Raised the mast on my new (1999) 260 today- actually I didn't do it but several friends in my club pitched in as I am recovering from hip replacement. Everything went fine - the 260 raising apparatus works MUCH better than that on the Catalina 250. I did notice one problem. When the mast is being moved back into position on the tablernacle the shrouds and spreaders begin to rest on the closed bimini and not the mast raising pole. This makes it necessary for someone to be positioned at that point to move the mast around as it will no longer slide on the roller in the raising pole. Is this just a tradeoff I will have to learn to live with for having a bimini or is there some trick to avoid this? My bimini is the short version that does not extend to the back of the boon when it is raised. Thanks!
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A problem...
I believe it's a generic problem. If I remember correctly, last winter when I lowered my mast, I first lossened all the bimini screws so the bimini had some play. The mast still hit the bimini, but the bimini didn't restrict the action of the roller.
I believe it's a generic problem. If I remember correctly, last winter when I lowered my mast, I first lossened all the bimini screws so the bimini had some play. The mast still hit the bimini, but the bimini didn't restrict the action of the roller.
I see...
I was afraid that was going to be the answer. Funny how this is not mentioned or shown in the Hunter mast raising video. However, even with this problem mast raising is still a snap!
I was afraid that was going to be the answer. Funny how this is not mentioned or shown in the Hunter mast raising video. However, even with this problem mast raising is still a snap!
bimini
Frank is correct but the two screwss to remove are the ones holding the two stern supports at the stern rail pulpit. Also, some folks have added a roller on the mast carrier in the same poistion or even put it a little higher which helps to plus the mast is easier to roll back on than the plastic white pvc pipe Crazy Dave Condon
Frank is correct but the two screwss to remove are the ones holding the two stern supports at the stern rail pulpit. Also, some folks have added a roller on the mast carrier in the same poistion or even put it a little higher which helps to plus the mast is easier to roll back on than the plastic white pvc pipe Crazy Dave Condon
How does that work
How does that work? I don't have it in my mind exactly how the mast crutch is configured. Can you put an insert into it? I don't think I want to trailer with the mast any more up in the air than it is now. We caught a pine tree coming into my marina which left a fairly large branch caught at the top of my mast. The idea of catching a low hanging power line etc is a little frightening.
How does that work? I don't have it in my mind exactly how the mast crutch is configured. Can you put an insert into it? I don't think I want to trailer with the mast any more up in the air than it is now. We caught a pine tree coming into my marina which left a fairly large branch caught at the top of my mast. The idea of catching a low hanging power line etc is a little frightening.
Bimini fixes
There are several ways to handle this. First for the rods that hold the bimini up, use a quick dis-connect clevis pin. What I used is not a clevis pin, I looked in several catalogs to find it and couldn't. It is a pin with a flat knive type blade that rotates 90 deg to keep it from backing out. Very quick for letting the bimini frame drop down. Dave you have my boat take a look at it tell us what this thing is called!! Please. Second. Look at the accompanying photo to see how I raised the mast about 4-6 inches higher in the crutch by using a different roller. Of course I had to drill a new hole to remount. This does not raise the mast to dangerous levels while trailering - so don't worry about it. If it hits at this level it will have hit at the lower. Another thing you can do is where the bimini attaches to the side rails, is move this attachment point a couple of inches further to the bow. All of these ajustments will help. Jim "Who is boatless"
There are several ways to handle this. First for the rods that hold the bimini up, use a quick dis-connect clevis pin. What I used is not a clevis pin, I looked in several catalogs to find it and couldn't. It is a pin with a flat knive type blade that rotates 90 deg to keep it from backing out. Very quick for letting the bimini frame drop down. Dave you have my boat take a look at it tell us what this thing is called!! Please. Second. Look at the accompanying photo to see how I raised the mast about 4-6 inches higher in the crutch by using a different roller. Of course I had to drill a new hole to remount. This does not raise the mast to dangerous levels while trailering - so don't worry about it. If it hits at this level it will have hit at the lower. Another thing you can do is where the bimini attaches to the side rails, is move this attachment point a couple of inches further to the bow. All of these ajustments will help. Jim "Who is boatless"
Attachments
Our fix was
to replace the screws which hold the bimini supports into the stern rail attachment (black plastic part) with a quick release pin. Just the two supports behind the helm seat, mind you. This allows you to fold these two supports up into the bimini cover and rest the bimini itself on the rail. No need to raise the mast or anything else. We, like others, do not like raising the mast any higher than necessary due to trees, etc. Works just fine and really easy to do.
to replace the screws which hold the bimini supports into the stern rail attachment (black plastic part) with a quick release pin. Just the two supports behind the helm seat, mind you. This allows you to fold these two supports up into the bimini cover and rest the bimini itself on the rail. No need to raise the mast or anything else. We, like others, do not like raising the mast any higher than necessary due to trees, etc. Works just fine and really easy to do.
Thanks for the Suggestions
Thank you all for taking the time to reply. I will probably use the quick release pins on the bimini to get it out of the way. Again thanks!
Thank you all for taking the time to reply. I will probably use the quick release pins on the bimini to get it out of the way. Again thanks!
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