Arey's Pond 12' Kitten, Owner'S Manual, Page: 5 / 10

IV. RIGGING THE AREY’S POND CATBOAT
Stepping the Mast: The heaviness of the mast makes handling difficult; care is required when
stepping and unstepping. It is easiest to step the mast before launching the boat. The following is a list
of directions for efficiently stepping the mast and attaching the boom, gaff, and sail.
1. Lay the mast, with hoops attached, on the boat.
2. Position yourself on the foredeck and pick up the head of the mast.
3. While slowly raising the head of the mast to an upright position, walk the butt
through the deck carefully. Whenever possible, have another person guide the
mast butt onto the mast step.
4. Once the mast is stepped, connect the head stay.
5. Attach the boom to the gooseneck using the bronze bolt.
6. Install the gaff.
7. Attach the sail. The sail may be left on during the season, but it is important to
use the cockpit cover to protect both the sail and the boat from weather. Wind,
rain, and saltwater will shorten the life of the dacron sail material.
New Mast Options for the 14’ Cat and 16’ Lynx: In light of the scarcity of moorings in coastal
waters, new options allowing for trailering of the Arey’s Pond Catboat have been developed.
CARBON-FIBER MAST: The 14’ Cat can be fitted or retrofitted with an extremely lightweight mast
fabricated from carbon fibers. This mast is also free of stays.
BRONZE TABERNACLE: The 16’ Lynx can be fitted or retrofitted with a custom-cast bronze tabernacle,
allowing for easier one-person mast-stepping and maneuvering under bridges.
V. MAINTENANCE OF THE AREY’S POND CATBOAT
The following list is designed to serve as a guideline for maintenance of Arey’s Pond Catboats. We
recommend these tasks be performed in the Spring approximately two weeks prior to launching.
SPAR VARNISHING: Sand the boom, gaff, and lower two-thirds of the mast with 220 grit sandpaper.
Bronze hardware can be taped to prevent scratching. Sanded areas should be wiped with mineral spirits
prior to varnishing. Varnishing should be performed outdoors when possible. Ideal conditions would be
air temperature of 70 degrees, no wind, and little or no chance of precipitation. We recommend Interlux
Flagship Varnish #2015, applied with a 2” foam brush. It is best to pour the varnish into a separate
container prior to applying.
MAST-TIP PAINTING: The painted top third of the mast should be sanded with 180 grit sandpaper,
wiped with a clean rag soaked with thinner, and painted with an oil-based semi-gloss paint. We
recommend Petit Easypoxy White.
TEAK OILING: Teak areas which are oil-finished should be scrubbed with a teak cleaner. If the teak is
in good shape, only a light scrubbing is necessary. Once dry, apply the teak oil of your choice using a 2”
foam brush. We recommend Sikkens Cetol, which requires sanding between coats.
BOTTOM PAINTING: The hull and rudder blade should be sanded up to the waterline with 60 grit
sandpaper. If the boat is to be moored in saltwater, the centerboard should also be dropped and sanded.
If the boat has not been sanded previously, apply a fiberglass primer. We recommend Petit 6999. Then
paint the bottom, rudder blade, centerboard, and centerboard well (to the extent possible) with anti
fouling paint. We recommend Interlux ACT.