O.K., so maybe I leaped before I looked. Like many newbies, I saw it, loved it, bought it without really thinking. Now I own a Catalina 27 (1981) and Trail Rite trailer without having a clue as to how to load the boat on the trailer and then unstepping the mast. Coming from a family of power boaters where loading and trailering is no big deal, I've broken from tradition and need your help. The boatyard near me wants over $250 and my first born to load and unstep. I think you know what I'm feeling.
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J
Jmalt
Keep it floating
I have an '85 C27 which I berth at Port Orchard Marina. The C27 isn't easy to launch and step like a conventional powerboat. If you want to trailer/launch everytime, you will need an extremely steep ramp+a high-high tide, and a long trailer tongue extention as the typical C27 has a 4 foot draft. I suggest you check out Suldans or Kitap Marines boat lift. Usual rate for roundtrip sling is approx $3-6. Keeping your boat in the water also minimizes wear and tear on standing rigging and boat structural integrity in general. West sound marinas in Kitsap are the cheapest in the area. You can easily moor your boat for $130/mont includig electricity.
I have an '85 C27 which I berth at Port Orchard Marina. The C27 isn't easy to launch and step like a conventional powerboat. If you want to trailer/launch everytime, you will need an extremely steep ramp+a high-high tide, and a long trailer tongue extention as the typical C27 has a 4 foot draft. I suggest you check out Suldans or Kitap Marines boat lift. Usual rate for roundtrip sling is approx $3-6. Keeping your boat in the water also minimizes wear and tear on standing rigging and boat structural integrity in general. West sound marinas in Kitsap are the cheapest in the area. You can easily moor your boat for $130/mont includig electricity.
N
nate
be careful
Patrick, I was recently part of a group of 5 that lowered and raised the mast on a c-27. don't even think about trying it at home!!!!!!!!! I you can gather enough EXPERIENCED help then you can do it with lines to boats on either side of you and synchronize the lowering with winches.. very tricky and the cost of failure is VERY high. You might be better off to pay to have the mast unstepped at 250. if you don't belong to a boat club, the join one.. it's easy to get help, and a great way to learn how to do these things safely. it's also easy to find volunteers, providing you're willing to lend a hand sometimes. good luck and enjoy your new boat. nate
Patrick, I was recently part of a group of 5 that lowered and raised the mast on a c-27. don't even think about trying it at home!!!!!!!!! I you can gather enough EXPERIENCED help then you can do it with lines to boats on either side of you and synchronize the lowering with winches.. very tricky and the cost of failure is VERY high. You might be better off to pay to have the mast unstepped at 250. if you don't belong to a boat club, the join one.. it's easy to get help, and a great way to learn how to do these things safely. it's also easy to find volunteers, providing you're willing to lend a hand sometimes. good luck and enjoy your new boat. nate
T
Tron Jockey
See the other post on this site...
See the post in "Ask a Catalina Owner" section titled "stepping mast on 1979, 27'?". There's a bit more info there. Don't step while on the trailer. With little boats you normally step the mast with the boat on the trailer because that is where it is most stable and the mast size is managable. But on boats with a keel the stepping / unstepping is usually done in the water because the boat is fairly stable there, and doing it ashore just raises the height of everything (and everyone) that might fall. Use a jin pole (best) or an A frame, don't try to step by hand. A C-27's mast is pretty substantial. An oops can do a LOT of damage. A jin pole can hold the mast while you figure out what got tangled and decide what to do next.
See the post in "Ask a Catalina Owner" section titled "stepping mast on 1979, 27'?". There's a bit more info there. Don't step while on the trailer. With little boats you normally step the mast with the boat on the trailer because that is where it is most stable and the mast size is managable. But on boats with a keel the stepping / unstepping is usually done in the water because the boat is fairly stable there, and doing it ashore just raises the height of everything (and everyone) that might fall. Use a jin pole (best) or an A frame, don't try to step by hand. A C-27's mast is pretty substantial. An oops can do a LOT of damage. A jin pole can hold the mast while you figure out what got tangled and decide what to do next.
R
Ron Chandler
Seek help from fellow sailors...
