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Catalina/Capri 25/250 Sailor's Forums

Catalina 250 Specific Forum

Gin Pole for newer C250’s

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Keith D.
Navigator

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USA
233 Posts

Initially Posted - 10/27/2004 : 23:09:45

In 1997 Catalina went from the onboard gin pole to the trailer based system. This produced a problem for those who don’t have a trailer or have their boats on the water all of the time. There is an advantage in the gin pole over the “A” frame is there is a lot less to stow away. Arlyn’s version could be only a single 5’ pole and the baby stays. There is two ways to go about setting up a gin pole on the newer 250’s. The first is to modify the mast, as Catalina did it on the original boats. All you would need to do is to drill a 3/4” hole in the front of the mast

and then add the standoff inside the mast.

Catalina originally made these out of wood but mine fell apart on it’s second use and I went to aluminum one.

It would only take a few minutes to modify the mast so you could use the original Catalina gin pole. And it could be done with the mast up. The second method would be to modify a standard pole and strap an attachment point to the mast. With this method you don’t have to modify the mast. What I came up with was to take a piece of 16 gauge sheet metal, bend it into a u shape the size of the mast and weld a piece of 1” pipe to it. This I strapped to the mast with some hose clamps and added some thick rubber under it to keep from scratching the mast. I then took the two screws out of the original Catalina gin pole adapter (seen to the right of the mast) and used them to mount the pole to the new assembly.

Since there is a possibility that this may rotate around the mast if you don’t tighten down enough on the hose clamps I also added two baby stays to the gin pole which I tied off at the same points as the baby stays for the mast.

Testing this assembly showed it took the mast up and down as easy as the original Catalina system.

Keith
Southern California
250wb Hull #8

Edited by - on

Jeff McK
Captain

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USA
389 Posts

Response Posted - 10/28/2004 : 07:02:39

Neat arrangement! The extra baby stays are a smart move for safety. I would assume the blue plate is removed after the mast is back up?

Edited by - on

Keith D.
Navigator

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USA
233 Posts

Response Posted - 10/28/2004 : 17:41:56

Yes Jeff the blue plate is only a temporary attachment point. You just take off the two hose clamps and that plate comes off. This would be used by those who seldom take the mast down, like once a season. For those who do it often you would be better modifying the mast.

Edited by - on

Wayne Wallace
1st Mate

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USA
28 Posts

Response Posted - 10/29/2004 : 10:19:23

Keith
Great pictures and idea. Since our last discussion I was trying to figure out how to get the gin pole to work without drilling a ole in the mast. I came up with a similar route as your 'blue plate' but mind does not look nearly as strong as yours. I am getting ready to try this now that I have the main and jib off of my 250 WK.
I bought the gin pole and baby stays as I wanted to be able to raise and lower the mast when I needed or wanted to even tho it may only be once a year.
Thanks for the great ideas and pictures.

Wayne
ZMAJESTIC

Edited by - on

Keith D.
Navigator

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USA
233 Posts

Response Posted - 10/30/2004 : 16:51:48

Wayne as I have said before just let me know and I will come down and give you a hand taking it down for the first time. You have my home phone and pager. (Note: the aria code changed today to 951) or shoot me an email. There are a lot of other little things to look out for when taking it down. What are you using for the rear mast carrier? Did you put Arlyn’s winch modification on your pole? It sure makes things easier than the block and tackle that Catalina came up with. Give me a call. Keith

Edited by - on

Wayne Wallace
1st Mate

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USA
28 Posts

Response Posted - 11/01/2004 : 10:54:54

Keith
Thanks for the offer as I will take you up on getting the mast back up in a couple of weeks. I did manage to get it down with help from a friend but it did not go smoothly mainly because my home made mast rest broke and the attachment to the mast for the gin pole snapped. It is down and fortunately no damage or real problems. At this point I am going to install the VHF mast head ant, wind indicator and a new anchor light, EZ JAX and then raise the mast.

I was thinking of building a new mast rest or going to Catalina to see if they had one and at what cost. Any thoughts on that? But I would like to use your expertise and the gin pole adapter when I get ready to raise the mast. I will call in a couple of days to try and pick a date that works for you.
Thanks again.

Wayne Wallace
ZMAJESTIC

Edited by - on

Keith D.
Navigator

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USA
233 Posts

Response Posted - 11/01/2004 : 19:59:46

Wayne sorry to hear the mast didn’t come down as smoothly as it should have. At least there was no damage. As for the rear mast carrier it would be easy enough to make one. I have seen where people have just used a 2X4 and some plywood for the top. You could probably weld one up in an hour if you wanted to make it out of steel. If you don’t have a trailer you wouldn’t even have to make it adjustable. Here are a couple of pictures of the Catalina mast carrier. I took a measurement and it is 63” to the center of the roller to the top of the top gudgeon when it is in the full up position. Give me a call or an email and I will be glad to come out and help you bring the mast back up. Keith

Edited by - on

Oscar
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
2030 Posts

Response Posted - 11/07/2004 : 12:16:23

A reliable sturdy safe mast rest can be made from two 2x4's.......Cut them 7 feet or so. and with a large bolt/nut make an "X", with the upper "legs" about a foot long, thus the lowers about 6 feet......set the X on the cockpit benches. (Put some rubber on the bottoms if you want more traction). Gravity can only spread the leags to the coambings, it jamms in place and is sturdy cheap, and can be made fairly tall so you have a good head start on raising.

Oscar
C42 # 76 "Lady Kay" (Ex. C250 WB #618)
Georgetown MD/Fort Lauderdale FL

Edited by - Oscar on 11/07/2004 14:11:17

Jeff McK
Captain

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USA
389 Posts

Response Posted - 11/07/2004 : 18:50:03

Keith,

I don't have much need for a gin pole as I do not use a trailer. However, that bimini top looks pretty snazzy. Where did you get it & (obviously) how much did it cost?

Edited by - on

Keith D.
Navigator

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USA
233 Posts

Response Posted - 11/07/2004 : 22:30:52

Jeff the point of this post was for those who do not have a trailer and give them alternate ways of getting the mast down for maintenance or getting the boat ready to be hauled out by a crane. As for the Bimini here is the link to a previous post I put out on that subject. I think it will answer all of your questions.Keith http://www.catalina25-250.org/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=6289

Edited by - on

Jeff McK
Captain

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USA
389 Posts

Response Posted - 11/08/2004 : 11:30:16

Keith,

Sorry for mising the point of the post & for changing topics. I appreciate you sending the link.

Edited by - Jeff McK on 11/08/2004 11:31:35

Wayne Wallace
1st Mate

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USA
28 Posts

Response Posted - 11/08/2004 : 20:31:30

Oscar
Thanks for the feedback and drawing on the mast rest. It looks like the easiest and most economical way and I will try that.

Wayne Wallace
ZMAJESTIC

Edited by - on

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