Hi all,
I don't know if any Mark I's were constructed with a split back stay but I wanted to see if any of the newer model mark ! every were fabricated that way. I am considering splitting the back stay to allow easier access to the aft ladder and i would like to set up a chair in the center of the rear of the boat. I know that Garhauer sell 11" chain plates that they had in inventory for the Mark II and i reviewed the Mark 2 manual and saw the offset from center for the chain plates but i don't know if it would be possible to mount the chain plates on a mark I because of the rubrail that is on the stern. any thoughts would be helpful..
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Mike Hogan
s/v Ciscocat #226
Mark I XP25, std rig
Hi Mike,
I have the MKl that is a MKll wannabe with the walkthru stern. It is a split backstay. My Catalina 30 was also (split) and it was a solid transom (no walkthru) Note the chainplates enter the top and then thrubolted to the stern
Gary Bain
S/V "Gone With The Wind"
Catalina 36', Hull #: 1056, Year: 1990, Engine: M-35
Standard Rig
Moored: Boothbay Harbor, Maine
Home: Auburn, Maine
Gary
thanks for the photo it looks something like that should work although I would need do do something a bit different with the length since my rub rail extends all the way around the transom, maybe make the chain plate a bit longer and " skip" a through bolt where the rub rail is.
Mike Hogan
s/v Ciscocat #226
Mark I XP25, std rig
The split back stay installation on our MK I is the same as Gary's and we do not have the walk through transom. The chain plates are on the inside of the transom and do not interfere with the rub rail.
I suggest you go with the MK II back stay bridle as it is about 17 feet long with turnbuckles at the bottom of each leg for tensioning the back stay. The bridle on ours is only about 5 feet long and comes very close to my head when I stand at the helm.
When you install the chain plates, position them at the same angle as the legs of the bridle so there is a straight pull on them. Hope this helps.
Tom & Janis Grover
C36 #0949
SR/WK, M25XP
Midland, ON
Tom,
thanks for the info, I'be looked at one of the Mark II's on my dock and see what you are talking about the bridle looks like it is a ways up the back stay. The only issue i need to check out is how the legs will fit. i measured the distance from the center line and I can't position quite at the same location because of stern rail seats stachion's position. I puchased a set of stern rails from railmakers some time ago and the bottom leg is right at 26 off the center position, exactly where the chain plate is suppose to be based on the mark II line drawings. that said i thing somewhere around 24" off center should work ok. anyway thanks for the info.
regards,
Mike Hogan
s/v Ciscocat #226
Mark I XP25, std rig
I am always amazed at how many boats I see with a split backstay where the chainplates are not properly aligned to the direction of the split stay. As a physicist, thinking about this makes me cringe every time I see it.
Duncan McNeill
1984 Catalina 36 #178
standard rig fin keel M25
Channel Islands