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Catalina/Capri 25/250 Sailor's Forums

Catalina 250 Specific Forum

Taking an inch off the top of the mast

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ecaj
Deckhand

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USA
3 Posts

Initially Posted - 12/05/2022 : 16:27:20

I damaged the top of the mast where the two bolts hold the blocking device for the halyard. Has anyone had to cut down the top of the mast? It looks like I need to remove about 1 inch and remount the top hardware. Thanks for any assistance. I�m new to sailing.

ECAJ

Steve Milby
Past Commodore

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USA
5851 Posts

Response Posted - 12/05/2022 : 20:00:57

Without a photo of the damage, it's hard to offer advice, but, for me, Cutting an inch off the mast would be the last recourse. I'd take it to a good welder who knows how to weld aluminum and see if he can repair the damage.

Steve Milby J/24 "Captiva Wind"
previously C&C 35, Cal 25, C25 TR/FK, C22
Past Commodore

Stinkpotter
Master Marine Consultant

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Djibouti
9013 Posts

Response Posted - 12/06/2022 : 23:07:31

You could end up needing a whole new set of custom-sized shrouds and stays, since the turnbuckles likely won't be able to take up the slack or allow the adjustments you should be able to make, and a standard set won't fit. Also, you'd either have to remount the boom gooseneck an inch lower on the mast or shorten the mainsail. Your furler and jib could also be issues.

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

Edited by - Stinkpotter on 12/06/2022 23:13:54

JB
Navigator

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USA
110 Posts

Response Posted - 12/07/2022 : 09:05:15

Cutting should be a last resort, but some of the height loss could be made up by increasing the thickness of the foot of the mast.

1988 C25 Wing Keel Std Rig Tohatsu 9.9 Tiller Steering and 2003 C250 Wing Keel Std Rig Inboard Diesel Wheel Steering

Stinkpotter
Master Marine Consultant

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Djibouti
9013 Posts

Response Posted - 12/07/2022 : 11:03:42

quote:
Originally posted by JB

Cutting should be a last resort, but some of the height loss could be made up by increasing the thickness of the foot of the mast.

That could take care of the rigging, but not the boom (to match the luff-length of the mainsl).

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

islander
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
3992 Posts

Response Posted - 12/07/2022 : 11:34:03

It will also raise the spreaders one inch if that matters. The lower shrouds attach to the mast on a 250. The attachment points to the mast would also be 1in. higher and the lower shrouds would need to be 1in. longer. Toggles and turnbuckle adjustments could possibly make that up. You could have a 1in. Thick aluminum shim made that follows the footprint of the mast step and place it under the mast step. You will need mast step bolts that are 1in. longer. As Dave said you might or might not have a problem with the luff length of the main sail depending on how tight the tolerance is. Most sailmakers won't build a sail that tight in luff length. They give a little wiggle room.

Scott-"IMPULSE"87'C25/SR/WK/Din.#5688
Sailing out of Glen Cove,L.I Sound

Edited by - islander on 12/07/2022 12:04:40

Stinkpotter
Master Marine Consultant

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Djibouti
9013 Posts

Response Posted - 12/07/2022 : 22:39:34

quote:
Originally posted by islander

...As Dave said you might or might not have a problem with the luff length of the main sail depending on how tight the tolerance is. Most sailmakers won't build a sail that tight in luff length. They give a little wiggle room.

That "wiggle room" is to ensure good luff tension given inexact sailmaking (by fractions of an inch) and some stretch (by more). If the mast is a little tall boom to mast-head, there's definitely room for either. If a little short, maybe not.

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

Edited by - Stinkpotter on 12/07/2022 22:41:58

WK 727
1st Mate

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USA
72 Posts

Response Posted - 12/08/2022 : 16:44:45

ECAJ, Steve brought it up immediately. It is difficult to help with limited information or no picture of the damage. Please share the boat information (C250, WK or WB standard/tall and the number). This information is invaluable to the wealth of experience found on this site. Next, the halyards are attached with bolts/pins on the masthead fixture which fit on the mast extrusion. Without a photo it is difficult to understand what has failed. FYI, the halyard sheaves on the masthead do have a tendency over time to fail from UV exposure and it is an easy replacement. We need more information.

Regards, John
Westlawn Institute graduate
Yacht Design and Naval Architecture
04 Catalina 250 WK
Standard rig w/wheel steering
Yanmar 9hp diesel

ecaj
Deckhand

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USA
3 Posts

Response Posted - 12/11/2022 : 08:25:11

Thanks for all of these excellent thoughts on repairing my mast. By way of background, my sailboat is a 250 WB. The two bolts that hold on the top hardware were ripped off the top of the mast. So the repair would have to fix that area. I like the welder idea.
Erik

ECAJ

Stinkpotter
Master Marine Consultant

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Djibouti
9013 Posts

Response Posted - 12/11/2022 : 20:31:22

Again, pictures could be worth the proverbial thousand words. But could a solution possibly be to drill in some other undamaged positions for bolts to do the same? A mast-head casting has mostly downward forces against the top of the mast from the stays and halyards which are somewhat in balance fore-and-aft. Welding could be a piece of the puzzle, but shifting to unwelded spots for the bolts might be advised by the welder, or be an option if he can't accomplish what's needed. I'm flying blind here, but trying to think just a little "outside of the box."

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

ecaj
Deckhand

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USA
3 Posts

Response Posted - 01/11/2023 : 16:47:09

Thanks again for your wise thinking, I talked with Catalina technical and his recommendation was to cut the mast down the 1� or so required at the top, then drill two new holes in the mast, remount the masthead and replace all the stays shorter than existing normal stays. I would have to custom length the stays. He was concerned about welding the mast. Thanks again.

ECAJ

DavidCrosby
Navigator

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USA
229 Posts

Response Posted - 01/12/2023 : 08:37:48

How about posting pictures of the damage for us to see? Inquiring minds want to know.

David Crosby "Small World"
'02 C250 WK #614

Stinkpotter
Master Marine Consultant

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Djibouti
9013 Posts

Response Posted - 01/12/2023 : 22:21:00

I assume the C-250 has a fixed boom position on the mast. Besides the stays and shrouds, your sails, particularly the main, would also be 1" (or whatever) too long on the luff, and your furler might need a modification. In the future, no sails or rigging would be replaceable with standard gear. (That should be disclosed to a buyer.) Re-mounting the boom an inch lower would solve the mainsail issue... Is the rest worth avoiding the price of a new (or pre-owned) mast? I don't know.

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

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