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Catalina/Capri 25/250 Sailor's Forums

Catalina 250 Specific Forum

Split backstays

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rsimpson
Deckhand

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USA
5 Posts

Initially Posted - 06/11/2003 : 21:13:06

Has anyone found a way to reposition the split backsatys on a C250. I have wheel steering and have to fight to get between the pedestal and the backstays. I would like to come up with a solid piece to move them back and up, any suggestions. Fraid Knot 701

Edited by - on

Arlyn Stewart
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
2980 Posts

Response Posted - 06/11/2003 : 21:50:22

Wow... hope you just started with your toughest question first.

The backstay has been lamented over the years but no changes to it have been offered. Many affirm that some amount of their helming is done from beside the wheel (especially when single handing) to avoid the trek around the wheel.

Arlyn C-250 W/B #224
<img src="http://www.stewartfam.net/arlyn/rr.jpg" border=0>
N/E Texas and Great Lakes

[url="http://www.cox-internet.com/arlynstewart/"]Arlyn's C250 Mods n Cruisin Stories[/url]

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Oscar
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
2030 Posts

Response Posted - 06/12/2003 : 00:25:46

Don't have a wheel, and thus not the problem described. Also, it's dark out there, and the mast is down, so I can't visualize....but maybe you want to look at doubling the stays, ie two completely separate stays, from top to bottom. I think it would increase the space available directly behind the wheel.....I'm not sure what it would do for getting there....

(Next day) After sleeping on this, I wonder if my idea would have the dual back stays interfere with the stern perches (if you have them).

Oscar
<img src="http://www.woodenshoemusic.com/Images/familypics/LKforumshot.jpg" border=0>
Lady Kay 250 WB #618
In the driveway in Behtlehem, PA ready to go anytime.

Edited by - Oscar on 06/12/2003 09:26:47

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Al
Captain

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USA
269 Posts

Response Posted - 06/16/2003 : 15:32:18

I also have wondered about repositioning the backstays, but don't see an obvious solution. Maybe some type of (strong) spreader bar in place of the "Y", and moving the attachment points a little higher and/or inboard on the transom.

Any ideas out there?

<img src="http://im1.shutterfly.com/procserv/47b3d837b3127cce89df726aa4f10000001610" border=0>
<img src="http://im1.shutterfly.com/procserv/47b3d837b3127cce89df7dd1e4d50000001610" border=0>
<img src="http://im1.shutterfly.com/procserv/47b3d837b3127cce89df7da265960000001610" border=0>
<img src="http://im1.shutterfly.com/procserv/47b3d837b3127cce89df7d8865bc0000001610" border=0>

Al Maniccia
SeaWolf C250WK #698
Marina Del Rey, CA

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Arlyn Stewart
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
2980 Posts

Response Posted - 06/16/2003 : 19:42:25

I see the lament now... I hadn't thought of the effect of the stern seats on the backstay bridle. On the pre stern seat models the split backstays anchor forward and outward from those in the picture. I've never considered the split backstay much of a problem... Now I understand why the comments about helming the wheel from the side.

From the pics... it looks like the bridle hugs very close to the stern seats which might preclude the use of a simple spreader bar.

Does everyone use their stern seats a lot... should they be an option? I can see that they would be really nice to clear the cockpit on a tiller model but a wheel changes the ball game.

Arlyn C-250 W/B #224
<img src="http://www.stewartfam.net/arlyn/rr.jpg" border=0>
N/E Texas and Great Lakes

[url="http://www.cox-internet.com/arlynstewart/"]Arlyn's C250 Mods n Cruisin Stories[/url]

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Oscar
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
2030 Posts

Response Posted - 06/17/2003 : 14:02:34

<BLOCKQUOTE id=quote><font size=1 face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" id=quote>quote:<hr height=1 noshade id=quote>Does everyone use their stern seats a lot <hr height=1 noshade id=quote></BLOCKQUOTE id=quote></font id=quote><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" size=2 id=quote>

Trying to get a flood of cheap used stern seats going? <img src=icon_smile_wink.gif border=0 align=middle>

Al, what year is your boat? My 2002 seems to have a different lid on the fuel tank locker...just a flat sheet polysomething.....and it does not keep the water out of the fuel locker (drips around the edges, it's on my list to modify).....yours seems to have an edge....did they change that or did you?

