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Mast off center?

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ruachwrights
Captain

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USA
258 Posts

Initially Posted - 08/03/2010 : 11:10:20

The other day I noticed something, but not sure if it is a problem. The back stay cable on the port side has a about three or four inches between it and the port cat bird seat. The back stay cable on the starboard side is nearly touching the bottom of the starboard cat seat. Is this normal, or is this a sign that my mast is off center. If it is off center what do I do then?

Vern

97 Catalina 250 TR/ WK
Hull #301
Attleboro, MA

Edited by - on

John Russell
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
3444 Posts

Response Posted - 08/03/2010 : 11:23:28

You might check the relative tension of the port and starboard side shrouds. I'd think particularly the uppers. It's highly unlikely that the tabernacle is off-center or you would have noticed it on day one. You could, however, have a bend in your mast to starboard. Can you get a head-on view of the mast from sufficient distance to be able to see the whole thing top to bottom? If so, you should be able to see the bend.

This, of course, assumes the split part of the backstay is also of equal length and equal tension.

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delliottg
Former Mainsheet C250 Tech Editor

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USA
4479 Posts

Response Posted - 08/03/2010 : 12:22:06

You could also have a bent or out of place spreader. The advice to get a look from a distance is well founded. It's pretty easy to see if your mast is in column when you're 30-40 yards away.

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islander
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
4018 Posts

Response Posted - 08/03/2010 : 13:42:07

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">If it is off center what do I do then?
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">
Easy, Move the seats....

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John Russell
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
3444 Posts

Response Posted - 08/03/2010 : 14:45:52

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by islander
 <blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">If it is off center what do I do then?
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">
Easy, Move the seats....

<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">That's what I love about this forum. Always excellent advice!

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TakeFive
Master Marine Consultant

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2272 Posts

Response Posted - 08/03/2010 : 15:34:00

Use your main halyard to the bottom of the turnbuckles to verify that the mast is centered. For a more detailed description, find one of the several threads on tuning the rigging.

Also note that for certain model years, the catbird seats are not perfect mirror images of each other. On my 1998 model, the bottom on the starboard side slopes back slightly more than the port side. (Look closely at my profile picture below and you will see it.) After confirming that it was not caused by damage, I thought it was random manufacturing variability, but then I saw other C250s within a couple of years that have the same thing. (Check Yachtworld listings online and you may find some that have the right camera angle to see this.) You can especially see it when you stand off to the side of the boat on a T-dock and line up the two seat bottoms. Check your 1997 boat and see if you have the same thing.

This could cause one seat bottom to be closer to the backstay on one side, although I've never checked this on my boat.

Edited by - TakeFive on 08/03/2010 15:37:15

Tradewind
Admiral

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USA
531 Posts

Response Posted - 08/03/2010 : 18:05:46

Check the catbird seats, mine are not level/symmetrical, that may give the illusion of an off center mast if you're looking at the backstays relative to the seats.

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SEAN
Admiral

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USA
772 Posts

Response Posted - 08/04/2010 : 05:55:45

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Use your main halyard to the bottom of the turnbuckles to verify that the mast is centered. For a more detailed description, find one of the several threads on tuning the rigging.
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

right take your main halyard , off the sail ..

then measure both port and starboard hand rails try to keep the same tension ..

its pretty easy ..and accurate

good luck

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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.