Hi, looking to pick a few brains. As some may know from previous posts we have a 1995 C36 Mk11 keel-stepped tall rig. We lost our rig at sea and our local RNLI (coast guard) cut everything from deck up and dumped it at sea to get us back to port.
My local rigger who runs a very large company is recommending that we fit a deck stepped mast with all relevant supports. Has anyone done this, and are there any problems I should look out for? I don't distrust my rigger; just want to know from anyone that has experienced a deck stepped mast on our Catalinas.
thanks again
Kenny
—
Geileis
Hull 1489
1995
Fin Keel
U shape Lounge
Westerbeke M35 engine
Mikuni heating
Second best thing that ever happened to me
[quote=cussy]Has anyone done this and are there any problems i should look out for , I dont distrust my rigger just want to know from anyone that has experienced a deck stepped mast on our catalinas
Kenny [/quote]
I haven't (although I've read many a pro and con considerations on this question, I won't get into them here).
But there is an owner on this list, "Blair" with a boat with a deck-stepped mast (apparently done by a prior owner), set up so that it can be lowered to pass under a bridge between the harbor and open water. See the thread."2004 C36 MK Tabernacle Mast"
https://www.catalina36.org/forum/technical-discussion/2004-c36-mkii-tabe... Maybe you can PM him for more details.
Matthew Chachère
s/v ¡Que Chévere!
(Formerly 1985 C36 MKI #466 tall rig fin keel M25)
2006 Catalina Morgan 440 #30.
Homeported in eastern Long Island, NY
If I had to guess, most C36 owners in northern climates don't take off mast for winter storage on the hard. Get solid cradle or minimum six jack stands, chained together on solid ground and complete winter cover.
i have had C30 & C 36's in wintry Wisconsin for about ten years. Very few sailboat owners in our marina remove masts for winter storage. This is a great revenue maker for some marinas.
peter g
2000 C36, MK2, Hull. #1897
wonderful, wonderful, wonderful ! ! !. 5 th Catalina
I would suggest contacting Catalina to get their opinion on the modification. Our C30 mast was deck stepped. Over time, the cabin roof started to depress from years of compression and maybe some moisture intrusion. I removed the mast step fitting, drilled holes and injected epoxy to slow the process. This area was a composite of interior/exterior fiberglass sandwiching a core of plywood design. If there was a way to weld a mast step fitting onto a compression post and close up the partner area with glass-maybe its doable. But again I I would call Catalina for structural advice.
Paul & Wendy Keyser
"First Light"
Rye NH
2005 C36 MKII #2257
Wing, M35B