The Catalac 8M and the 9M have a tabernacle designed to raise and
lower the mast. Chainplates are mounted at the pivot point and the procedure
is both simple and convenient. Read how I dropped my mast, replaced
everything at the top and rewired it, all in an afternoon.
(click
here)
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- Remove all Sails, The Boom and the Mainsheet ( rope & Blocks
). Slot your 50mm Mast Lowering Boom into the base of the mast.
- Wrap & Tie the forward end of your main Halyard to the eye at
Front of Pole, Then lifting the pole so that it is horizontal
& secure, tie the other end of the Mainsheet to a cleat on the lower
part of the mast. For added security you can also connect the jib
halyard in the same way.
- Fit your mainsheet block and tackle to the other eye underneath
the pole & then secure the other block to the Anchor Cleat, using
good quality rope / Shackles ! Double up on these connections and
make them strong & secure !
- Shackle the s/s boom wires from the top eye of the mast lowering
boom to the forward lugs on the port & starboard cap shroud stanchions.
- Tie up all unused halyards, insert crutches into transom fittings.
- Loosen off the tabernacle mast support Bolt / Nuts.
- Slightly loosen the Cap Shrouds & the Lower Shrouds. Back Stays
can be left alone. Loosen and Disconnect the Forestay & inner forestay.
- If you have 3 persons position one on the mainsheet, to lower
away and the other 2 at the port & starboard shrouds, to check sideways
movement and tension.
- The mast will need a bit of persuasion to get it started, but
once underway Keep lowering nice and steady until in the crutches.
- The mast can then be positioned & secured as required.
- The reverse procedure can be used for lifting. The mainsheet
can be led to a Winch to make the job easier.
- The reverse procedure can be used for lifting. I discovered
that if the mainsheet is installed upside down, it allowed for body
weight being added to the lifting force necessary to raise the mast
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| The pole is steel, 2" in diameter, 8'long with a 6" stainless steel
tip. It weighs around 25 lbs. Description and photos are courtesy of
Steve Ramsey and his boat, the Catalac 8M, S/V Kelly Ann |
