Cockpit controls

[gdanza]

My old 22 lacks halyards in the cockpit, and after sailing on my brother-in-laws C30, I don't know if I am just having boat-envy, or really think having the ability drop or raise the sails from the cockpit is too cool to not have. Well, that and self tailing winches...
This winter, I plan on doing repairs to the deck and electrical, and, well, while I'm at it... Has anyone made this upgrade to their 22? What kind of expense is involved in the proper hardware, fixtures, and fasteners? Has anyone made that upgrade and thought poorly of it due to loss of walkable deck space? Is there more of an up than down side to this?

 

[adirondackbob]

Greg, after two seasons on our O'Day 23 (which in some ways is set up a lot like the Catalina 22), I decided to run the halyards back to the cockpit. Just too much drama trying to hoist or dowse the sails in stiff winds, especially since we had a hanked-on job, which meant that I always had to go forward to lower the jib.

To run the halyards aft, I had to install turning blocks outboard of the mast and rope clutches on the cabintop on either side of the companionway. I had already installed a utility plate at the base of the mast, so all I had to do there was attach two blocks to the plate. Given the small size of the sails, I didn't think winches were necessary, so I didn't install any. You can see the final set-up in the photo, which shows the jib halyard on the port side.

The hardest part was positioning the turning blocks because there is so little room between the grab rails and the sliding hatch on that boat. Everything else was straightforward.

Costs were minimal: the two blocks for the base of the mast, two turning blocks, and two rope clutches (I bought the Lewmar, which release under load--necessary without a winch) in addition to the nuts and bolts and sealant. I spent maybe $300 total.

It was the best upgrade I made to that boat. Having the halyards run to the cockpit made raising and lowering the sails far easier--and, I think, safer--than before, and we were much more comfortable sailing when the winds piped up. I also installed a downhaul for the job, which made dowsing that sail in a blow much safer.

By the way, the year before I did this upgrade, I had a chance to sail a Catalina 22 that had all the control lines, including reefing lines, run back to the cockpit. It was a snap to sail, and that convinced me to make the changes to our boat.

Bob

 

[Stu Jackson]

You should add a jib downhaul, too.

 

[Team118]

You'll need a Mast Step Halyard Plate, which will be the cheapest piece you'll buy.

If you don't have your jib on a roller furler, then Stu is right. The jib downhaul will be a godsend. It will allow you to bring the jib down and keep it in place until you can get up front and unhank the sail from the forestay.

I don't know if they will upload, but I included a few PDF files that I gave to owners of my 22. Don't know if they helped, but they never called me with any questions...

Good luck
Chris

 

[adirondackbob]

Greg, Stu and Chris are right about the downhaul if you don't have a roller furler (which I didn't on my O'Day 23). As Chris notes, the downhaul will allow you to drop the jib from the cockpit and secure it to the deck temporarily without having to go forward. But installing a downhaul by far the easiest part of this upgrade to your boat. On my boat it was a simple matter of attaching a few small blocks to the stanchions and installing a small cleat on the coaming (to secure the downhaul line once the jib is dowsed).

Bob

 

[Team118]

Here is a picture with the blocks that Bob is talking about. I used one of them for the furler. The other is just below the furler drum and you can barely see it if you zoom in.

That line ran from the cokpit through 2 blocks attached to the bottom of the life line stanchions. The end of the downhaul line had a ring tied to it and I would attach this ring to the snap shackle of the jib halyard.

If cost was an issue or time, then this might be the first system you would install.

Good luck
Chris

 

[gdanza]

Way, way cool info, friends! Thanks. I have one of those utility plates already, and the down haul would make my life soooooomuch simpler. Thanks for the pics! I think I can get this done before spring, and have even more fun next year. You guys rock!

 

[radioguy]

Question:

When you guys let your main sail down on the boom, do you let the little runners on the sail come out of the mast? Or do you keep them locked in by the little twisty thing that keeps the runners from falling out of the mast?

(Sorry, I realize this is probably the worse use of sailboat terminology ever.)

 

[Team118]

I think you're talking about the slugs that slide up and down the groove in the mast.

Near the base of the mast just above where the boom attaches to mast there should be an open groove that allows you to raise and lower the main sail. You should be able to 'close' this open groove with metal plates called mast gates.

You can get those here http://www.catalinadirect.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=product.display&product_ID=1012

Those gates keep the sail from falling out the bottom of the mast when you lower it.

The pdf file below has a picture of the mast gates in it. It's labeld "A".

Good luck!
Chris