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Catalina/Capri 25/250 Sailor's Forums

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Pop-Top Use

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GaryB
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
4303 Posts

Initially Posted - 09/16/2007 : 13:42:10

How much do most of you use your pop-tops? Do you put it up most times your on the boat or just occasionally? What is the headroom when the top is down? Is it something you could live without?

Thanks,
Gary

Association Member

GaryB
Andiamo
'89 SR/WK #5862
Kemah,TX

Edited by - on

Dave Bristle
Master Marine Consultant

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Djibouti
10005 Posts

Response Posted - 09/16/2007 : 15:07:26

Hi Gary... I put the pop-top up very frequently when in the slip either working on the boat or with guests, or when on the hook. It is really great for shade, air, and headroom. (Think about 5'7" down, 6'4" up--except in the head, which is forward of the pop-top.) I planned to add Catalina Direct's pneumatic struts. (That thing is a LOAD!), but didn't get to it before selling... (My buyers added them.) If you plan to spend any significant time on the boat not sailing, you'll enjoy the pop-top. But never sail (or even motor) with it up.

Edited by - Dave Bristle on 09/16/2007 15:08:27

tinob
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1883 Posts

Response Posted - 09/16/2007 : 16:24:28

Hi Gary,

Good to hear from you.

When you use your poptop is a personal thing and something that you will have to decide for yourself as you use your boat. When I first bought my boat ( sometime in '91 ) I put the top up unce just to see if it was something that I required, but soon found that it wasn't what I needed or used. Had I camped out on the boat more often I might have used the pop up feature. On the occasions that we did camp out it turned out to be not necessary. Perhaps having a dodger and a tall rig led to the decision not to use it.

Have a happy time getting used to your boat and all it's many features. You'll love it.

Val on Calista # 3936, Patchogue, N.Y.

Edited by - on

JimB517
Past Commodore

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USA
3285 Posts

Response Posted - 09/16/2007 : 16:27:28

I sail nearly 200 days per year, cover over 1000 miles, and go on several long 1 to 2 week voyages. I put the top up about 1 or 2 times per year. It is good when you have guests or family aboard at shore or anchor. I would not miss it in the slightest.

That said I dearly wish for a boat with standing headroom.

Edited by - on

Frank Hopper
Past Commodore

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Pitcairn Island
6776 Posts

Response Posted - 09/16/2007 : 18:25:40

I only use it on rare occasions. My boat has air conditioning and being an 89 has 5'10" headroom so it does not add anything for me. I did raise it the other day while rafted up with other boats.

Edited by - on

dlucier
Master Marine Consultant

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Virgin Islands (United Kingdom)
7583 Posts

Response Posted - 09/16/2007 : 20:38:40

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by GaryB
 How much do most of you use your pop-tops?<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

I think I put it up once in 2006...Make that 2005!

Edited by - on

DaveR
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
2015 Posts

Response Posted - 09/17/2007 : 07:57:26

It's awful nice to have on a 95 degree day when you're installing some new gadget.

Edited by - on

Justin
Admiral

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502 Posts

Response Posted - 09/17/2007 : 08:05:50

I often use mine when at anchor or working on projects, but then with this past weekend I didn't bother to open it while anchored out because it was cooler out. Even in warmer weather, I don't think it is a real necessity because I barely spend any time in the cabin. I usually closed it at night to keep the bugs out while at anchor. The canvas enclosure might be nice, but then again I don't know if I would bother setting it up every time for just one night. I think it was most convenient when I had so many projects to work on, because I had to work in the cabin and the extra headroom to stretch out and fresh air was nice. Now that most of the projects are done, I'm either outside or if down below sitting or sleeping.

Edited by - on

ilnadi
Captain

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452 Posts

Response Posted - 09/17/2007 : 08:59:25

We use it almost anytime we spend a night on the boat, especially when we are not running a heater. Definitely helps with ventilation in hot weather.

Once we also used it with the top down (and straps running from handrails to keep it down) when sailing in the rain to acccess to the cabin and keep the rain out (zip it open, go in, zip it up). I am thinking of sewing a cover to fit from the seahood back, for that purpose (I guess a "flat dodger").

Edited by - on

aeckhart
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1709 Posts

Response Posted - 09/17/2007 : 12:24:48

I think I've had mine up twice in 18 years. Once to clean under the seal and once when moored at a dock. Generally it's a pain to raise and lower when cruising and the cover is often wet when stowing it, inviting mildew. I haven't missed it at all and would have probably preferred not having one. In my opnion the engineering that went into the pop top design would have been better served in developing a better main hatch system.

