Notice:
The advice given on this site is based upon individual or quoted experience, yours may differ.
The Officers, Staff and members of this site only provide information based upon the concept that anyone utilizing this information does so at their own risk and holds harmless all contributors to this site.
Hello, I'm planning to rig the boat for a spinnaker as I came across a barely used Asym from a club member that was for a Cat 25. I went ahead and ordered the crane and block from CD now the question. Does it get retrofitted by pulling the sheave pins and than the crane goes over the masthead and sheaves repinned? I'm planning on scheduling some crane/lift time and want to optimize the time. Any insight is greatly appreciated.
quote:Does it get retrofitted by pulling the sheave pins and than the crane goes over the masthead and sheaves repinned?
Yes, that is how I remember it, the CD website shows that it comes with two clevis pins. I don't remember getting those with mine though and think I reused the original pins without a problem. Don't forget a block and the halyard. Job shouldn't take more than 15 minutes.
I think ( Not sure ) mine came with new slightly longer pins. Pull out the old ones, Put the crane on and insert the new pins. The only tool you need is pliers for the cotter pins. I'd put new sheaves while you were at it.
Someone was telling me that it is near impossible(or at least extremely difficult) to replace the sheaves with the mast up, is this not true?
It would be difficult to replace them all, because you would have to be raised in a bosun's chair on a halyard, and that means at least one of the sheaves would be in use. Nevertheless, I think it could be done. It would be easier to just lower the mast and re-raise it. I can help you with that, if you have never done it. Three men can lower it and re-raise it without any special equipment.
Or even with a crane.. But I am going to wait till the off season. I got a bunch of work to do up there so I might as well drop it.
Have a jammed wire halyard right now so i've been successfully using the spin crane for the spin and head sail. Once I drop it im replacing the sheaves for rope, full rope halyard conversion, hopefully lines aft, rewiring for anchor light, deck lights on the spreaders and probably replace the topping lift wire. Think that's it.
Installed the spinnaker crane from CD this past spring. I have a tall rig and the pins that came with the crane were longer - because the TR has a narrower masthead.
Yeah, installing this with the mast erect will be a challenge! I did this just a couple-three months ago (so the process is pretty fresh in my mind) with the mast horizontal. I think you could easily drop a sheave down the center of the mast . You are lining up several pieces of hardware at once . . . gravity will definitely be working against you!
My vote would be lower the mast. Good luck and be safe!
Thanks as always for sage advice. I was going to use a crane but the 'gravity' drop bit is tending to have me lean towards a horizontal install. Besides its too nice for any downtime at this point right? Will update as the conversion takes place.
Hey no problem! I love contributing whenever I can and return the favor for everyone who's helped me! Btw, don't forget the tack line and blocks for the spin.
I just flew the spinnaker a couple of days ago and it is a thrill. Yes the crane I have holds the swivel block all the way forward so the sail can reach. It's a triraidial from North which can be set for reaching. The crane has to allow it seems up to about 80 degrees from forward each side. I had forgotten how much pull from the halyard as it has been 10 years since the last launch. It does take at least 3 crew especially racing if you have to tack. The jambing of the wire halyard happened on another 25 and checking after the season with the mast down, the separator aluminum plate was short in length. The longer plate stopped the jambing. I vote for mast crane install when horizontal. Have you ever been up there?
Jim, I've only been up 'there', when it's been 'down' here (horizontal). The plan is to set up at a municipal floating dock where there will be floating docks fore and aft. Aft to work on the lowered masthead and forward to rehoist the mast. A grand plan.
Gang, Just reporting back on the 'crane ' mission. As planned we moved the boat to a little used municipal set of concrete floaters. We put her broadside to the floater and started with the bow closer to its T dock for access to the forestay and the lowering aft process. After it was on the deck we just slid the boat aft to get the masthead hanging over the T dock behind her. The trickiest part was still managing the sheave pin replacement. My awesome partner used small bungy cord material to trap the one sheave in place so that it didn't hit the concrete floater and than find its way seaward. They provide 3 new pins but we only needed 2. Restepped the rig and retuned. Now, can anyone offer a halyard size that is adequate? Also installed a vang so we're really coming into the millenium.
Just an update. Got the setup complete and Wed. night in very light air christened the 'new' chute. It was the coolest thing to fly that multicolored kite and have it pull. I don't think we're done tweaking though. We tacked it down with a pennant to the fitting just aft of the furler drum so that when we jibed it over to port the pennant was laid on the foil/jib. Any suggestions on a better setup from the panel of experts. It was great to get it going! It came from a former Cat 25 owner who said it was designed for the boat. It is an asym obviously.
Notice: The advice given on this site is based upon individual or quoted experience, yours may differ. The Officers, Staff and members of this site only provide information based upon the concept that anyone utilizing this information does so at their own risk and holds harmless all contributors to this site.