Maybe Catalina decided that 1998 was the right time to beef up the mast because it's sure heavier than I expected. When I picked up my "new" craft it took 3 hefty guys to take it down and they had to struggle. I do love the boat and the way it sails. I have a high winch on the trailer which works great if I have a 2nd person to steady the mast while I do the easy part on the winch. I've been told I should install a pair of "baby stays" but that they must attach to the boat in perfect alignment with the mast's tabernacle (pivot) fitting (like component parts of a long hinge). But there is no place on the boat which aligns with the fitting. The stays would have to attach somewhere in space about 18 inches above the deck! Is ther another way or a better way?
Can't raise my mast and it's only a Capri 18
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Maybe Catalina decided that 1998 was the right time to beef up the mast because it's sure heavier than I expected. When I picked up my "new" craft it took 3 hefty guys to take it down and they had to struggle. I do love the boat and the way it sails. I have a high winch on the trailer which works great if I have a 2nd person to steady the mast while I do the easy part on the winch. I've been told I should install a pair of "baby stays" but that they must attach to the boat in perfect alignment with the mast's tabernacle (pivot) fitting (like component parts of a long hinge). But there is no place on the boat which aligns with the fitting. The stays would have to attach somewhere in space about 18 inches above the deck! Is ther another way or a better way?
Check the archives
I bet there is something in there bout raising ur mast, I have 22 and I know what you mean bout steadying the mast..whoa..I let my wife crank on the winch while I steady it. Oh isn't that fun. I've heard others using various ways of doin it.. They say it isnt that hard to do...Wish someone lived close by so I could get a look see... good luck...
I bet there is something in there bout raising ur mast, I have 22 and I know what you mean bout steadying the mast..whoa..I let my wife crank on the winch while I steady it. Oh isn't that fun. I've heard others using various ways of doin it.. They say it isnt that hard to do...Wish someone lived close by so I could get a look see... good luck...
Check the archives
I bet there is something in there bout raising ur mast, I have 22 and I know what you mean bout steadying the mast..whoa..I let my wife crank on the winch while I steady it. Oh isn't that fun. I've heard others using various ways of doin it.. They say it isnt that hard to do...Wish someone lived close by so I could get a look see... good luck...
I bet there is something in there bout raising ur mast, I have 22 and I know what you mean bout steadying the mast..whoa..I let my wife crank on the winch while I steady it. Oh isn't that fun. I've heard others using various ways of doin it.. They say it isnt that hard to do...Wish someone lived close by so I could get a look see... good luck...
A few thoughts...
John: I also have a C-22, but I feel that raising or lowering the mast on your C-18 should be similar, if not a little easier. This issue is frequently discussed on this forum, but it's new to you, and we all sure want to help. I added a link below that shows a discussion from the archives that show some photos of my wife, son, and me dropping our mast, a few years ago. Look at that discussion and we can talk more. I did want to mention that I do loosen one of the shrouds by 10 turns. This is important, otherwise, you are stretching the shrouds with the mast, when you rotate it rearward. Also, if you use a brace at the stern to lift the mast until you are ready to complete lifting it, it really does make things easier. It doesn't matter what it is made out of. This also helps lowering the mast too. One more thing, we now always use the mainsheet and blocks to raise and lower the mast. My wife actually does that part, and can lock it at any point in the process. This gives her a mechanical advantage of 3. I'm not very strong. Raising and lowering the mast is really more a matter of knowing how to do it, than a matter of strength. My sons are now of an age that they can certainly help us with this task, as you can see in the photos, but we raised and lowered the mast the same way when they were little. Aldo
John: I also have a C-22, but I feel that raising or lowering the mast on your C-18 should be similar, if not a little easier. This issue is frequently discussed on this forum, but it's new to you, and we all sure want to help. I added a link below that shows a discussion from the archives that show some photos of my wife, son, and me dropping our mast, a few years ago. Look at that discussion and we can talk more. I did want to mention that I do loosen one of the shrouds by 10 turns. This is important, otherwise, you are stretching the shrouds with the mast, when you rotate it rearward. Also, if you use a brace at the stern to lift the mast until you are ready to complete lifting it, it really does make things easier. It doesn't matter what it is made out of. This also helps lowering the mast too. One more thing, we now always use the mainsheet and blocks to raise and lower the mast. My wife actually does that part, and can lock it at any point in the process. This gives her a mechanical advantage of 3. I'm not very strong. Raising and lowering the mast is really more a matter of knowing how to do it, than a matter of strength. My sons are now of an age that they can certainly help us with this task, as you can see in the photos, but we raised and lowered the mast the same way when they were little. Aldo
A few thoughts...
