Messages

flex o fold   15 x 10 was great on my boat .....

sold my boat and it was loaded .... the extras helped sell it I believe.  Of course all the extras were listed.

The real sneaker was when the deal was finally concluded there was an insertion at the end of a long agreement that I
overlooked (my bad) that also gave the buyer my $400 boarding steps that were on the dock. The broker from Heritage
Yachts in Long Beach said "we always include the steps" in our deals.  I was NEVER told about that.

So seller beware ..... last minute inserts in the final contract can be costly.

BTW   I miss my CAt 34 True Luff.

[]Heritage Yacht Brokers[/]

A word of warning ..... when you list your boat with a sales agency, watch the fine print or lack of.

I sold my Cat34 with [b]Heritage Yacht Brokers[/b] and they were mostly a fine broker.

BUT  alas when  the final agreement filtered thru all umteen pages ... there was a inclusion of my custom altered dock steps.

Yeah I missed the fine print and shame on me BUT the song I got was that the steps were always included in the sale of the boat.
Funny that was not mentioned during the negotiations.  So my custom $400 plus steps were spirited away as the boat sailed  to hear new destination. 

This is just a warning to future sellers of their second mistress. 

I have to say,  Owning my Cat34 has been the highlight of my long boating life. 

Enjoy your sailing .... do it whenever you can ...it always ends too soon   

That old adage is absolutely wrong.  The two happiest days are ..... NOT. 

After 14 outstanding years owning True Luff and prior 31 years in a Cat30 and Cal 20 I am hanging up my
skippers cap and retiring from boat owning.  Been sailing since my sea scout days and loved every
(well almost) minute of it.

It has been a great run.  I guess at this time I will just have to find a boat owner that needs a 
wise ass adviser for his/her sailing strategy.  I will be available for lousy advice, race suggestions,
after race whiskey tasting and backing up the skippers lies as as to why we did not win.

As to my loved Cat 34 Mk II .... I have threatened  the new owner that he had better take extremely good care of my baby.

Hearafter I will monitor this web sit and vivaciously sail with you all.  Thanks for these years of consul and
hints about boat care that has made my ownership even more pleasant.

Had the same problem  and still every so often still do.   I found that all you had to do is tighten the Allen screws that are in the side of
the unit and the friction to hold it in place comes right up.  If you want to get to the inner screws, it takes an Allen wrench that
I ground down so it can get access to the screw with out taking the unit off the deck.

Been doing this for years successfully

Trying to find info on the fuel gauge on my Mk II .  I find nothing on its operation and or what to ask for in a replacement.

It reads full when the power is on  and if I, after a miserable 3 ours getting at the 5 screws holding it in the tank in a totally
impossible location to reach, out and disconnect the power tab wire it reads empty,

What is the make and is there some diagrams available along with trouble shooting guides anywhere?

I have a ST4000 since 2002.  Working fine.
Only problem I had was with the location of the fluxgate sensor.
Relocated it in the closet behind the nav station but high above
the effect of the power cable under the floor.

Cat. 34 Mk II  2001    owner well maintained all furnishings ready for cruise to the islands tomorrow. 
35 HP diesel 640 eng. hrs, folding prop, full batten main with Dutchman dowsing and one reef point, roller furling Genoa & Asym Spin w/dowser, Dodger, Sunshade with side curtains, Cockpit table, cushions,  elect. windless, two Danforth anchors, rocker stopper, rigid boom vang, self tailing winches, with locking turning blocks,  
Raymarine Chart, Radar, Speed, Depth, GPS, wind, Autohelm in Navppod
VHF radio w/ cockpit mike, AM/FM stereo-CD w/ Bose cabin speakers,
BBQ, stove/oven, Ultra Leather up graded upholstery, frig/freezer, cedar lined lockers, Man overboard safety equip. cockpit cushions, throw able cushions,  Trojan 6V. deep cycle batteries (4 wired for 12 volt), Teak Hatch boards Plus removable hatch doors, all manuals.  
Vee berth with room enough for my 6'6" height,   sail4dale@sbcglobal.net   Pics available

Located in San Pedro.
            Asking $89,750  

I have had Teak doors on True Luff ever since I bought her in 2002.  Really love them ... easy to remove and once you get the hang of it ... no problem rehanging them. 

Like it cruising but always remove them while sailing or anchored during the day.  Most of the time leave them off during the nights unless it is getting cool.  Teak takes a little maintaining but it is worth itl

Been amused at all the conversation about belt tensioning ..... I really didn't think that much about the problem and several years ago
I noticed the excessive flop of the belt.  So I merely loosened the nuts on the alternator and by pressing down with one hand I tightened
the nuts and .... success   Several outings later after my haul-out we left the yard for home and noticed SMOKE! Lots of it coming our of the cabin.  ... steps off,  doors open and ..... CRAP!!!!

I my fervor in tightening I overlooked the possibility of TOO TIGHT.   What happened it the over tight belt put a side load on the salt water pump
which froze up, burning up the belt, twisting the pump off the holding bolts and shearing the inlet and outlet hoses.

Fortunately we had not got too far from the boat yard so got back and purchased a pump, hoses, and labor to install.

Valuable lesson for me.   A little loose is batter that too tight.  I would think that the tensioner mentioned might lead
to some over tightening if one was not vary careful. 

I too agree re the Flexifold prop.  The three blade 10 x 15 gives me over seven knots if i want it. 
reverse is great.   Love it and the folding prop from a fixed gave me another knot of cruising speed.

Are you sure your actual engine speed was 2200 RPM?  My meter has always reads low by a 25% factor.  (checked out with  a manual tach)

On True Luff if I read 2200 my actual engine speed would be 2750 and with my 3 blade 10 pitch folding prop
I would be slightly overloading and getting a bit of smoke.  I usually cruise at actual engine speed
of 2400 (reading ablut 1900) and get 7 plus knots without smokeing.  However ..... over a period of cruising there appears some black smudging around the exhaust.

No I have not heard of that cone filter .... why replace it.  My Racor and spin-on has served me well.

   It is with deep regret that I must sell True Luff.  We have had True Luff since 2002 after
18 years in a CAt 30.  I have enjoyed the most pleasure in racing and cruising of any boat
I have ever owned.   I started my sailing career 70 years ago and have experienced laughs,
joy, soaking, pleasure, and terror in these years of racing and cruising.  Whatta run!   

Who ever said the happiest parts of owning a boat is when you buy and sell it is our of their mind
or else they never had a boat as great as a Catalina.  It is NOT a happy time parting with a fine sailing craft as this.

Our ownership experience has truly been augmented by the great input on this website.
Thanks to Stu and all the other "experts" that have added to my ownership esperience.
And so ..... True Luff now is going on the market with hope that the new owner will treat her
with the proper respect and enjoy those priceless hours on the water.

I have a Flexofold 15 x 10 on my boat for over 11 years but even with my 35 HP engine I cannot get full RPM. 
This is not all bad as I get up to 2900 RPM before it smokes.  My cruising speed can be 7.3 with a clean bottom
but I usually run at 2500 and get good performance at 6.8 -7 knots.  .6 GPH

I love the prop .... backs down well and I have not seen any delay in it unfolding.  I replace the zinc
about 3 times a year. 

My question is:  with a 25 HP engine would not a 9 pitch be more appropriate?  It would get you up to
max RPM easier.

have a 10.5 ft. Achelies ? and find that it is about as easy to put it upside down on the foredeck.  Hoist it from its bow with my spin halyard
or if a full crew manhandle it aboard.  better speed and no danger of painter tangle in prop if I forget to tighten up in mooring.