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Catalina/Capri 25/250 Sailor's Forums

Catalina 250 Specific Forum

WINTER STORAGE

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RSHOOTER
Navigator

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USA
101 Posts

Initially Posted - 10/03/2005 : 11:10:21

This is our first year with our 1999 C250 WK. The boat is covered for the Winter with a full length Tarp. I have some concerns as the slope is not very good when it is stretched over the Mast. Last year one of my friends had the weight of the pooled water on top of the Tarp make a pretzel out his Mast support pole. I am considering removing the Tarp after all the leaves have fallen and just let it be bare. Any thoughts on how best to store? Thanks.

Edited by - on

bear
Admiral

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USA
909 Posts

Response Posted - 10/03/2005 : 14:26:15

Rodger, I have used a plastic tarp for the four years I have owned a C250. What worked for me was running taught ropes from one side of the life lines around the mast and onto the opposite life line all the way back to the cockpit. In the winter I use a "snowrake" to keep the snow off the tarp.

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RSHOOTER
Navigator

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USA
101 Posts

Response Posted - 10/03/2005 : 18:06:58

Bear, that's a good tip. Are the Lifelines sturdy enough? I'm most worried about the Cockpit area.

Edited by - on

bear
Admiral

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USA
909 Posts

Response Posted - 10/03/2005 : 19:46:14

Rodger, I stopped running the lines just above the winches on the cabin top. The pitch is great enough so snow, water etc slides right off above that rear area. Also, this is with the factory mast holder extended all the way up at its rear attach. I also wrap a 1/2 inch rope over the top of the tarp at about six foot intervals. This keeps the wind from getting under the tarp and whipping it. Also, I wrap material around the stantions to keep them rubbing thru the tarp at contact points.

Edited by - on

RSHOOTER
Navigator

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USA
101 Posts

Response Posted - 10/04/2005 : 08:11:40

My Mast Holder at the Stern seems to have only one setting that I can tell does yours have more???...it would be nice if it were higher. So, before you put the Tarp on...you run ropes over the Mast, over the Lifelines and tie down to the Trailer? I guess the Lifelines are strong enough. I'm going to give it a try. My only worry is my storage is difficult to get to in winter and Ohio has some pretty good snows. If this doesn't work I will just uncover it.

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aeckhart
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1709 Posts

Response Posted - 10/04/2005 : 09:01:42

Here in the snow belt in northern Michigan, roof pitch is an important aspect of your tarps abiity to handle snow load. After years of running large tarps over the life lines and having them torn by snow, wind, and the stanchions, I now use several smaller tarps, angling them from the mast down to the toe rail,and supported by a combination 1x2 and 1x1 pine frame. I do not cover the topsides or bottom of the boat since they are not as vulnerable as the deck, cockpit and cabin trunk. This cover system providews plenty of pitch to diffuse the weight of the snow and has worked well for the past five years. Obvioulsy I have to clean the boat off once or twice since we get anywhere from 240 to 300 inches of snow per season.

Edited by - on

bear
Admiral

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USA
909 Posts

Response Posted - 10/04/2005 : 10:10:16

The standard rear Catalina mast holder I have has three different holes for varying heights. I also lash the tarp down with bungee chords to the trailer. This year I purchased a new tarp 26x18 from Harbour Freight, first new one in four years. The 18 foot width brings it down probably 3/4 of the way along the sides of the boat.
"Brandy" sets in my backyard and I am retired so I can do what is necessary during the winter months to keep snow and ice off the top
of the tarp.

Edited by - on

RSHOOTER
Navigator

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USA
101 Posts

Response Posted - 10/04/2005 : 17:54:15

Bear, you are referring to the Stern Mast support...not the one on the trailer? I sent a message to Catalina to see if I could buty one with three holes. That would help greatly to get the pitch up. Aeckhart, do you have any photos of your set up? I have a 20' x 30' Tarp which is probably overkill. Next year I will shoot for protecting the Cockpit area.

Edited by - on

aeckhart
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1709 Posts

Response Posted - 10/04/2005 : 18:17:56

Roger,

I don't have any pictures however, it's a faily simple setup. I frame the deck area from mast to stanchion base with a 1x2 piece of pine cut to fit. There are four of these per side (3 nest to the cabin and one on the stern pulpit)and one that is cut to fit between the mast and each primary winch (cut an arc at the bottom to fit the winch). All are tied in place top and bottom (drill holes for ties). I then tie 1x1x8 pine horizontally over the 1x2's, three per side starting at the back of the cockpit. Overlaid on this are a series of four 4x8 and one 4x12 tarps (the 4x12 at the bow)overlapped front to back and side to side (a 4' tarp will not fit over the mast to the toe rail by itself except at the bow). The bow faces the prevaling westerlies so I keep the ends open to allow the wind to pass through. All edges are secured with bungee cords to allow flex in the wind and a little stretch. As the width of the boat narrows toward the bow, I roll the edges to fit and bungee with plastic repair grommets that can be found in most harware stores.

It took me about four hours to get everything cut to fit. It normally takes about an hour to button up for the winter. The boat is stored on its trailer at my house. The biggest expense is for bungee cords since I use a lot (around 20+). It's much cheaper than 400 to 600 for indoor storage though.

Edited by - aeckhart on 10/04/2005 18:23:45

bear
Admiral

Members Avatar

USA
909 Posts

Response Posted - 10/04/2005 : 19:29:00

Rodger,I'm talking the rear mast support that fits in the grudgeons
on the boat. I know there are pictures of the support archived on the forum. With it fully extended it allows access to the cockpit and cabin. Usually quite warm underneath if the sun is out.
Aeckhart has a good idea and probably gets twice the snow we do so the more support the better

Edited by - on

RSHOOTER
Navigator

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USA
101 Posts

Response Posted - 10/05/2005 : 17:45:39

My Mast support piece has only one hole and no adjustment. I called Garhauer who makes them and they said they have since modified it. The male end with the roller is now 30" long with a three hole adjustment. I ordered one for about $36. This plus the other tips you guys mentioned will go a long way toward solving problems.

Edited by - on

Ray Seitz
Captain

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USA
416 Posts

Response Posted - 10/06/2005 : 12:20:57

<blockquote id="quote"><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">My Mast Holder at the Stern seems to have only one setting that I can tell does yours have more<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote"></font id="quote">
My mast crutch(?) has several positions from which to raise/lower. On our trailer with the mast raising system the crutch needs to be fully extended to get the proper angle on the mast to get it started. If I try and rais it W/O raising the crutch it takes considerably more time and hard cranking on the trailer winch to raise the mast.

Edited by - on

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