A drilled hole in side of sailboat mast

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Presley

I have a 1982 27' Catalina. I am wondering if anybody can explain why there is a round hole drilled in the side of my mast. The hole is about 1 1/2 in diameter drilled apparently by the manufacturer. It is about 5 inches just above the boat deck on the port side of the boat. If you reach your finger inside the hole you can see the wiring that feeds the lights on the mast itself. I have never noticed the opening before and want to know why it is there and what it is for. Also I want to know if there is some hardware that is missing in the hole. Thanks in advance for your ideas. This website is great. I have used it several times and have gotten some great responses from other sailors. Thanks, Pres Broussard
 
Dec 1, 2005
40
Catalina 22 New Bern, NC 1978 C-22 #8075 No News
Go to the source

Pres, Go to http://www.catalinayachts.com/, click on Contact Us then select your boat length, and then pose your question on the contact form. CY has always answered my on-line queries quickly, even sending me .jpgs out of original design drawings to clarify their responses where needed. If they drilled the hole, I'm sure they'll be happy to tell you exactly what it is for. Eric
 
J

Jack

internal halyards

On my 1986 27' there is a cut out on the mast port side about 3 inches up. Installed are two pulleys. One is for the internal jib halyard. Not sure about the 2nd pulley. I hope this may help, Jack
 

Joe

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Jun 1, 2004
8,219
Catalina 27 Mission Bay, San Diego
uh, that second pulley ....

..would be for another jib halyard. Check the masthead fitting and you'll find at least 3 sheaves, maybe 4. Two forward facing jib halyard sheaves and one rear facing main halyard sheave. There is room for a fourth sheave, should one wish to rig a second halyard for topping lift or storm trysail. On earlier models, the factory sheaves are 1/4 inch diameter and standard oem rigging included 1/8 wire to 3/8 rope. Later model C27's may have had slightly wider sheaves to accommodate larger diameter all rope halyards, but I'm not sure. Presley, the mysterious hole in your mast was probably not made by the factory, but... I quick call to Catalina should answer that question. If it were an outlet for an "exit block" there would be screw mounting holes somewhere on the edge. My feeling is the previous owner wanted to access the internal wiring or halyards for some reason without lifting the mast up off it's mount. In any event I'd be interested to find out its purpose.
 
Jun 6, 2004
43
Catalina 27 Dennis
Mastehad antenna

My 1982 C27 had an exit hole for masthead VHF antenna wire on the starrboard side that then went to a fitting through the cabin top ,into the head, then to to the radio. Se of there is a connection on the coach toof near the mast,of follow any antenna wiring. Might be it... Roger Cape Cod
 
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