how to build a mast raising rig?

rlrobian

rlrobian

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Feb 2, 2007
30
-Catalina 22 Wheeling WV
Folks,
I've been searcihing this and other sites for a set of plans for building a trp-pod mast raising rig. I have both a Catalina 22 and a 25 and have been raising and lowering the masts using brute force and 2 or 3 additional helpers. I want to get away from that and find a rig that allows me to safely raise and lower the masts single handed. I've seen videos of this being done, but have not been able to secure the plans.
Any help is appreciated.
Thanks
 
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CaptDon01

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Nov 19, 2008
2,129
Catalina C-22 MK-II Parrish, FL
What year C-22 do you have? The MK-II's came from the factory all set-up for Catalina's mast raising system. It uses a simple 8' gin-pole that slides into a hole at the base of the mast, and a couple baby-stays that slip into the mast with a "T"-fitting, and pelican hooks that attach to straps used to secure the halyard turning blocks to the cabin top. A couple fiddle blocks,(one with a cam-cleat), and it's simple, very easy, and most importantly, safe. I've rigged and de-rigged a MK-II I sold when my right shoulder was injured, with only one arm,(my right arm was in a shoulder sling). It's so slick, I'm going to modify the mast on our New Design C-22 to use the same system.

Don
 
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rlrobian

rlrobian

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Feb 2, 2007
30
-Catalina 22 Wheeling WV
Don, thanks for the response. My 22 is an 81 model year. I've searched the CD catalogue and I can find the mast step with the modification needed for the mast raising gin pole, but I cant find the gin pole anywhere in the CD catalogue. Does Catalina, or another 3rd party, still supply the pole and associated pieces?
RL
 
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CaptDon01

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Nov 19, 2008
2,129
Catalina C-22 MK-II Parrish, FL
HOLY COW! I checked the CD catalog and the price of the fitting that fits into the base of the mast jumped in price like 3X! It simply attaches to an aluminum pole, that you can buy a just about any metal supply store. There are some interesting gin poles guys have fabricated from a 2 X 4. Maybe check with the parts folks at the Catalina factory, the mast raising system is an option on the new boats, so I would think they would have them.

Don
 
CloudDiver

CloudDiver

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Sep 8, 2014
2,551
Catalina 22 Swing Keel San Diego
I don't care for the single gin poles that seat at the mast. It's possible to bend or damage them if not operated correctly, and if you do that I imagine its possible to damage other stuff or be injured if your gin pole fails. I know its not common, but there is that inherent risk. I've seen better (IMO) systems using a 2 leg gin pole where the ends connect at the forward lower shroud eyes. I imagine its also possible to connect at the base of the fwd life-line stanchions with the bolt on pulpit eyes. Either way I'm sure I can rig something up that is ultimately more stable than a single pole and hopefully easy to connect/disconnect.
 
allen-deckard

allen-deckard

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Aug 11, 2011
759
catalina 22 Islamorada
I still like my electric single handed winch raising system. Easy enough that my broken down body can raise and lower leaving my roller furling attached and use one hand to steady and one hand to operate the remote control.

But that's just me I always seem to take things to far and over engineer :) wasn't the cheapest thing to build but after it was done I wouldn't have the boat without it.
 
rlrobian

rlrobian

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Feb 2, 2007
30
-Catalina 22 Wheeling WV
Allen, any chance you could send me a drawing? Sailed from Miami to Islamorada about 7 years ago with a group of Boy Scouts. Was a great trip and loved your Key.
Thanks
RL
 
allen-deckard

allen-deckard

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Aug 11, 2011
759
catalina 22 Islamorada


Ok there's my horrible picture. :) I don't normally draw obviously but since I'm such a nice guy I gave it a whorl hehe anyway you should be able to get the concept.

OK now here is also a utube video. This IS NOT MINE I don't really care for some of his setup and I don't think it was put together with much more than spit and bailing wire but the concept is solid and it's close to what I did with mine and he's got a video which helps :)

https://www.youtube.com/embed/XgBV7Dp2RGE
 
HillbillyWanderer

HillbillyWanderer

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Jan 7, 2012
276
catalina 22 Cave Run Lake
I have a gin pole system now but planning to install a winch system before this season starts. Much easier and faster.
 
