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Catalina/Capri 25/250 Sailor's Forums

Catalina 25 Specific Forum

Cleaning & Stepping the Mast

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Chris Z
Captain

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452 Posts

Initially Posted - 11/22/2006 : 22:54:20

I have two questions: First is what is suggested for cleaning the mast that will not harm the anodizing? Second is when raising the mast I am not sure what is the best thing to do with the Harken furler. It would seem to me that if it is not cared for correctly it would put a nice scratch on the hull or deck.

Chris Z.
Water Warrior
1982 Force 5

Former Owner Blown Away - C25

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djn
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1561 Posts

Response Posted - 11/22/2006 : 23:59:31

I am not sure Chris, but I thought the mast was just aluminium, not anodized. I would think you could have someone out front walking the furler out away from the boat as the mast lowered. Cheers.

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cat1951
Admiral

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USA
636 Posts

Response Posted - 11/23/2006 : 07:40:25

Chris,
We just finished installing a harken furler on our 25 last month. It took 2 people stablizing the furler and foils to make sure no bend was allowed to develop. It also took 1 person handling the mast to stabilize it and I worked the main sheet to raise it. I would recommend at least that many to ensure nothing gets bent or twisted. This way also allowed for the persons holding the furler and foils to walk it into place as the mast was raised. We did this with it in the slip and not on the hard or on a trailer.

Using the main sheet and a combination of the topping lift and main halyard, we created a lifting mechanism. (For lack of a better term.) We blocked the boom so it would keep the normal triangle shape and lowered and raised the mast using the main sheet. Lowering the mast was somewhat easier since it took only 3. I was on the main sheet and two marina mates helped stabilize the mast as it was lowered.

Basically, I would try to enilst support for the furler so that during the raising, the furler can be walked into place.

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bear_tm4
Navigator

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USA
143 Posts

Response Posted - 11/25/2006 : 22:35:51

I have a super furl on my boat, what I did is attach a line from the fruler to the line was using for the uphaul...or down haul, it worked nicely, I only have two guys when I step and unstep, myself and buddy of mine....
hope this helps...

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Chris Z
Captain

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452 Posts

Response Posted - 11/26/2006 : 13:04:58

Capt. Bear,

Could you please clarify. My concern is that the furler is longer then the mast when I raise it (from the stern) the furler will drag across the front of the deck as the mast goes up. I can see only having two people and would like to work out a system for handling the furler. I do not see a problem with the actual weight of the mast just the things attached. I know from past history raising the mast on my Hobie 16, the worse feeling is getting part way up with the mast and having a sudden stop and looking over to see the shrouds caught on the underside of the tramp.

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farrison
Navigator

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USA
166 Posts

Response Posted - 11/27/2006 : 16:58:56

Chris;

I clean my mast (SR)with Soft Scrub and a scotch brite pad. After wipe down with a damp cloth or rinse, I put a coat of wax on the mast to protect it. The wax lasts all summer and then some (in a salt water environment).

As for lowering the mast with a furler, I use an 'A-frame'that I built from information in the Tech Tips. It works great. The A-frame is attached to the headstay (with furler on the headstay) and a block and tackle ( my boom vang) is attached to the other side of the A-frame and the bow. Two of us lowered the mast on Saturday this way without breaking anything or killing anyone, but three sets of hands are better. When the mast is down, with the furler (with sail still attached), I bind the two together and lash it to the boat for transport. We have been doing it this way for two years, with two raisings and two lowerings each year and the method is slick. Highly recommended.

Paul

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aeckhart
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1709 Posts

Response Posted - 11/28/2006 : 07:50:06

Chris,

There is loads of info in the archives regarding raising and lowering the mast. Seems to me that your primary concern is the furler scratching the deck as it drags across during lowering. I would think that someone dedicated to guiding it across the deck would be the best option. It would add an additional, often hard-to-find person to your raising and lowring chore. Wrapping the drum in a foam pad might keep it from scatching the deck. I don't beleive that scratching the deck is going to be a problem. If you have an aluminum foil, I would still consider using a person to guide the furler to avoid the possibility of accidently kinking the foil. My furler is a ProFurl flexible furler so this is not a concern for me.

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ClamBeach
Master Marine Consultant

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3072 Posts

Response Posted - 11/28/2006 : 09:01:22

"thought the mast was just aluminium, not anodized."

It's very much anodized... bare aluminum will get a layer of white aluminum-chloride on it in short order. (around the ocean anyway).

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cat1951
Admiral

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USA
636 Posts

Response Posted - 11/28/2006 : 09:49:27

When we raised our mast with the harken I found the foil to be really flexible and didn't trust it to support itself without tension on the forestay. I think it would be prudent to have someone or two hold it to keep it from bending accidentally. Just my 2 cents worth.

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dlucier
Master Marine Consultant

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Virgin Islands (United Kingdom)
7583 Posts

Response Posted - 11/28/2006 : 18:50:58

Chris,

When cleaning the mast, you should only use mild, nonabrasive detergents and soft cloths or sponges so as not to remove the original protective anodizing because once this is removed, corrosion can more easily set in.

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