Hi Tim, Yes, I bought the part from Ballenger in California. My dad (a mechanical engineer) was trying to come up with a feasible method of rigging a system and he contacted this guy who has done some for much bigger (read: pricier) boats as well. The part is heavy duty and looks good. Here is a piece of his email when he and my dad were talking about how to work this and his contact info:
Our method is used on several hundred boats in Santa Cruz and is entirely feasible. The uppers stay tight and stabilize the mast when it is lowered. The tabernacle for this type of use costs $300 for small boat like the Catalina 27 and is custom built for the mast. The base of the mast has to be radiused an a pin installed the uppers are cut at tabernacle pin height and a "joint" is installed. A boom bridle hold the boom centered so that it can be used as a gin pole. The backstay and aft lowers are detached and the mast is lowered with the mainsheet or an electric winch. The pelican hooks cost about $35 each and you will need three. -- Buzz Ballenger Ballenger Spar Systems, Inc. 215 Walker St . Watsonville , CA 95076 tel: 831-763-1196 fax: 831-763-1198 website: ballengerspars.com It was much more affordable than I expected. We haven't installed it yet (hence the post) but I can send along a picture the next time I am over there. --- On Wed, 5/28/08, tim ford <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > From: tim ford <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > Subject: Re: catalina27-talk: Catalina27-talk: Installation of a mast hinge/tabernacle > To: [email protected] > Date: Wednesday, May 28, 2008, 3:24 PM > curious about this too, as I will be installing a similar > device on a > coachroof this summer, much > smaller rig (25', smaller extrusion). > > Ashton, did you buy a tabernacle from somewhere? I > haven't found much > besides this > stuff from Dwyer > > http://www.dwyermast.com/items.asp?cat1ID=40&cat1Name=Hardware&familyID=27&familyName=Tabernacles+%26+Pins > > > tf > > > > ashton bauersfeld wrote: > > Hello there, > > > > We are installing a mast tabernacle on my Catalina 27 > (1976, SR) so we can drop the mast to get under the Riva > bridge. The current mast step is just screwed into the > cabin roof. > > > > Has anyone bolted their mast step through the cabin > roof (with a plate below)? We would like to bolt it through > the roof with a steel backing plate to make sure it is > anchored securely. Any thoughts? > > > > Just looking for some guidance - it seems like this > group has seen/done it all! > > > > Thanks, > > Ashton Bauersfeld > > Great Blue > > #2811 > > Soon-to-be-on-the-South-River, MD > > > > > > > > > > > >
