Tabernacle - Catalina 27

[Harry]

Looking for the means to raise and lower the mast of my 27' Catalina while underway to clear a low bridge between my house and open waters. I am starting from ground zero and need a tabernacle as well as the mast raising and lowering system. Any info. on where to get a tabernacle and what rigging system to use would be appreciated.

 

[Dan B]

Good Luck

I have raised and dropped my C27 mast once (both times with a crane). It was not the easiest thing to do. I don't know how it would be controlled while underway. I have seen various postings with a wooden "A frame" type system but this takes lots of people and introduces lots of dangers.

 

[Peter]

In Santa Cruz CA, they

have a bridge that separates the "high rent district" (with open acccess to the ocean) from the low rent (having to go under a bridge with about 15ft clearance). Everybody who is financially impaired, or who doesn't want to endure the 8-12 year wait for a slip on the "right side" of the bridge, runs a tabernacle, with the backstay and aft lowers on some type of easily releasable yet secure connection (hyfield lever?).They disconnect the backstay and the aft lowers, and push the mast forward on the tabernacle, using the boom and the mainsheet as a "crane" to control it as it goes toward horizontal. The upper shrouds control it from going sideways. The mast doesn't go all the way horizontal, instead maybe to 30-45 degrees+/- to horizontal -just enough to get under the bridge. Once they pass under the bridge, they sheet in on the mainsheet, the mast comes back up to vertical, they re-connect the shrouds and backstay, and off they go! All done underway under power-takes maybe 5 minutes at the most.If you ever get to NorCal, check out Santa Cruz!