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Great suggestions.  Thanks.  I like the idea of controlling the toping lift.  The klew cringle might have been as much as 4" above the boom.  That that point (while sailing), pulling the reefing line wasn't bringing them together.  Finally, it might be an original main sail.  The previous owner said Falkor became a 'power boat with a stick' during his ownership, so the age of the sail wasn't an issue.  I'd like a sail with 2 reefs anyway, so for 2026 I will get a new one.

I might have messed up the 'order of operations'.  I think I attempted to add the reef without first using the topping lift.  Then, once the reef was in, the boom remained sitting on the dodger.  Perhaps if I'd set the reef while the boom was supported, the outcome would have been different.  I will try that this week.  Thank you for the quick replies.  In the future, a boom-supporting boom vang sounds like a good option.

Fairly new (3 months) owner (1989 mk 1) here. I reefed for the first time last week and had to use the topping lift to keep the boom off the hard dodger.  Is this normal?  The dodger isn't especially tall.  Is my reefing line poorly tuned?  That is, should the boom be horizontal when reefed (without the help of the topping lift)?  One my last (and first) boat the boom could be raised at the mast by the main halyard - conveniently, the downhaul/Cunningham just pulled the boom down (at the mast) to flatten the sail.  In the C34 the boom is fixed to the mast, so pulling on the halyard to slide the reefed main up the mast doesn't seem to be a solution.

[Recommendations]

Hi again everyone.  Thanks very much for the replies.  I made a mistake.  The surveyor report included this statement: "As the range lacked flame-out protection on the burners it is considered an attended appliance."  My wife, who was dealing with the insurance company, asked me if I'd dealt with the propane issue. But, at the end of the survey (I just noticed this) under Recommendations was the note that an 'approved propane detector/alarm must be installed in the galley area.' It turns out that this is what the insurance company requires, not flame-out protection. My fault for making assumptions. So sorry for wasting your time and thanks for the most recent posts on the topic of alarms.  John

Hi Jon,  Yes, that's what I need.  But the reply I just received from 'SureMarine' isn't encouraging:
"John,
   Unfortunately there is no way to add thermocouple protection to the stove to make it compliant with modern safety standards."

Do you have a solution?

Thanks Ron,  Having a propane cut-off value (if the flame goes out) is a requirement for my new insurance (and a good idea I think).  I doesn't seem like something that should be too hard to retrofit, but maybe I am wrong. Seems like a shame to have to discard a stove because of this. I will post an update if find a solution.  JT

Thanks very much.  I have contacted them.  Their website gives me the impression they'll have what I need.  John

Hello everyone,  My first post! I have looked in wiki and searched this forum. I am a new owner of Falkor, a 1989 Catalina 34 (Mk 1) here in Victoria, BC. She appears to have to original stove, but converted to propane. Insurance requires propane cut-off valve for each burner (and oven). There must be a fairly easy retrofit. If you've done this, can you send specifics?  We've just 'upgraded' from a 1975 Grampian 28. For 15 years Rhapsody took us everywhere, with 2 kids and 2 dogs, but not exactly 'in comfort'. Really looking forward to summer adventure on Falkor.  John