I have been asked by a member in Wales for advice on mast lowering an 8M Catalac?
I think there were some instructions in a 2004 newsletter?
Bob Freeman kindly provided this small image to help, but any additional notes or discussion would be appreciated.
Comments
differences in mast tabernacles depending on when the boat was built, so it is possible that the notes may not be relevant if yours is a
different set-up.
The key part would be getting a bottom plate with the same hole pattern as your existing shroud fittings, and then getting them to weld up the inverted u with a new shroud fitting for one shroud mounted at the same height as the mast pin.
Sound like a fair bit of work I must say.!
The other work around was one i saw on a smaller cat, where it was suggested that the shroud that was planned to hold the mast from sideways motion during the drop should have a second (or more) secondary shroud connected to it at the pin height and then down to the deck making an inverted Y. That way the shroud should stay able to keep the mast from falling to one side as one part of the y should remain in tension.. However, it depended a lot on the geometry as you can imagine.
A long time ago two of my stronger friends helped me drop the mast of my hirondelle (22ft), the idea was two held the side shrouds to hold it from falling sideways, and one (me) had a block and tackle to release the forestay. (Slowly). It went ok except that geometry beat the forestay block and tackle at the end of the drop. My wife (watching from the marine pontoon) fortunately caught the end of mast as we lost control as it neared horizontal.. So I would suggest a four man team if you try that approach! Or simply pay someone with a crane which is what I have done since then,
Hope this helps, and let us know what happns!
Dagnall