assist (a boom on the trailer or a portable A-frame) and a set of temporary side stays to stabilize the mast as it goes up will completely solve your mast rasing issues for a small (I mean tiny) fraction of the cost and hassle of changing the rig.

I don't know your situation, but I've found with one able-bodied person lifting the mast and a helper tailing the winch, mast raising isn't really that big of a deal anyway.

(Note: Did you use the jib halyard led around the pulpit and back to a primary winch as an assist for raising?)

Just like the first trip home, where you were nervous about that huge boat in your mirrors, you'll get used to it and your worries will go away with experience.

You're in for a lot of good times.

Edited by - on

Aceguy
1st Mate

Members Avatar

USA
77 Posts

Response Posted - 07/25/2005 : 10:53:20

Leon,
I found that edit function. Turned out I wasn't logged in, so the pencil didn't show up (duh).

ClamBeach,
Much of the time it will be me and my 9 & 11 year old step daughters sailing, so I want to be sure that I can easily complete every step of setup and take down on my own. I know they will help where they can, but I need to be able to singlehand every aspect just in case. I don't mind the initial expense of changing the rig if it is going to make my life easier for years to come. Are there other reasons you don't recommend changing the rig? I figured it's 20 years old anyway, and updating (especially those frozen turnbuckles) couldn't hurt. I just intended on purchasing a tension gauge, getting the specs on the tension on each cable, and getting all the swaged fittings done at the Catalina Direct store, which luckily is 20 minutes from my house. Of course, I'm a big time rookie, so I'm always looking for input on this plan.

Thanks for all of your well-wishes!

Edited by - on

dlucier
Master Marine Consultant

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Virgin Islands (United Kingdom)
7583 Posts

Response Posted - 07/25/2005 : 11:31:28

Welcome to the Fleet, Eric!

As Bruce (ClamBeach) said, I'd pass on modifying the rig too. First off, that "Huntington" rig is designed to raise and lower the mast without removing the mast from the tabernacle or needing to remove the sails/boom/running rigging etc, to get under bridges on the run.

Since you will be trailering, you'll have to remove the boom, sails, and other gear for transport, so the expense and effort to modify your rig this way won't give you that much of an advantage.

Like Bruce noted, using an A-frame or trailer mounted gin pole will be of more use to the singlehanded mast raiser.

Edited by - dlucier on 07/25/2005 11:52:43

Buzz Maring
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1768 Posts

Response Posted - 07/25/2005 : 12:53:18

Hi Eric,

Welcome to the group!

It dawned on me that the references to an "A-frame" mast-raising system might not mean anything to you ... so, here is a link to what we're talking about: [url="http://www.catalina25-250.org/forum/topic.asp?ARCHIVE=true&TOPIC_ID=3633&SearchTerms=mast"]Mast-raising A-frame[/url]

BTW, there is one photo from the Tech Tips in this thread that no longer shows up ... it shows the attachment point of the A-frame to the forward lower shroud chainplates. I don't have that exact photo, so here are a couple that should clear things up. The first photo shows the bottom of the A-frame, and the second shows how it attaches to the chain plates:

This subject comes up often ... if you search the archives, you'll be able to find plenty of other threads on the subject. I really like the A-frame because it makes mast-raising simple for one person to do ... in fact, as many times as I've raised/lowered my mast, I've never had any help.

One word of caution though ... the A-frame works OK with a tall rig, but the tall rig mast is two feet taller and also has a bigger diameter ... it's best to use some sort of "baby stay" arrangement to help keep a tall rig mast from swaying while raising it.

'Hope that helps ... you're going to love your boat!

Edited by - on

Aceguy
1st Mate

Members Avatar

USA
77 Posts

Response Posted - 07/25/2005 : 20:42:57

Thanks for all the great input. Since nobody but me seems to think setting up the Huntington rig is worth the effort, I'm certainly going to try the A-frame first. I thought that there was value in using the Huntington rig and being able to leave your boom and mainsail (and mainsail cover) in place. I figured I could just release the mast at the tabernacle and drag the mast back into the cockit and lay the boom sideways. I figured that would save me a lot of setup time, but maybe it just doesn't take that much time to re-attach the boom and mainsail to justify the effort? Or I'm missing something that would make my idea of leaving the boom attached unrealistic? Either way, with as many people speaking so highly of the A-frame, I'll definitely try that first. Thanks again!

