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Catalina/Capri 25/250 Sailor's Forums

Catalina 250 Specific Forum

Whisker pole eyelet, etc.

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Navy1
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USA
126 Posts

Initially Posted - 06/04/2008 : 21:35:14

How far up from the foot of the mast should I install the eyelet to mount the whisker pole on? The eyelet has 4 mounting holes in it's curved plate. Is there anything I need to worry about drilling holes in the front of the mast? I see that about every 2 1/2 to 3 feet there is a large rivet on the front of the mast. My boat is a 2004 C250 WB. Should I use S.S screws or rivets for mounting the eyelet plate?
Second question. My main has two reefing points with two eyelets in the middle of the sail at each reefing point. Is it alright if I tie a very light nylon line to these reefing points and leave them there while sailing. I assume that's what the eyelets are there for, to tie around the boom when reefing. I just want to make sure the 1/8" nylon line won't hurt the sail in the wind.
Lastly, I am a trailer sailor and dearly hate those small circle cotter pins on a lot of the rigging pins. Is there any easier solution to use? My fingers aren't nimble like they used to be.
Thanks guys - Roger

Roger Richter

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Nautiduck
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Response Posted - 06/04/2008 : 22:43:24

Most people seem to mount the eye around 35" off the base but it does depend on your sail. Search for "whisker pole" and you will get some ideas. I recently posted "Watch out wind" about mounting a track which gives more flexibility. I used 1/4"-20 X 3/4" SS bolts and tapped the mast to accommodate them.

Edited by - Nautiduck on 06/05/2008 10:20:00

frog0911
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Response Posted - 06/05/2008 : 08:44:47

As Randy said 35 - 36" is the norm for pad eye. The rivets are there to hold the PVC pipe in the mast that your electrical cables and in my case, antenna cable run through.
Most people don't use the sail reefing ties, but your are correct that is what they are and letting the 1/4 line hang will not hurt while under full sail.
I mounted my pad eye with stainless sheetmetal screws, I think #10 x 1/2. I also put some dielectric grease on them to prevent corrosion.

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Navy1
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Response Posted - 06/05/2008 : 20:11:10

Thanks Randy & Frog. I got the padeye installed 35" above the foot. My headsail is a 110 so I hope this works out o.k. If worse comes to worse I could always do what you did Randy. Last Saturday was my shakedown cruise with my new to me 2004 250WB. Had a hard time getting the headstay furler attached. (Schaefer) Even though I loosened all the shackles as far as I could. When I starte sailing there was a loud pop from atop the mast. I assume one or more of the shrouds straightened out that I hadn't noticed. No damage that I could find afterwards. Next time I intend to not attach the backstay first, until I have the mast up. As you old salts can guess, I have only been sailing a couple of years, so I am still learning. I left the main rolled and covered on the boom on the way home, and also left the headsail wrapped on the furler tied to the mast on the way home. Anything wrong with this? Next week the Admiral and I are going on our first cruise on Lake Petenwell (by Necedah WI) for a week. Then in July we head for the Apostle Islands on lake Superior. Thanks again guys. I can't tell you how much I appreciate the feedback I get on this Catalina forum. It is priceless. Roger

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Nautiduck
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Response Posted - 06/05/2008 : 20:30:32

You'll love cruising on your 250! And, you have to post photos of the cruise!!

I would loosen up the shrouds, not the backstay, to help get the furler drum attached. The shrouds actually hold the mast back as much/more than the backstay does. It seems odd but both of the shrouds terminate aft of the mast. The backstay is almost unnecessary on the 250.

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britinusa
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5404 Posts

Response Posted - 06/05/2008 : 21:16:25

Roger, we never attach our backstay (2005 C250WB) until the mast is raised and the furler (ours is a CDI) is attached.

Nothing wrong with leaving the main on the boom, we have left ours on for all our trips. We use the mainsail cover as a bag and put a canvas bag over the tack of the boom/sail. The boom is secured to the port side stanchions.
But don't leave the jib on the furler, it will get really gross in no time from road muck. (guess how I found out!)

Oh, and if your engine is a 4 stroke... make sure there is oil in it every trip!

Paul

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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.