rlrobian

rlrobian

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Feb 2, 2007
30
-Catalina 22 Wheeling WV
Thanks Allen, I agree with your comments about the video. Your drawing, with commentary makes perfect sense. I am wondering if I can find a way to modify it to allow me to raise and lower the mast while the boat is in the water and off the trailer. I am pretty sure I can lift the mast to a decent initial height, but where to mount the power winch? Do you think the bow rail is sufficiently strong enough for the job? I could mount the winch on the bow mast crib used for securing the mast during transit. Currently when lowering the mast I will put two wraps around the bow rail with a line attached to the jib halyard to control the mast while my brother guides the mast into a stern mounted mast stand. So the pull going down should be equal to the pull while going up. Something to think about, will run it past my brother the engineer.
Thanks
 
allen-deckard

allen-deckard

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Aug 11, 2011
759
catalina 22 Islamorada
because of the angle when the mast is half and more down I wouldn't recommend the bow rail idea at all that's personal opinion but the amount of amount of pull on that line is exponentially higher as it goes lower.

The other issue is the bow rail isn't high enough to give a proper angle. My pole that's mounted to the trailer sticks up around 4 feet above the bow rail to give the right angle when the mast is near down and that's going into a tall cradle.

Like to add that remember the cabin top where the mast fulcrum is for lowering is nearly even with the bow rail making the need to be above that rail even more important.

Just food for thought.
 
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Barnacle_Bob

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May 11, 2014
156
Catalina 22 Lake Pleasant, AZ
allen-deckard said:
because of the angle when the mast is half and more down I wouldn't recommend the bow rail idea at all that's personal opinion but the amount of amount of pull on that line is exponentially higher as it goes lower. The other issue is the bow rail isn't high enough to give a proper angle. My pole that's mounted to the trailer sticks up around 4 feet above the bow rail to give the right angle when the mast is near down and that's going into a tall cradle. Like to add that remember the cabin top where the mast fulcrum is for lowering is nearly even with the bow rail making the need to be above that rail even more important. Just food for thought.
Click to expand
Allen - can you post a photo of the pole you have mounted on your trailer?

- Bob
 
Hang tight

Hang tight

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Jun 21, 2014
6
Catalina 22 Ocklawaha
Barnacle_Bob said:
Allen - can you post a photo of the pole you have mounted on your trailer?

- Bob
Click to expand
I used a 4x4 bolted to the trailer and mounted a winch to the trailer to . It works great the winch Is a remote so I can control it while I am in the boat.
 

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celticwinds

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Nov 9, 2009
69
catalina 25 wing keel rutledge tn.
I have a catalina 25 TM that I built an a frame mast lowering system for. There is a you tube video of a guy using an a frame to lower a mast on a cat. 25. I use my mainsheet connected to the forstay. I built the crutch that goes in my rudder gudgeons from a 9 foot long piece of aluminum 2 inch by 2 inch. I mounted a roller on top of the crutch. My a frame is made from chain link top railing that I bought at Lowe`s. My a frame is twelve feet long but I think ten foot pieces would work fine. I clamp the bottom ends of the a frame to the stations to hold it in place. The clamps are parts that are used on chainlink fencing.
 
allen-deckard

allen-deckard

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Aug 11, 2011
759
catalina 22 Islamorada
Hang tight said:
I used a 4x4 bolted to the trailer and mounted a winch to the trailer to . It works great the winch Is a remote so I can control it while I am in the boat.
Click to expand
this looks similar to mine only differences

I went a bit taller
I used to be a welder so I went with box steel because I trust it a bit more.
I mounted the winch onto the rese insert so that the winch removes with the rese when not in use.
I used a regular heavy duty house extension cord ran that to the battery on the truck back to the rese with a plug in if that makes sense.

and yah the remote control is a must have
 
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phxfan

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Jun 2, 2013
26
catalina 22 Lake Isabella
Hang tight said:
I used a 4x4 bolted to the trailer and mounted a winch to the trailer to . It works great the winch Is a remote so I can control it while I am in the boat.
Click to expand
where do you attach winch cable to mast?? thanks-jim
 
allen-deckard

allen-deckard

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Aug 11, 2011
759
catalina 22 Islamorada
I use a ratchet strap and attach the winch cable hook to that.

The ratchet strap I attach about 6' up the mast so that I can reach it when it raised.

I hold the strap in place on the mast using the sail slide and the thumb screws that I have for holding the sail in place.
 
Hang tight

Hang tight

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Jun 21, 2014
6
Catalina 22 Ocklawaha
That is exactly the same way I hook my winch cable to the mast. I also use a 12volt lawn mower battery to power the winch. I did not think about removing the winch after I raised the mast. It is bolted to the trailer. I really like this system. It is really easy to raise and lower the mast. All the strain of lifting and lowering the mast is on the trailer not the boat. I like that. Mike
 
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