Hows this boom/mast look.. on my "new" (1971) Catalina 22

[Carl Wonderful]

Just bought this boat. The original owner passed years ago so the family had no information for me about the boat. Also I'm new to sailing. Hows this boom look? I have raised the main sail and all seems fine but this was only in my driveway. Wanyed to be sure before I take it out on the water.

Specific Q's

1. Does this look like the original Boom?

2. How does the mast look? Seems a little odd with the opening wonky... but not sure. Some people in the forums say the mast was not the original mast.. but who knows?

3. Am I missing any parts here or anything look unusual or wrong?

4. Is that nut underneath the boom just there to be the lowest point of the boom?

5. Should the boom be higher or lower than the "wonky" opening in the mast slot?

Thanks guys (and gals)

 

[...3TacksontheWater]

To understand what's going on it would be helpful to see more than 6" of boom and mast track at a time. Can you step back and take a picture showing the mast and boom so we can better see what your seeing? I would also suggest that you locate some other C-22s with their mast and boom up and compare what you have to what you should have. In these pictures the sail track doesn't extend to the base of the mast.

These pics present a whole different animal than I thought I was looking at in your first pictures. It looks like that mast has been shortened considerably more than I imagined. Have you had a chance to measure it to know exactly what you've got compared to what the specs call for? Here is a picture of Waffle House with her sails up on the trailer before I purchased her and one with her in the water:

 

[dlochner]

. How does the mast look? Seems a little odd with the opening wonky... but not sure. Some people in the forums say the mast was not the original mast.. but who knows?

The "wonky" opening allows the sail slugs to enter the mast track.

Should the boom be higher or lower than the "wonky" opening in the mast slot?

It should be lower.

4. Is that nut underneath the boom just there to be the lowest point of the boom?

That is a sail stop. It should be installed after the sail is raised and above the "wonky" opening. It keeps the sail from falling out of the track once it is bent on.

 

[Leeward Rail]

@dlochner about covered it. But...

The "Wonky" slot looks like it is bent wider than original. The ones I have seen have the wide sail slug slot actually "cut" into the mast.

Some unused drilled mounting holes are visible, so it's been modified over the years.

Unfortunately I can't compare to the 1987 c22 mast we had.
The c22 mast was redesigned to be stonger from May 1977 onwards.

I have been told that the early c22 mainsail didn't use slugs. The early boats supposedly used a bolt rope (rope sewed into the edge of the sail to hold it into the mast track) They wouldn't need that mast track stopper, and wouldnt fall out easily.

Hopefully someone with the older mast can post photos so you can see what is what.

 

[Leeward Rail]

@Crazy Dave Condon was a Catalina dealer, but I don't know when that was.

He may be able to eyeball those photos and tell you if the mast is original.

 

[Stu Jackson]

You should be able to find a C22 owners manual online. There are many C22 websites with great information. You should also buy Pat Royce's excellent small book: Sailing Illustrated. It covers lots of small boat stuff and C22 specific info. When bought our C22 in 1983, it was the ONLY book available.

 

[Carl Wonderful]

The "wonky" opening allows the sail slugs to enter the mast track.



It should be lower.



That is a sail stop. It should be installed after the sail is raised and above the "wonky" opening. It keeps the sail from falling out of the track once it is bent on.

Okay so that is the sail stop. Should there be a Boom stop to keep the boom from dropping past a certain level?

 

[Carl Wonderful]

Here is a photo after I just got the sails up. The main actually went higher and got tight after I tightened it up.
The boom is in the same position as it was in the original zoomed in photos that I posted originally.

also....I have the boom UNDER the mast slot opening. That is correct right?

 

[dlochner]

Here is a photo after I just got the sails up. The main actually went higher and got tight after I tightened it up.
The boom is in the same position as it was in the original zoomed in photos that I posted originally.

also....I have the boom UNDER the mast slot opening. That is correct right?

That is looking much better.

The tack, the lower front grommet should be closer to the the mast. On the gooseneck there is a SS pin, pull and reinsert it in the tack.

The sail will probably look better if the boom is lowered a little. The luff should be fairly taut.

The sail will hold the boom up when it is hoisted. When the sail comes down, the boom will drop. A sail stop like the one to keep the slugs in the track will work. The aft end of the boom will drop unless there is a topping lift.

 

[ShawnL]

@dlochner about covered it. But...

I have been told that the early c22 mainsail didn't use slugs. The early boats supposedly used a bolt rope (rope sewed into the edge of the sail to hold it into the mast track) They wouldn't need that mast track stopper, and wouldnt fall out easily.

Hopefully someone with the older mast can post photos so you can see what is what.

You are correct -- bolt-rope on both the mast and the boom.

 

[LakeShark]

@Carl Wonderful ok this looks like a good news bad news scenario. Your mast is not the original length or design for the year of your boat. It has had numerous updates and or changes to it. Such as the updated spreader attachment (old ones were cast iron and often failed) and your sail slot looks to have been cut which would have me thinking the mast has been shortened. You can check original mast measurements at Class Rules

Additionally your Jib is from a different boat and you main looks pretty worn out. So there's the bad news but it's not all bad.

The sails go up and the stays have already been modified for the new mast height because well... its standing. The boom should be lowered below the slot entrance gate but your slot has been cut off below that (not normal). So I would lock the boom where it is and hoist the sail as others have said attaching the tack to the pin on the boom. Your boom looks original albeit from a newer year boat than your model year if that sail number is correct. The Jib looks to have a long lead line on the bottom so you can still fly it but being that the center of effort is higher it may cause the boat to heel a bit more than normal. It will work more like a storm jib.

In your shoes I would get that thing on the water and learn all I can. I have been sailing Catalinas for many years and currently own a newer design C22 that I both race and cruise. Masts are not that hard to come by for these boats depending on your location and sails can always be replaced. Learn your boat first. If it has sails and moves in the wind then use it. Once you spend time on the water you'll know what to prioritize as far as updates, upgrades, and repairs. Don't sweat the small stuff or try to get the boat "perfect" before you sail. Sail and then every trip improve 1 more thing until it is perfect. Non sailing days are good days to budget for more expensive updates. This is after all a very addictive hobby. So welcome to the club.

One last thought the link I gave is for the C22 National sailing Assiociation. Consider joining even if only for the tech manual. It's full of pictures, diagrams, and ideas that are sure to have you enjoying your boat even more.

 

[morbidfollower]

Not too much more to comment other than I have had both the old and newer type masts. Yours to me looks different than both. For your year boat I believe the boom should be 3' 6" above the mast step. (3'3" on the new design style). Verify your mast is 25' long. I use a mast stop for under the boom like you have yours positioned to keep the front of the boom from dropping when I lower the main. You could get a mast gate to help with the sail slugs from falling out, it looks like one might have been installed previously with the hole pattern visible in your photos. Excited for you to get sailing.

 

[LakeShark]

For reference here is an older picture of my boat with the banding on the mast for the main sail height at a nationals race in Arkansas I believe. Note the black electrical tape bands top and bottom of the mast. This denotes max hoist on the main so that all masts on all model years have the same hoist. If hoisted to the top of the mast the boom will try to fall out of the mast gate slot for the slugs and the boat will be overly tender in gusts. My boat is a new design so my mast is a few inches shorter than yours due to the increased cabin top height. you can see the people on deck for scale as well. Hope this helps.