This is my first spring launch with this boat. The boat yard riggers forgot to hook up this turnbuckle / strut. Not sure what it does. I can't find it mentioned in the manual. Maybe added by a previous owner? It seems to be a tensioner between the bottom of the cabin top and the mast. The tab with the two screws does NOT reveal an entry slot, tried that already, I assume the two screws hold that tab in place and provide a base for the foot of that strut, not sure. I have to go back to the boat today and try to figure out if this can be slid on from the bottom of the mast, maybe there is a slot for the foot. If not, can it be safely ommitted this season? Thanks!
See the picture attached
Mike
Jackfish Girl, 1999, C36 MKII, Tall Rig, Wing Keel, In-mast furling, Monument Beach, Bourne, MA
This is a diagonal structural support that SHOULD get attached. My boat, hull 1897 made in 2000 has it. If Catalina's engineers didn't think it necessary they would have discontinued putting it on.
peter g
2000 C36, MK2, Hull. #1897
wonderful, wonderful, wonderful ! ! !. 5 th Catalina
Thanks Pete, I agree. The yard is pulling the mast on Monday mooring. Ruins my weekend sailing plans, but it needs to be right. Thanks. Mike
Jackfish Girl, 1999, C36 MKII, Tall Rig, Wing Keel, In-mast furling, Monument Beach, Bourne, MA
Hi, our mast is stepped on the keel trough the cabin. So this turnbuckle avoids de deck going up when tensioning halyards, as the blocks are attached to the ring around the mast, but not to it!
so yes, you should installed and tensioned properly. It is normal, when some one put back the mast, to forget this important part.
Just a thought,
Regards
Eladio Vallina
C-36 TR EUREKA II
Hull 1122 (1991)
Home port Barcelona (Spain).
Hey, Phil Keiser had a great response to this question some time ago.
Per our surveyor's input- the turnbuckle should be only slightly snugged (just beyound hand tight). The purpose is to stregthen the cabin roof and minimize "oil canning" from the loads on the hull. Water pressure pushing against the hull sides wants to push the cabin roof upwards. The turnbuckle pulls the cabin roof down. He mentioned old sailing ships incorporated this design to increase strength. On some of the boats we looked at, the turnbuckle had been over torqued and the U Bolt nuts were compressing the cabin roof, creating stress cracks and possibly other damage. He pointed out Catalina should have used larger washers, or better yet, a stainless plate to spread the load- which is what we did.
peter g
2000 C36, MK2, Hull. #1897
wonderful, wonderful, wonderful ! ! !. 5 th Catalina
Yeah, I agree, a stainless steel backing plate to distribute that load would be smart. Love to see a picture of it if you think of it.
Also, it's been suggested that maybe using an angle grinder to carve in an entry slot at the base of the mast to allow the foot to slip into the slot. Not that I'll ever let this happen again...
Jackfish Girl, 1999, C36 MKII, Tall Rig, Wing Keel, In-mast furling, Monument Beach, Bourne, MA