Hi All
I've been lurking around here for a while having bought our Catalac 9m Corydoras at the end of last year. My wife and I are hoping to travel across Europe to the Black Sea in her in 2017 and are slowly researching and getting her ready (and ourselves...).
We'll obviously need to lower the mast (one of the many reasons for getting a Catalac) and I was wondering if anyone had any opinions/suggestions/experience to offer.
I need to get a lowering pole made unfortunately and was planning to use the measurements and instructions on Catamaransite. Does anyone have anything to add/improvements or suggestions on materials or method?
Also I would like to get a mast crutch made with a roller for the stern and was considering a whole stainless frame like some yachts use for mounting their radar and other boaty paraphernalia on. This is for a couple of reasons... Firstly, I guess the mast will be quite heavy and manoeuvring it forward so that the overhang is equal fore and aft could be quite difficult for a fat old geezer and a wife who needs lashing down in a force 4 for fear of being blown away! I'm concerned that dragging the mast forward will create a lot of load on a single crutch foot or pull over something temporary. Secondly, the mast will be down for a few months so it'll useful for VHF and GPS.
Again, any points of view for or against will be welcome as would suggested strong points for the feet and pointers towards a design or off the shelf adaptation. Has anyone else tried this solution.
Oh dear, I'm boring myself now... Thanks for listening.
Cy
Comments
You may also find some stuff on a sailfish 18 users site, I had one and recall there was a lot of stuff about how to rig the shrouds to stop the mast going sideways. The important thing that was not clear on the catamaransite drawing was that the shrouds may need a pivot point at the same height as the hinge pin. This keeps them tight as the mast lowers and stops the mast falling off one side or the other. They did it with a ring fitting and two lines going to the deck, not sure how one rig this with our rigs.
However.. I have never dropped scubacats mast, so all my knowledge here is theoretical and I hope other members with actual practical experience will help out here!
Dagnall
Hi Doris, We made wooden supports Fore and Aft, which were more suitable to our needs.
One mod i thought about was when the mast has been lowered, to fit a roller, probably above the Mast Bolt to enable the mast to be moved a bit easier, allowing it to Roll and not having to be lifted all the way ?
The Article that i have is the same as on www.Catamaransite.com/mast_lowering.html
Not all Catalacs were made with Shroud Support Frames to enable Mast Lowering, you either have a frame or the shrouds go down to the Deck ?
I will measure my Pole and give you the measurements will also add a photo if i can.....Bob
W
Dragon Slayer, I agree with the multi function plan, especially as the mast will be down for 3 months at least. Fortunately I've already got 120w of solar on the wheelhouse so I can have the frame quite narrow. Do you have a frame? If so what dimension tube do you have? Also, what strong points does the frame use?
Thanks for the help guys, I really appreciate it.
Cy