[luckyboy1228]

I am new to the forum, and have recently bought a Catalina 22. stepping up from a Hobie 14. I have noticed two things that bother me. the shrouds loosen themselves over a weeks time, and today when I walked out of the house I had a broken shroud.

Is it normal for the shrouds to loosen up?

Can I replace the shrouds with a large gage?

Thank you,
Lucky

 

[DivingOtter]

In my opinion the rigging should be replaced with the same diameter it was designed for. Messing with it could cause more headaches elsewhere. I would get all new rigging if this is the case you described.

 

[JimMcGee]

Since the boat is new to you I wonder if the shrouds that are on her are wrong for the boat. They certainly shouldn't loosen on their own.

The Catalina 22 is a very popular boat and the mast is easy enough to drop. Any good rigger should be able to tell you what you have on your hands.

Check out Catalina Direct. They sell complete and partial rigging kits for your boat.

Here's the link: Catalina Direct: Catalina 22 Shrouds

 

[Lateen Luffer]

Also check the chainplates or whatever they're called- the thing that goes through the deck that the turnbuckle is connected to for the lower shrouds. The bolts themselves may be getting ready to pull through the deck and ruin your day. ~LL

 

[deniseO30]

You probable did not fix the tunbuckles from getting loose. they have holes for cotter pins. Also a C22 is easy to step unstep the mast it should not be a problem at all to make it all right.

 

[JimMcGee]

You probable did not fix the tunbuckles from getting loose. they have holes for cotter pins. Also a C22 is easy to step unstep the mast it should not be a problem at all to make it all right.

Good catch, I didn't even think to ask if he'd installed cotter pins.

 

[luckyboy1228]

You put me at a panic! I checked, it has large plates on the bottom of each of the bolts. I don't think its going to be able to pull through.

Could the culprit be the turnbuckle, can they simply loosening itself, I have been able to just tighten the shrouds right back up with them? I'm in Fort Myers, Florida, and been getting hit hard by thunderstorms, living right on the river there isn't much to break the waves. The sailboat gets rocked hard, but I've been able to keep it off the seawall!!!

Compared to the photos on catalina direct, it looks identical. I'll go to the farm store and get the same gage of wire.

 

[luckyboy1228]

aah... got me while i was typing. It doesn't have cotter pins..

 

[deniseO30]

uh no.. you don't get the right wire at a farm store. go to Catalina direct.

 

[tomandchris]

Denise is right, get correct rigging. Don't try and shortcut this piece of equipment. Also, "It doesn't have cotter pins", or "There is a place to put cotter pins and they are not there". The rig should be able to be pinned!

Go to the Catalina 22 forum and get some great information.

 

[luckyboy1228]

Okay, I'll get the required parts, if it will keep from further problem. thank you!

 

[deniseO30]

Catalina Direct: Shrouds

 

[Sal Paradise]

The turnbuckles have lock nuts. Did you tighten the lock nuts?

 

[This Old Sailboat]

Lucky,

Also consider borrowing or buying a Loos tension gauge and learn how to tune the C22 rig. It'll reduce wear and tear and sail better.

 

[chip]

I believe that the most common practice on C22s is to upgrade the diameter and material of the shrouds. Most of them would have come with 1/8" 304 from the factory, and most replacements today are 5/32" 316. I'm no metallurgist, but I was told that 316 is more resistant to corrosion but not quite as strong as 304, which is why they upsize it by a 32nd.

You probably could get replacement wire from a place other Catalina Direct, but you'd have to make very certain that it was actually the same thing, with the right type of stainless and the right strand count, and then you'd also need to have a way to swage on all of the fittings--and do a really good job of it. It's likely easier and more likely to succeed if you let Catalina Direct (or a local professional rigger) do it.

Letting the rig get and stay very loose is bad because it allows the wire to bend back and forth through a large swath, and like bending a paperclip over and over, it can get weak and break prematurely. If that's what happened in your case, I wouldn't trust any of the shrouds or stays.