What is the best way to lower the mast on a 1972 catalina? is there any speacial rigging needed? thanks for any info. Taylor
Mast Lowering
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All depends on the size of the boat...
With my C27 I just have the boys in the boatyard do it with their crane. They charge $125 for the round trip and the yard charges $5/day to leave the mast laying around. Needless to say, my mast stays up 'till its about to fall down
With my C27 I just have the boys in the boatyard do it with their crane. They charge $125 for the round trip and the yard charges $5/day to leave the mast laying around. Needless to say, my mast stays up 'till its about to fall down
Depends on boat (and wallet) size...
Taylor: Last fall, a friend and I lowered the mast on my C27 while she was on the hard using an A-frame we constructed from 2x4s. (We used the plans from the link listed below.) Parts (wood, bolts, etc.) cost about $20 and the whole process took about 2-3 hours. Plus my friend took a turn-buckle to the head. (He's fine.) This spring I had the mast restepped using the marina's crane; 50 bucks and 15 minutes and less chance of my mast falling on to a neighboring boat. I am considering attaching a hinged mast step the next time I take the mast down. (www.blumhorst.com/catalina27/mast-step-install.htm) Paul
Taylor: Last fall, a friend and I lowered the mast on my C27 while she was on the hard using an A-frame we constructed from 2x4s. (We used the plans from the link listed below.) Parts (wood, bolts, etc.) cost about $20 and the whole process took about 2-3 hours. Plus my friend took a turn-buckle to the head. (He's fine.) This spring I had the mast restepped using the marina's crane; 50 bucks and 15 minutes and less chance of my mast falling on to a neighboring boat. I am considering attaching a hinged mast step the next time I take the mast down. (www.blumhorst.com/catalina27/mast-step-install.htm) Paul
C25 Tall Rig
When we had our C25 Tall Rig, all we used for lowering was a 8' crutch (2 2x4's screwed together into a 4x4) with a trailer roller at the top, and the crutch secured at the transom. I guided the mast down by hand while my wife slowed the descent with a (stout) line tied off to a halyard. She didn't need to hold the weight of the mast; rather, the line was passed under a dock cleat, and between the friction and her paying it out slowly, it was a controlled descent. NOTE: This only worked because the mast was still secured to the tabernacle with a bolt, thus it was hinged. Once it rested on the crutch, I could disconnect the base and pull the mast forward, aided by the roller on the crutch. Raising was too scary. We tried the A-frame route once, but then always paid the man at the crane and raised with the help of the pros. Ed Jakubas C30 # 3283 Valhalla Chicago
When we had our C25 Tall Rig, all we used for lowering was a 8' crutch (2 2x4's screwed together into a 4x4) with a trailer roller at the top, and the crutch secured at the transom. I guided the mast down by hand while my wife slowed the descent with a (stout) line tied off to a halyard. She didn't need to hold the weight of the mast; rather, the line was passed under a dock cleat, and between the friction and her paying it out slowly, it was a controlled descent. NOTE: This only worked because the mast was still secured to the tabernacle with a bolt, thus it was hinged. Once it rested on the crutch, I could disconnect the base and pull the mast forward, aided by the roller on the crutch. Raising was too scary. We tried the A-frame route once, but then always paid the man at the crane and raised with the help of the pros. Ed Jakubas C30 # 3283 Valhalla Chicago
What size boat? Anything bigger than 25'
should be done by a yard with the necessary equipment IMO. To do this by yourself would be foolhardy and dangerous to say nothing of expensive if the mast (or anyone) gets damaged in the process.
should be done by a yard with the necessary equipment IMO. To do this by yourself would be foolhardy and dangerous to say nothing of expensive if the mast (or anyone) gets damaged in the process.
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