Did you ever wonder how they stepped the wooden masts on the old square riggers? I don't think they paid money for a crane back then. They used "A" frames. Everyone along the coast and BIG waters have marina's with cranes. It is normal to have a crane step the mast (it is safest also). But for us that don't want to part with our first born or see the boat yard make a couple days wages in 10 minutes, try constructing an A FRAME or GIN POLE to step your mast. Here in central Utah we normally have 4 people to step a Cat 27. You need to have a hinged tabernacle. With three of the four pushing the mast up and the other pulling a control line through a block on the foredeck it is really simple and takes about 3 minutes. I use an "A" frame and step the mast of my Cat 30 by myself (if I have to!) DON'T BE AFRAID TO ASK FELLOW SAILORS FOR ASSISTANCE. WE ALL SHARE THE SAME PASSION! E-Mail me and I will send photo's of my 30 being stepped. Also with no crane to launch just think of your sailboat as a powerboat. Back up to the water, chock the wheels, unhook the trailer, add 30 feet of chain to the tongue and attach the other to the tow vehicle. Pull the chain taught remove the chocks and behold it will back out like a powerboat. Make sure your ramp is long enough and you have keel guides so you don't get in a pickle! GOOD LUCK.
Did you ever wonder how they stepped the wooden masts on the old square riggers? I don't think they paid money for a crane back then. They used "A" frames. Everyone along the coast and BIG waters have marina's with cranes. It is normal to have a crane step the mast (it is safest also). But for us that don't want to part with our first born or see the boat yard make a couple days wages in 10 minutes, try constructing an A FRAME or GIN POLE to step your mast. Here in central Utah we normally have 4 people to step a Cat 27. You need to have a hinged tabernacle. With three of the four pushing the mast up and the other pulling a control line through a block on the foredeck it is really simple and takes about 3 minutes. I use an "A" frame and step the mast of my Cat 30 by myself (if I have to!) DON'T BE AFRAID TO ASK FELLOW SAILORS FOR ASSISTANCE. WE ALL SHARE THE SAME PASSION! E-Mail me and I will send photo's of my 30 being stepped. Also with no crane to launch just think of your sailboat as a powerboat. Back up to the water, chock the wheels, unhook the trailer, add 30 feet of chain to the tongue and attach the other to the tow vehicle. Pull the chain taught remove the chocks and behold it will back out like a powerboat. Make sure your ramp is long enough and you have keel guides so you don't get in a pickle! GOOD LUCK.
C
clint
stepping the mast
look at the info at the c-27 web page of catalina modifications there is a description with photos of an a-frame setup. My c27 has a trailer that i fitted a 31 foot mast at the winch stand which will step my hinged mast. it can be scarry doing it yourself and may endanger life and limb --But i have done it more than a few times . The cheapest way is to find a ramp which has a crane/ winch mounted to a utility pole . A sling is then placed at the spreader level. after taking the slak up with the winch , the stays are removed and the base of the mast is then lifted up and the mast pivoted to a horizontal position where it is the lowered to the deck. This method does not require a hinged mast base . Floating the boat off the trailer is easier than pulling it out. A trailer tongue extension is used by many and many sailing clubs and larger boat owners have one. Usually the extension is placed when the boat is lined up at the ramp because many extensions are too flimsy for turning. Good luck
look at the info at the c-27 web page of catalina modifications there is a description with photos of an a-frame setup. My c27 has a trailer that i fitted a 31 foot mast at the winch stand which will step my hinged mast. it can be scarry doing it yourself and may endanger life and limb --But i have done it more than a few times . The cheapest way is to find a ramp which has a crane/ winch mounted to a utility pole . A sling is then placed at the spreader level. after taking the slak up with the winch , the stays are removed and the base of the mast is then lifted up and the mast pivoted to a horizontal position where it is the lowered to the deck. This method does not require a hinged mast base . Floating the boat off the trailer is easier than pulling it out. A trailer tongue extension is used by many and many sailing clubs and larger boat owners have one. Usually the extension is placed when the boat is lined up at the ramp because many extensions are too flimsy for turning. Good luck
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