Oscar
<img src="http://www.woodenshoemusic.com/Images/familypics/LKforumshot.jpg" border=0>
Lady Kay 250 WB #618
In the driveway in Behtlehem, PA ready to go anytime.

Edited by - Oscar on 06/17/2003 14:07:35

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Al
Captain

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USA
269 Posts

Response Posted - 06/17/2003 : 14:39:34

My boat's an '03, just a few months old (#698), and that's the way the lid came. Here's a better picture of it...

<img src="http://im1.shutterfly.com/procserv/47b3db33b3127cce884585d643380000001610" border=0>

Al Maniccia
SeaWolf C250WK #698
Marina Del Rey, CA

Edited by - on

Arlyn Stewart
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
2980 Posts

Response Posted - 06/17/2003 : 14:45:52

Oscar this was changed recently... The old system worked fairly well but in time if the bungee wore out, it left opportunity for the cover to sprout wings and fly down the road when trailering, or make its way to Davy Jones's used building materiels.

Those with the bungee system should ensure that the bungee is in good condition prior to trailering and it wouldn't hurt to put a lanyard on it.

As far as a little water leakage into the fuel locker, that doesn't present any major problems that I know of as it drains out. However, those of us using a galvinized gas tank should keep it on skids to provide ventilation under the bottom.

Arlyn C-250 W/B #224
<img src="http://www.stewartfam.net/arlyn/rr.jpg" border=0>
N/E Texas and Great Lakes

[url="http://www.cox-internet.com/arlynstewart/"]Arlyn's C250 Mods n Cruisin Stories[/url]

Edited by - on

rsimpson
Deckhand

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USA
5 Posts

Response Posted - 06/17/2003 : 15:44:30

I was starting to think I was the only one that saw this as a problem. I have had a couple boat builders in the area look at the boat and just say get a bigger boat. I have decided the easy way out is to order an 18 inch wheel from Edson.

Edited by - rsimpson on 06/17/2003 15:45:23

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Arlyn Stewart
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
2980 Posts

Response Posted - 06/17/2003 : 17:32:54

Rick,

With some thought... there seems to be two alternatives...one of them would be to follow your lead and rig a standing member aft and back guy it. I'm afraid it would be dog ugly on a sailboat.

The other would be to get rid of the split backstay and go single stay off center. This is what I would do...

It would have the effect of eliminating the stay on one side and pushing it out farther on the other and would likely releive the congestion. However, if the stay now is very close to the stern seat...it might be that the geometry wouldn't work to go to the same chain plate as currently for the split... it may have to come inboard slightly to clear the stern seat. This might require some effort...otherwise a single offset backstay is really not much of a problem...

Some C25s had single offset backstays and in fact the prototype C250 that is featured on the C250 brochure had one and it was out considerably farther than contemplated here. I do not know however why Catalina didn't use it in production... I have place a note on the picture to show where the backstay is on pre stern seat models.

<img src="http://www.stewartfam.net/arlyn/backstay.jpg " border=0>

Another option would be to take the stay out to that point which would put it in front of the stern seat. It possibly wouldn't totally kill the seat as the stay could be stradled... though it would require padding it. This point would have to be verified not to interfere with the roach of the sail...but I doubt Catalina has changed the mainsail size any and of course it works for the pre-stern seat models.

Last, is raising the yoke point. It was likley put at the location it is to provide convenience to reach. I'm doubtful that would solve your problems but that method is quite easy to do...and has been talked about in the past... but I don't recall any reports about the results.

Think about the offset stay, and if it seems good, have a rigger give his thoughts.

Arlyn C-250 W/B #224
<img src="http://www.stewartfam.net/arlyn/rr.jpg" border=0>
N/E Texas and Great Lakes

[url="http://www.cox-internet.com/arlynstewart/"]Arlyn's C250 Mods n Cruisin Stories[/url]

Edited by - arlyn stewart on 06/17/2003 17:36:00

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