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Hi folks,

I was out on the boat today trying to get some solo time in.  The good news is that she sails great, 20 knot winds, full sails and all. 

The this was though that throughout the Spring I had noticed the autopilot as being off by some 30-35 degrees.  Not having had an autopilot in the past I just left that to the last to experiment with so...

Today I'm sailing out of Salem harbor with the motor idling just in case.  The auto pilot is off by 30-35.  About half way out of the harbor I shut down the engine and a little later I notice the auto pilot is pretty much within a few degrees of the compass.  I think, well maybe it just had to warm up. 

Sailing with the auto pilot worked well.  When engaged it kept the course.  It even tacked properly, until it came on course at which time it had trouble holding.  But I chalked that up to the 20nm winds and the fact that I had all the rags fully out.

Comming back in I decided to hall down the sails and motor.  Low and behold the auto pilot went off by the 30-35 degrees.  And, something I had slightly noticed before, the integrated chartplotter display is also off from th e"heads up" orientation - by 30-35 degrees.  I turned the auto pilot off and instantly the chatplotter displayed correctly.

Checked the fluxgate compass and there was nothing near it.

About three weeks ago I was out following the manual and doing the calibration thing on the autopilot buy got a message back that the deviation was 26 degrees.

Anyone had a problem like this?

Hello All,

on my boat the ignition/glow plug switch has a black rubber cover with a slot in it for the key to fit through.  I suppose its purpose is to keep the weather out, and I do like the that function.  Unfortunately the rubber seems to be deteriorating.  I noticed that when I touch it with my hand I get a lot of black rubbed off.  Wiping the pedestal down with  a cloth produced even more.

Does anyone know where I can get a replacement piece for this?  Or maybe there is a way to stabilize the rubber (or whatever it actually is)?

Thanks,

Hi All,

I want to put a bow thruster on Ruach.  I know, I should just learn to drive the figging boat, but...

Realizing the hull has a very gracious decline from the bow, this is not going to be a normal drill a hole and slap in a tunnel installation. 

I've been looking at Lewmar.  They have two options.  Both are nice in that once retracted there is zero drag. 

One is a vertical retractable.  This is nice in that it come in a 12v model.  The draw back is that the retraction requires a 30" clearance inside the boat.  I think I'd have to lose the V-Berth draw, and maybe then some to fit that.

The other is a swing retractable.  This is one sweet unit, very compact, but they only offer it in hydraulic (read $$$$$!!).




Oh yeah, Stu I did do a search.  just thought there might be some new opinions out there 

Any thoughts?

Hello All,

As of a couple of weeks ago I became a new owner of a Catalina 34 Mk II. 

She is a year 2000 and is in spectacular condition, loaded with gear.  The name/hailing port before purchase was Oasis, Gloucester MA.  He new name is Ruach, Salem MA.

The boat will be at Cape Ann Marina in Gloucester, winter on the hard and summer on a slip.  I also have a mooring in Salem harbor, close to Palmer's Cove Yacht Club, of which I am a member.

A little about me -

I've been sailing for 5 years, previously on a Catalina 27 that has a deposit on it with the sale pending a survey (yes I do feel good about that  ).  Mostly I've single handed, including a week long trip last year to Maine and two weeks this year south of the Cape Cod Canal.  Both of those trips were with the Catalina Association of New England, and I am the Webmaster for that group.  I've also been involved with the Catalina 27/270 association.

My wife and I bought the 34 after looking into a new C310 at the Newport show.  After considering it I asked the broker if I could see a 34 I knew he had in Cotuit MA.  He said 'well if you are interested in a 34 I have one up in Gloucester that is beautifully maintained and in out of the box contition'.  He made quite the understatement there!  The 34 is a beautiful boat and we are thinking my wife will join me on the summer cruises, not to mention some other long weekend trips.

I've looked over the C34 web site, wich seems to be a great resource, and I'll be sending in my membership application shortly.