Recently crossing to the Baja side in my 30' Catalina, a nite run with4-5 ft seas & 18 knots when the forestay gave way taking the furler & then the mast. The mast stayed aboard, thank God, no injuries but the 3 of us had to change our pants! Anyway now to start spending the dinero. Will need a new furler & there was lots of discussion about this, so looking at the CDI at less than a grand or the Pro furl at 1600, any advice? Also the mast base was broken, Catalina factory for this? And the cause of this adventure? A rusted out cotter pin holding the forestay pin. Had an older Hood furler which hides this pin. Thanks & keep your masts vertical!
demasted in the sea of Cortez
- Thread starter patman
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Re: the broken mast step, I'd start with a direct query to the chandlery at this site to see if they can order one for you. It's not a part they stock. Absent that, try catalinadirect.com .
I'd suggest you fully examine the compression post in the cabin and the wooden block it sits on in the bilge for any damage. Probably won't find any but good to check. I'd also suggest checking the chainplates and whichever version of shroud attachment your boat has - the design changed over time. Again, little chance of damage from what you describe, but good to check.
I've had a CDI furler on a smaller boat and was happy with it, but there seem to be mixed opinions on them for bigger boats. We have a Schaefer on the current boat and are pretty happy with it.
I guess this is a good argument for periodic inspections of the lower headstay fitting and turnbuckle under the roller furler.
Mike Turner
Lazyjack 32 schooner "Mary'Lis"
Mobile Bay, Alabama
I'd suggest you fully examine the compression post in the cabin and the wooden block it sits on in the bilge for any damage. Probably won't find any but good to check. I'd also suggest checking the chainplates and whichever version of shroud attachment your boat has - the design changed over time. Again, little chance of damage from what you describe, but good to check.
I've had a CDI furler on a smaller boat and was happy with it, but there seem to be mixed opinions on them for bigger boats. We have a Schaefer on the current boat and are pretty happy with it.
I guess this is a good argument for periodic inspections of the lower headstay fitting and turnbuckle under the roller furler.
Mike Turner
Lazyjack 32 schooner "Mary'Lis"
Mobile Bay, Alabama
Try dwyermast.com for the mast base. They stock almost every fitting ever made for mast bases, mast tops and both ends for the boom.
Sounds like a scarry moment. It's good that everyone aboard is OK.
Ray
Sounds like a scarry moment. It's good that everyone aboard is OK.
Ray
So tell the whole story already!
Did you continue on to the Baja side, or turn around and motor to San Carlos. Is the repair being done in La Paz or the Marina Seca? Are you going to have to "drive" the parts down or ship them in and pay duty. IS there duty anymore after NAFTA? So many questions!
Ol' Dave
Did you continue on to the Baja side, or turn around and motor to San Carlos. Is the repair being done in La Paz or the Marina Seca? Are you going to have to "drive" the parts down or ship them in and pay duty. IS there duty anymore after NAFTA? So many questions!
Ol' Dave
i often wondered how different this experience would be if you had a keel stepped mast.. one of the reasons i found the Catalina 30 desirable was that it has a deck stepped mast. if it were keel stepped and you have a failure like this, and someone was in the salon, I'd assume the mast could swing up using the deck as a pivot and really injure or even kill someone in there.. not a nice thought.
Not likely. Masts have surprisingly little bending strength. A deck stepped mast will almost always just fold over at the partners if a stay lets go.
There is actually very little difference in strength between deck and keel stepped. Deck stepped can actually be more forgiving of some rigging issues.
Same thing
Had a forestay snap couple years ago, offshore Destin, Fl. But the exact same cause. Some one (PO ) I guess had used a non stainless cotter pin on the clevis pin. OOOPS. I have a keel stepped mast and didn't loose the mast. I had to replace the entire furler, and went with a CDI. So far no problems with it.
Had a forestay snap couple years ago, offshore Destin, Fl. But the exact same cause. Some one (PO ) I guess had used a non stainless cotter pin on the clevis pin. OOOPS. I have a keel stepped mast and didn't loose the mast. I had to replace the entire furler, and went with a CDI. So far no problems with it.
This happened about 25 miles from Santa Rosilia at 1:30AM (50 miles from San Carlos) so motored (dragging the forestay-sail & furler) at 2 knots. Put the mast lenghtwise & motored back to SC, this time at 5 knots. Will put it on the hard go to Tucson for the parts & return. If you show them the old/damaged parts (furler, solar panel, 2 shrouds) they will let you bring in new ones with no duty! One shroud pulled out of the deck. Just 2 screws which is not good. Doesnt look like you can run bolts thru with a backing plate from the inside, but will check this out.
I am a big fan of Profurl. I have a unit on my Catalina 30 (the classic model) and it works great. The biggest part of Profurl was when I had an extrusion get messed up and my top swivel bearing had an issue. I ordered replacements from a company and the total came to a little over $500. When I spoke with Profurl to ask a few questions they ended up sending me a new piece of extrusion and the other pieces for free.
The Profurl unit was on my boat when I bought it back in 2004. I didn't buy the unit but they still honored the lifetime warranty.
Go with a Profurl, it is such a good unit.
The Profurl unit was on my boat when I bought it back in 2004. I didn't buy the unit but they still honored the lifetime warranty.
Go with a Profurl, it is such a good unit.
I second the ProFurl recommendation. It's just a higher quality unit and has proven reliable worldwide.
As far as parts... have you give CatalinaYachts a call. http://www.catalinayachts.com/ scroll down to bottom of page for contact info, then ask for parts dept or customer service.
As far as parts... have you give CatalinaYachts a call. http://www.catalinayachts.com/ scroll down to bottom of page for contact info, then ask for parts dept or customer service.
Most of the major furlers are great as reviewed by Practical Sailor and others. Best Price should be a consideration. I do know someone who installed an Alado (http://www.alado.com/) and really likes it. Some good prices too. Also look at Bamar.
I have installed a Schaefer on my old boat. Bullet proof build and performance. My new boat has a Harken, 23 yrs old and in fine shape.
I have installed a Schaefer on my old boat. Bullet proof build and performance. My new boat has a Harken, 23 yrs old and in fine shape.
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