Catalina 14.2 Capri Mast

[pixie]

First post here. I looked around and I'm happy to see this is a pretty active forum.

I was sailing along on lake Travis in Texas, when the mast broke in half at the spreader and the whole mess fell into the lake. I salvaged everything and got towed back to shore in disgrace.

I've been searching for a repair option, but there are two problems. First, this boat is 20 years old. So, it's not worth the price of a welder. Second, the mast is now slightly bent. I'm not sure how I can repair that part. I tried putting it on blocks and standing on it. Nothing. And I'm not a svelte person.

So, does anyone in Texas have a Capri mast for sale? I'll come get it.

 

[pixie]

I just had a wild idea. I'm pretty handy and might be able to retrofit a different mast to this boat. Seems to be all I need is a plain mast with a channel for the sail. Is that too crazy?

 

[rgranger]

It is quite easy to take a hack saw and shorten a mast so ... don't limit your search to just the Capri 14s. A Catalina 22 or Macgregor V21 probably uses the same diameter mast. All you need to do is drill out the rivets that hold the top cap in place. Cut the mast and put the cap back in.

Using your existing mast, determine where the tangs for the shrouds should be placed on your new mast. You can probably reuse a lot of the hardware from your existing mast.


If it were me, I'd nose around Craig's List, setting the maximum price at about $500. Then when you find a true POS boat with a usable mast. Low ball an offer. Most people just want it gone and are happy to give it away. You sometimes get a few pieces of nice equipment for "free" this way.
I used to flip sailboats for a hobby and have found several boats this way.
For example.... here is an O'day 15 in houston for $1

1967 15' O'Day Sail Boat - boats - by owner - marine sale

Decent shape for its age, i have never had it in the water. Trailer is good but will need tires to...

houston.craigslist.org

 

[pixie]

You are awesome!
I contacted them to get some exact measurements. Houston is 3-4 hours away. So, it's a long haul with a boat that looks like it's about to fall apart.

 

[rgranger]

You can probably sell the extra parts for a small profit and if you don't already have a trailer, maybe rehab that one. If you do have a trailer you trust... maybe haul yours down empty and come back with only the mast... but if you pressure wash that older one.... I bet you can find someone who will buy it for $50 to make a fishing skiff.

There was a time I was looking for a dual axle trailer and ended up buying the crappy boat that was sitting on it also. Kind of opposite your current situation. I paid $400 for a SeaCraft 20 with a blown mercruiser engine. Stripped off a lot of great hardware, (including a Richie compass, anchor chocks, rode chocks, cleats,

motor mount for a kicker etc.... then sold the hull to a guy for $100 who was looking for a project to do with his grandson. I ended up with this trailer plus a lot of cool hardware for $300 out of pocket.

 

[rgranger]

Taking a second look at that trailer on the O'day.... I think you could spend a few hours with a hand sander to knock off the loose paint... hit it with some rust neutralizer... then follow up with a spray can of Rustoleum Cold Galvanizing spray and then sell that trailer for $300 or $400 bucks. BTW, the trailer in my previous post was done this way.

 

[pixie]

I'm out of luck on that one. There were two other people who live in Houston coming by to look at it yesterday. I'm assuming one of them took it.

Aren't there boat bone yards around like car pick-a-parts? I tried googling for it, but only found one in Florida.
They have a 21' mast that looks right for $325. But, I'll bet freight on that would be an additional $100. That seems like a lot to me.

After the disaster I mounted a much larger battery for my kicker. I think I can make it back on my own with that battery. So, I'm going back to my idea of repairing this one. I'm thinking I could use aluminum strips and rivet them inside and outside around the break. Use about 4-5 pairs of 1" strips and sandwich the original aluminum all the way around. I have a break, but I don't think I can make a single curved collar. Not sure I'm explaining my vision right. Then maybe get with my welder and have him hit it with the TIG. If it's all put together it should be a quick/cheap weld for him. Does that sound like it might get me through a few more years?

I'll have to explain why I'm so bent on saving this old boat. Three years ago, I built two wooden outriggers and coated them in epoxy. I built an aluminum frame and mounted them to the boat. It folds for trailering. So, it's a trimaran now. So, I have a lot of work that I've put into this boat. I can't just go buy another one.

 

[jssailem]

The rivet plan will lack the torsional strength needed in a mast.

You’ll need to weld a sleeve over the top of the break in the mast.

Better idea is to replace with something. The designed system is a groove for the luff bolt but you could attach a track to the outside of a solid mast and attach cars for the track to the sail.

Best is to find an old cheap boat and salvage the mast for your use.

 

[rgranger]

Why not build a wooden mast? That would look salty. Or wrap some carbon fiberglass cloth around a PVC pole -- resin-- and make yourself a nice carbon fiber mast. There are some good YouTube vids on how to do that.

 

[tajkost]

First post here. I looked around and I'm happy to see this is a pretty active forum.

I was sailing along on lake Travis in Texas, when the mast broke in half at the spreader and the whole mess fell into the lake. I salvaged everything and got towed back to shore in disgrace.

I've been searching for a repair option, but there are two problems. First, this boat is 20 years old. So, it's not worth the price of a welder. Second, the mast is now slightly bent. I'm not sure how I can repair that part. I tried putting it on blocks and standing on it. Nothing. And I'm not a svelte person.

So, does anyone in Texas have a Capri mast for sale? I'll come get it.

 

[tajkost]

Did you ever find one? I have parted out 1986 and have everthing other that the damaged hull. Mast, mast boom, rudder and tiller, centerboard, sails all rigging and parts. All in failry desent shape.

 

[jmallett]

First post here. I looked around and I'm happy to see this is a pretty active forum.

I was sailing along on lake Travis in Texas, when the mast broke in half at the spreader and the whole mess fell into the lake. I salvaged everything and got towed back to shore in disgrace.

I've been searching for a repair option, but there are two problems. First, this boat is 20 years old. So, it's not worth the price of a welder. Second, the mast is now slightly bent. I'm not sure how I can repair that part. I tried putting it on blocks and standing on it. Nothing. And I'm not a svelte person.

So, does anyone in Texas have a Capri mast for sale? I'll come get it.

I had a simillar problem, the mast snapped at the spreaders. I did get it welded which only cost me $60 so it may not be as expensive as you think.