John: I also have a C-22, but I feel that raising or lowering the mast on your C-18 should be similar, if not a little easier. This issue is frequently discussed on this forum, but it's new to you, and we all sure want to help. I added a link below that shows a discussion from the archives that show some photos of my wife, son, and me dropping our mast, a few years ago. Look at that discussion and we can talk more. I did want to mention that I do loosen one of the shrouds by 10 turns. This is important, otherwise, you are stretching the shrouds with the mast, when you rotate it rearward. Also, if you use a brace at the stern to lift the mast until you are ready to complete lifting it, it really does make things easier. It doesn't matter what it is made out of. This also helps lowering the mast too. One more thing, we now always use the mainsheet and blocks to raise and lower the mast. My wife actually does that part, and can lock it at any point in the process. This gives her a mechanical advantage of 3. I'm not very strong. Raising and lowering the mast is really more a matter of knowing how to do it, than a matter of strength. My sons are now of an age that they can certainly help us with this task, as you can see in the photos, but we raised and lowered the mast the same way when they were little. Aldo
John: I also have a C-22, but I feel that raising or lowering the mast on your C-18 should be similar, if not a little easier. This issue is frequently discussed on this forum, but it's new to you, and we all sure want to help. I added a link below that shows a discussion from the archives that show some photos of my wife, son, and me dropping our mast, a few years ago. Look at that discussion and we can talk more. I did want to mention that I do loosen one of the shrouds by 10 turns. This is important, otherwise, you are stretching the shrouds with the mast, when you rotate it rearward. Also, if you use a brace at the stern to lift the mast until you are ready to complete lifting it, it really does make things easier. It doesn't matter what it is made out of. This also helps lowering the mast too. One more thing, we now always use the mainsheet and blocks to raise and lower the mast. My wife actually does that part, and can lock it at any point in the process. This gives her a mechanical advantage of 3. I'm not very strong. Raising and lowering the mast is really more a matter of knowing how to do it, than a matter of strength. My sons are now of an age that they can certainly help us with this task, as you can see in the photos, but we raised and lowered the mast the same way when they were little. Aldo
raising the mast....
I don't have a capri 18, but I have a lot of experience with other similarly sized boats. I've studied your picture and those available on the Catalina website. It appears that your spreader is NOT swept back and the shrouds line up perpendicular to the mast/centerline. So.... to keep the mast from swaying simply attach the lower shrouds before raising. If you're single-handing, you'll need to get the mast above horizontal before winching it up. So build youself a simple 2x4 crutch that you can mount to the stern to get the mast in position for raising, and to catch it when lowering. I've seen some setups that have an extendable mast support attached to the trailor. I built a tripod for my Nacra Catamaran that fit into the boat box. Practice in the parking lot away from any other cars or boats.
I don't have a capri 18, but I have a lot of experience with other similarly sized boats. I've studied your picture and those available on the Catalina website. It appears that your spreader is NOT swept back and the shrouds line up perpendicular to the mast/centerline. So.... to keep the mast from swaying simply attach the lower shrouds before raising. If you're single-handing, you'll need to get the mast above horizontal before winching it up. So build youself a simple 2x4 crutch that you can mount to the stern to get the mast in position for raising, and to catch it when lowering. I've seen some setups that have an extendable mast support attached to the trailor. I built a tripod for my Nacra Catamaran that fit into the boat box. Practice in the parking lot away from any other cars or boats.
Raising Mast
John: I second what Aldo says and shows in his photo. In addition, the use of an A-frame or Gin Pole up front gives a better angle on pulling the main halyard or forestay. Those have been reported earlier in this forum and are in the technical manual for C-22s found through www.catalina22.org I think. If you want a good sail in your new boat, come up and sail with us in the 2005 "Little America's Cup" regatta at Fremont Lake (probably first weekend in August). Dick
John: I second what Aldo says and shows in his photo. In addition, the use of an A-frame or Gin Pole up front gives a better angle on pulling the main halyard or forestay. Those have been reported earlier in this forum and are in the technical manual for C-22s found through www.catalina22.org I think. If you want a good sail in your new boat, come up and sail with us in the 2005 "Little America's Cup" regatta at Fremont Lake (probably first weekend in August). Dick
Baby stays are lots easier than an A frame
especially on the C-18. They mount on the cabin roof, I could give you exact measurements if you want. Also, I know folks loosen shrouds on the 22s, but the geometry of the 18 makes it unecessary (you do need to loosen the aft stay). You really don't need to make this too difficult - it probably takes 2 minutes to rig the baby stays and hook up the block to the gin pole, then up it goes. I use a seperate block, sso I don't need to rig, derig, rerig my main sheet. A couple of extra bucks, but I'm all about convienience. When I drop (maybe lower is a better term) the mast for travel, the baby stays remain attached. Then when it is time to raise, it goes very quickly. I have sailed with the baby stays in place when I was just going to be out for a short time. It makes things a little more cluttered, but not really too bad. Finally, I don't think the mast itself is any heavier, but with the furler and jib, it's more than I want to handle. Again, let me know if you want measurements or pictures. Also, at the Denver boat show (next weekend) the local dealer is supposed to have a new C-18, and it should have the mast raising system I'm describing on it. They also do 2-3 mast raising demos (on various boats) during each day
especially on the C-18. They mount on the cabin roof, I could give you exact measurements if you want. Also, I know folks loosen shrouds on the 22s, but the geometry of the 18 makes it unecessary (you do need to loosen the aft stay). You really don't need to make this too difficult - it probably takes 2 minutes to rig the baby stays and hook up the block to the gin pole, then up it goes. I use a seperate block, sso I don't need to rig, derig, rerig my main sheet. A couple of extra bucks, but I'm all about convienience. When I drop (maybe lower is a better term) the mast for travel, the baby stays remain attached. Then when it is time to raise, it goes very quickly. I have sailed with the baby stays in place when I was just going to be out for a short time. It makes things a little more cluttered, but not really too bad. Finally, I don't think the mast itself is any heavier, but with the furler and jib, it's more than I want to handle. Again, let me know if you want measurements or pictures. Also, at the Denver boat show (next weekend) the local dealer is supposed to have a new C-18, and it should have the mast raising system I'm describing on it. They also do 2-3 mast raising demos (on various boats) during each day
Mast raising
Dave, measurements and a photo would be helpful. I understand he concept of baby staya but thought the pivot point had to be at the same level for mast base and baby stays.
Dave, measurements and a photo would be helpful. I understand he concept of baby staya but thought the pivot point had to be at the same level for mast base and baby stays.
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