pop top on catalina 22

[bepajoe]

I have a pop top on my c22. which when up is held in place by a movable hook which is on the mast. One time the screw on the mast holding up the pop top was not secured well and the top collapsed on someone's hand standing in the companionway. Fortunately, the only thing that happened was serviously bruised fingers.I now secure the pop top by the normal way, plus I run a bungee cord around the mast and attach to the hinge points.Has anyone figured out a better way to assure that this dangerous event does not occur?

 

[Ken]

quick pin

One of my friends solved this problem by drilling a hole in the mast just below the pop top lock assembly. When its in the locked position he puts a avibank quick pin there. Once in place that lock cannot fall. He has not suffered a dropped pop top since. The quick pin has a lanyard attached to it and the pop top lock. He too had the top fall on a friends hand.I have also seen wooden supports made that fit beside the metal tubes. Once installed they keep the top from falling.I added a larger nut to my lock that allows more turning pressure to be applied. I like the quick pin though and may add it for that extra security.

 

[Bilbo]

Good

Good suggestion Ken. I would not use the factory arrangement to secure the pop top unless it was tightened with a pair of pliers. It would be a fact of murphey's law that a person would rest their hand on the area where the pop top would hit when it falls. There is the CD gas strut add-on arrangement for the top but it's kind of expensive.

 

[bepajoe]

pop top

great suggestion. I will certainly do just that!