Edited by - on

Frank Hopper
Past Commodore

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Pitcairn Island
6776 Posts

Response Posted - 07/25/2005 : 22:51:00

By all means leave the main on the boom, but take the boom off the mast. It only takes seconds to do after the sail slugs are out of the kerf.

Edited by - on

DaveC25
Navigator

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USA
152 Posts

Response Posted - 07/26/2005 : 06:55:02

Congrats, Eric!

Certainly we'll have a lot to talk about as we prepare out boats! :)

I know what you mean by trying to get used to that boat back there when trailering. I made it a point to tow it home at night so that there wouldn't be as much traffic. I didn't go over 35mph the whole drive and made alot of people mad, but I didn't care. Now it's in my driveway and I've been working on it.

I still havent' figured out how I'll get the mast up... I'll probably just have on e of my friends help me and I'll just muscle it up and have them clip the stays. Unfortunately where I live here in Florida there are not many boat ramps where I can launch her (the intracoastal is very shallow) so I think I will have to rent a slip and leave her in the water. Because of this I want to get as much done as possible before I put her in.

Good luck with Charisma! Tell her Pretty Penny says "Hi". :)

-DaveC25

Edited by - DaveC25 on 07/26/2005 14:14:07

John P
Captain

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USA
324 Posts

Response Posted - 07/26/2005 : 07:12:07

Guys,
Congrats on your new boats! I got mine in late June and have yet to get her wet. Hoping this weekend or next weekend. So damn busy now.

I just got done refinishing one side of my hatchboards and also adding some new life to my tiller (I will buy a new one over the winter).

I do not know why, but I start a new project and then think I can come up with a better way to do something, and end up doing the same as everyone else and I am happy with the results.

My "Illlusions" sits on the hard and every time I see her, she is begging to get wet. I could do a million things to her when she is sitting in her cradle, but I just want to put her in the water. I am even holding off doing a thorough cleaning until I get her on the water since I can not stand to wash a boat when not in the water. It just does not feel right.

Edited by - on

ClamBeach
Master Marine Consultant

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3072 Posts

Response Posted - 07/26/2005 : 10:24:10

"I still havent' figured out how I'll get the mast up... "

Here's how I do it with 2 people.

The aft lower stays and the backstay are attached all the time. Other stays are not secured to the deck.

Cleat the tail of the jib halyard to the mast.

Attach another line to the shackle end of the jib halyard and lead it around a pulpit stanchion, then back to a primary winch (one on the cockpit combing). Using a block where the line comes around the pulpit will help. Pull the sliding hatch closed (aft).

With the mast secured to the step, and the back and lower side stays laying 'fair' so they won't hang up, you and your buddy start the mast up... lifting and walking forward as it goes up.

When you come to the companionway. One person holds the mast while the other gets on the cabin roof. Transfer the load from the person in the cockpit to the one on the cabin roof. The person in the cockpit now takes the line attached to the jib halyard, takes up the slack and belays it with 3 wraps around the coaming winch.

As the lifter finishes raising the mast, the wincher helps by grinding or pulling the line around the winch... also watching the backstay and sidestays to make sure nothing is getting hung up and the turnbuckles are not being cocked out of position.

When the mast is all the way up, the jib line is snugged tight and cleated off.
Go forward and attach the forestay, then the upper side stays and the forward lowers.

Mast is now up and you go to 'tuning' the rig for proper tension, alignment etc.

And don't forget to put the Windex on before raising the mast.
(Don't ask how I know this).

Edited by - on

John P
Captain

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USA
324 Posts

Response Posted - 07/26/2005 : 10:28:46

Also, good idea to check that the mast light is operational. I just remeber this while reading this post. I need to get some new bubs for mine.

Edited by - on

Dave Bristle
Master Marine Consultant

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Djibouti
10005 Posts

Response Posted - 07/27/2005 : 23:37:00

Didn't Larry Charlot set up a Huntington Rig? Larry??? If he doesn't chime in, you might want to look him up in the owners's directory and e-mail him.

Edited by - on

rich
Deckhand

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24 Posts

Response Posted - 08/03/2005 : 22:16:08

Congradulations on the purchase of your Catalina 25. I also am in the process of getting one. I think all the posts I have read on this forum helped me decide on a Catalina 25. Can't recall anyone saying they didn't like the boat. Frank has sent me lots and lots of pictures of her on line. I get up in the middle of the night sometimes just to look at them. Can't wait to see her in person which will happen around the 18th of August. I haven't touched her yet and I am already in love!!! Give you an update when I get her home and in the water.

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