Tony,
Yes, the dimensions for the tall rig is the same for the MkI and MkII, as are the dimensions for the standard rig. Although highly unlikely, it's possible that your boat has a tall rig boom with a standard rig mast. It would be best for you to run a tape measure up the mast with a halyard and get that measurement. 52' 2" is the length of the mast extrusion (not including masthead fitting). You should easily be able to tell the difference between the TR and SR by measuring the mast in the cabin and the mast between the deck and masthead. Hope this helps.

Is there a special offer going on for mainsails?

Well, if the mainsail is the primary concern, you could first ensure that the current sail hoists to a proper height, and the clew is in a good location near the boom end. Then simply measure the existing sail.

It is always better to use measurements than to say "I have a Catalina 36 standard rig."

Best of luck.

The 12' refers to the foot length of the main, so the std rig boom is about 12'6".

I have a tall rig Mk 1 What is the exact distance from top of mast to the water,or about

[QUOTE=ajcastagno;19641]Well, I measured my mast and boom yesterday and I'm a little confused. I thought I had a tall rig from a previous measurement of my boom which was close to 13 feet.... I re-measured yesterday with assistance and got the extrusion as 12 feet 7 inches. Neither 12 or 13 as people post. My top of mast extrusion to bottom of the gooseneck was 40 feet 3 inches or 483 inches which was close to the 486.5 inches I was told to expect for a standard rig.... So would you all agree I have a standard rig? I am going to order a new mainsail, so I'm thinking I should be ok with the standard rig cut. Anyone see any flaws in this before I order?

Thanks,
Tony[/QUOTE]
It seems you have the standard height rig. The standard mast extrusion is 50'2" overall. The location of the center of the gooseneck fitting is 9'10" from the bottom of the mast. Doing the math these leaves 40'4" from the center of the gooseneck to the top of the extrusion.

These dimensions from the Catalina drawing 360-32001-3 revised 9-4-90.

The boom extrusion lengths for standard and tall are 12'6" and 13'6", respectively.

These dimensions from the Catalina drawing 340-33002 revised 9-3-98.

[QUOTE=William Miller;19662]I have a tall rig Mk 1 What is the exact distance from top of mast to the water,or about[/QUOTE]

Good question. According to my calculations, taken off the Catalina drawings, since this is not specifically dimensioned, I get the bottom of the mast extrusion as 21" below the waterline.

That means for a tall rig the top of the mast extrusion is 50'5" above the waterline.

The standard rig is therefore 48'5" above waterline.

Of course for clearance you have to add any additional height for antennas, etc.

[QUOTE=TomSoko;19563]You should easily be able to tell the difference between the TR and SR by measuring the mast in the cabin and the mast between the deck and masthead.[/QUOTE]

The measurement in the cabin will be the same for either mast, of course. I believe the 2' difference is at the top of the mast. :)

The easiest way to tell is to measure the boom extrusion, which is 13'6" for the tall rig, 12'6" for standard. Unless, of course, in some weird, whacky way the wrong boom length is on your boat.

To be absolutely certain, hoist a tape measure with a halyard. It won't give you the exact height of the mast, but will give you the 'neighborhood' of one or the other (because the end of the tape won't go to the top of the extrusion, but rather from the point it's attached to the halyard, this being somewhat less). From the center of the gooseneck to the top of the extrusion, the tall rig is 42'4"; standard is 40'4". If you hoist a tape and it's significantly over 40', you have the tall rig.

Just took down my 2004 furling mast for winter storage here in CT. My understanding is that all furling rigs are tall to make up for the loss of sail area due to no roach support. Charleston Spar is the name on the mast and is a US subsidiary of Sparcraft (France). My extrusion measures exactly 52' 2", so this indeed makes it a tall rig. Waterlines vary quite a bit due to loading, but assuming that the top of the settees is waterline, the mast base is 14" below this. This makes the extrusion height above waterline for a tall rig at 51' which is very close to the figure that Bill Miller previously stated. You must add a foot or so for the masthead, lights, windex, etc and then figure out how much extra you're comfortable with for bridge clearance.

The Charleston spar does not have the spreader bar because the extrusion has a wall inside to isolate the furling section, so it appears to be very strong. The standing wire looks fine, so I'll at least do a dye penetrant inspection of the swedges, tangs, and toggles. Also rebedding chainplates, stanchions, and traveler this spring with butyl since these are most subject to creepage due to vertical tension. Not leaking yet, but after looking at dozens of 36's prior to purchase of Whimsea, these are common entry points for water into the deck core.

Pictures will be posted of all this during the spring.

I assume you also have the 13'6" boom?

The boom is off the boat for the winter, but I just measured 13' 3" at it's maximum length. If it were installed on the boat, it would be likely be 13' 6" from the mainsail slot to the end of the boom.