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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.
Hi all! I'm a fairly new sailor who just bought my first boat, a 2004 Catalina 250 wing keel, and I'm trying to understand all of the rigging. For various reasons I wasn't able to sail her before buying, and she is still on the trailer. All of the lines are original and I'm planning on replacing most, if not all, right away.
Could I have your help in identifying the three lines that are shown here coming out of the forward end of the boom? My thoughts are that the long white rope with red flecks is the reefing line - though it measures about 56' as opposed to the 42' that is listed in the owner's manual. Does that sound normal to you?
A second line is a 17' long rope with about a foot of coated wire at the end with a metal loop (I apologize if I am completely blowing it on the terminology). I had thought maybe this was the outhaul since it's the same length as what is listed on the OM, but I'm not sure. The OM also lists an "outhaul wire" which I don't see anywhere and have never heard of?
The third line is a 20' long rope that has a shackle on the end that comes out of the boom on the forward end, and the other end comes out of a hole around the middle of the boom - the same hole that line #2 above comes out of. This one is a mystery to me. Is it possibly the other half of the topping lift? The topping lift I have is tied from the top of the mast in a knot and ends in a shackle and is only about 26' long rather than the 50' listed in the OM, so I thought maybe the two lengths made up the whole?
I'd love any advice you can offer, or sketches or photos of how your 250 is set up so that I can get her ready and in the water soon! Thanks in advance!
Not sure why the reef is extra long. Maybe your sail has two reefing points and PO used the second one.
Topping lift is two parts so can easily disconnect when removing the boom.
Don’t assume you need to replace all lines. If stored properly when trailered, they may have some life left. Clean them up and inspect.
It’s a great boat - enjoy!
Rick S., Swarthmore, PA PO of Take Five, 1998 Catalina 250WK #348 (relocated to Baltimore's Inner Harbor) New owner of 2001 Catalina 34MkII #1535 Breakin' Away (at Rock Hall Landing Marina)
THANK YOU so much for the quick reply! Yes, the sail does have two reefing points - would that explain the long reefing line? What is "PO"?
Another sailing friend also told me I might not need to replace everything yet. I've thrown a couple into the washing machine and they came out looking fairly decent, so maybe there's hope, though some of the other lines do look worn and frayed, and she definitely wasn't getting any love while trailered.
I'm so thankful for this forum and all the advice I've seen so far!
Rick S., Swarthmore, PA PO of Take Five, 1998 Catalina 250WK #348 (relocated to Baltimore's Inner Harbor) New owner of 2001 Catalina 34MkII #1535 Breakin' Away (at Rock Hall Landing Marina)
A variation on PO is DPO. There are at least two definitions...
On the reefing line length, for single-line reefing, take the height difference between the two reef points and multiply that by four--that would be the nominal difference between the line lengths. I'd guess the PO rigged for the deeper (2nd) reef.
Dave Bristle Association "Port Captain" for Mystic/Stonington CT PO of 1985 C-25 SR/FK #5032 Passage, USCG "sixpack" (expired), Now on Eastern 27 $+!nkp*+ Sarge
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.