Association Forum - Dropping the Mast...

Assn Members Area · Join

Home.

Association Forum

Ships Store

Cruising

Racing

Technical Tips

Photo Gallery - New

Boat Search - Updated

Manuals & Brochures

Swap Meet

Links

Officer Flag Line & Staff

Bylaws & Constitution

Members Area

Join the Association

Notice:
The advice given on this site is based upon individual or quoted experience, yours may differ.
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.

Association Forum

Username:	Password:
Save Password
Forgot your Password?

All Forums

Catalina/Capri 25/250 Sailor's Forums

Catalina 250 Specific Forum

Dropping the Mast...

New Topic

Topic Locked

Printer Friendly

Author

Topic

PDXSteve
Deckhand

Member Avatar

20 Posts

Initially Posted - 10/01/2012 : 13:09:06

OK Gentelmen and Ladies...
How much of a pain in the a.. is it to dropping the mast?
I have had my 250 for 8 years and never once have i done it...my boat sits in the columbia river year around, i dont own a trailer, and i have things that i want to add (uhf antenna, wind vane, led light mast light).
I dont have a bosans chair or mastmate ladder either...
Plus,I have a Roller Main Sail and would be doing it solo!!
Sugestions Please!! thanks

Just saw the other thread about mast raising as well...

Steve Pipoly
96 Catalina 250 #231 WB/SR/SK
RCYC Portland Oregon

Edited by - PDXSteve on 10/01/2012 13:15:00

Arlyn Stewart
Master Marine Consultant

Members Avatar

USA
2980 Posts

Response Posted - 10/01/2012 : 17:53:51

Because you asked, says you shouldn't do it by yourself but that you should have an experienced person assisting and directing. Without a mast raising system... in my opinion three strong men are needed and again... one of them should be experienced in doing it.

You could construct an A Frame and do it yourself but I'd suggest at the minimum that you assist another lowering and raising first. There is simply too much risk of injury or damage to wing it.

Can't help but be straight and direct on this one.

Edited by - on

hughbamford
Deckhand

Members Avatar

Australia
17 Posts

Response Posted - 10/01/2012 : 19:58:33

Hi Steve,

Have been having the same nightmares regarding lowering the mast as I sail shorthanded, after much research I found a guy here in Australia that manufactures mast skates. There are numerous mast lowering systems but I felt that this one suits me for ease of use and safety.

http://www.skymaze.com.au/Mast%20Lowering%20Systems.html

This way it runs up the mast groove attached to two poles via articulated elbows that are attached to your jib tracks and you lower from the cockpit. The poles act like a mast crutch therefore very secure and safe.

Unsure if there is a manufacturer from the other side of the pond that has similar systems, but it may be worth looking into.

Cheers,

Hugh

Edited by - on

Skipper Paul
1st Mate

Members Avatar

USA
34 Posts

Response Posted - 10/10/2012 : 10:04:00

Hi Steve, I also have a '96 WB which originally came with a gin pole mast raising system and has a recepticle at the base of the mast that is designed to accept the pole. The gin pole also has a small trailer like winch attached that allows the mast to be raised and lowered easily by one person.

I used this system for several years until I modified my trailer to be used as part of the mast raising system similar to the newer 250's. I have kept the gin pole system however to use under special circumstances such as low bridges and some marina facilities which have sling launchers that require the mast to be down until you are on the water. This is the case at Anacortes WA to enable the use of the smaller sling which is considerably less expensive to use than the larger "mast up" sling.

You would be welcome to use my gin pole if you were closer to Lake Tahoe or if you were coming this way.

I also have a new "Mastmate" climber which I bought for my Hunter and never used. I was just going through my garage "chandlery" and spied this item and am considering selling it back to the company unless there is someone out there that would like to buy it.

Edited by - on

GaryB
Master Marine Consultant

Members Avatar

USA
4303 Posts

Response Posted - 10/11/2012 : 19:51:07

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by Skipper Paul
 Hi Steve, I also have a '96 WB which originally came with a gin pole mast raising system and has a recepticle at the base of the mast that is designed to accept the pole. The gin pole also has a small trailer like winch attached that allows the mast to be raised and lowered easily by one person.

I used this system for several years until I modified my trailer to be used as part of the mast raising system similar to the newer 250's. I have kept the gin pole system however to use under special circumstances such as low bridges and some marina facilities which have sling launchers that require the mast to be down until you are on the water. This is the case at Anacortes WA to enable the use of the smaller sling which is considerably less expensive to use than the larger "mast up" sling.

You would be welcome to use my gin pole if you were closer to Lake Tahoe or if you were coming this way.

I also have a new "Mastmate" climber which I bought for my Hunter and never used. I was just going through my garage "chandlery" and spied this item and am considering selling it back to the company unless there is someone out there that would like to buy it.
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">
How much do you want for the Mastmate?

Edited by - on

Topic

New Topic

Topic Locked

Printer Friendly

Jump To:

Association Forum

Notice: The advice given on this site is based upon individual or quoted experience, yours may differ.
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.