Edited by - on

jerlim
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1484 Posts

Response Posted - 09/18/2007 : 14:14:05

Jim - 200 days per year! OMG, I'm lucky to get 40...good for you!

Edited by - on

dlucier
Master Marine Consultant

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Virgin Islands (United Kingdom)
7583 Posts

Response Posted - 09/18/2007 : 15:12:38

My sailing season isn't even 200 days long.

Edited by - on

stampeder
Master Marine Consultant

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1608 Posts

Response Posted - 09/18/2007 : 17:05:42

We gunk-hole just about every weekend, we put the pop-top up everytime.
We have a canvas cover that we can snap-on in about 3 minutes. Taking it down is about 2 minutes.

Now that the cool weather has arrived, we tend to spend a little more time inside the cabin- and use a tent heater. One of our favorite gunk-holing activities is watching movies on a laptop.

Love the pop-top, love the pop-top canvas cover. Gives this little boat a bigger boat feel.

Edited by - on

JimB517
Past Commodore

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USA
3285 Posts

Response Posted - 09/18/2007 : 17:26:01

I am very soon to log 1000 miles since March 11, 2007 (since daylight savings time began). All single handed except about 50. 44 miles to go - should hit that this week. Total of almost 400 hours underway - average speed of 2.7 knots.

I'm practicing single handed spinnaker sets every night. Now I can do it in 9 minutes without any tangles IN THE DARK. I want to get it down to 3 minutes.

Had the pop top up once in that time (while cleaning the inside).

400 hours is the equivalent of about 17, 24-hour days at sea.

I average getting out to sea 5 days per week, every week, for the last 7 months, for 3 hours per day. (I never sail Saturday and usually 1 day per week I do maintenance on a light-air day).

I average sailing 7 to 8 miles per day.

I can't recall one single thing on my 30-year-old C25 breaking in these last 1000 miles. Lower pintels came lose and I replaced them both. I replaced my jib halyard, tuned the mast, did the teak in oil, rebedded a couple of stanchions, replaced handheld VHF (batteries corroded) and shorepower cord (I dropped it in while plugged in and turned on).

200 days at sea has long been a goal of mine, usually I fall a little short and only get between 170 and 180 due to short winter days.

Edited by - JimB517 on 09/18/2007 17:46:12

KiteKraemer
Navigator

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191 Posts

Response Posted - 09/18/2007 : 22:21:06

I like the pop. I don't use it very much, but I definitely like having it. in the marina -- for any length of time, open it up!

--jim b, where are you doing all this sailing?--

Edited by - KiteKraemer on 09/18/2007 22:29:38

JimB517
Past Commodore

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USA
3285 Posts

Response Posted - 09/19/2007 : 11:29:31

San Diego's Mission Bay. Also trips all around So Cal and Baja.

Edited by - on

zeil
Master Marine Consultant

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Canada
1314 Posts

Response Posted - 09/19/2007 : 15:36:59

JimB517
Quote
San Diego's Mission Bay. Also trips all around So Cal and Baja.

How about sailing together with a group of C25 & C250 to the Baja this winter... We would be game... in fact miss sailing with you like we did last year
Henk

Edited by - on

JimB517
Past Commodore

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USA
3285 Posts

Response Posted - 09/19/2007 : 18:07:51

I am doing the San Diego to Ensenada race this Oct. 5 and 6, then the Mexican Todos Santos Regatta race Oct. 7, coming home to San Diego Oct. 8 PHRF Spinnaker, Double handed division.

Oct. 29 - Nov 6 Karen and I are celebrating our 25th anniversary on Carnival Cruise Lines San Diego to Acapulco, Itxapa, Manzanillo. Our actual wedding day was Oct. 30 and we'll be at sea. Teenage girls are staying HOME.

That will just about do it for my vacation time this year (with my Ensenada trip earlier).

However I am always up for more sailing and we could do a long weekend trip to the Coronados or anything else this fall/winter.

Henk, your old slip is available again on L dock!

I thought about inviting you on the race which we know of as "Little Ensenada" the San Diego - Ensenada race. There is a trophy for the last boat to finish. I have a real shot at that one!

Edited by - on

zeil
Master Marine Consultant

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Canada
1314 Posts

Response Posted - 09/19/2007 : 19:57:41

Thanks Jim we'll consider the timing and may just phone Ineke to reserve the (our) slip for later or early next year... Henk

Edited by - on

Nautiduck
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
3704 Posts

Response Posted - 09/20/2007 : 22:14:15

That is the difference between a poptop (C25) and the popup (C250). We had a poptop on our C22 and never used it. Major hassle. The popup on the 250 is easy to deploy and we use it constantly.

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