Messages

thanks for the info guys, I did find good stuff on defender and also on JC Whitney, I got a good inexpensive plan going now

My head floresent light died, I bought a new element but it still won't come on, I removed the light fixture and was shocked how much they cost to buy, does anyone have a different approach to a light in the head? West Marine shows mine at about $127.00, the 110 fixture at walmart is only about 15 bucks, why is 12 volt so high? probably should go to LED, but they are expensive also. I did notice the light over the Fridge, has a element in it that will also work in a 110 light fixture:  evidently 110 floresencts will work in 12 volt, can anyone shed any "light" on the subject Thanks,  Bob

Thank you ken very much, exactly the answer I was fishing for, don't know why I didn't think of it myself, I guess we get got up in expensive boat stuff and forget there are alternatives.   Bob

Thank you Ron, I did check the archievs after the post, and saw that, will have to go back and check it with out it being screwed in.  Too bad it isn't a little easier to check, like on a car.    will definitly check archeives before posting from now on.  Bob

I have a m25xp, checked the transmission fluid, what a pain, dipstick comes up right under the HX, you have to pull it out with 2 fingers, (laying on your side in the back berth), by that time, the fluid is wiped of the stick, and you don't know what you got, I did get a dowle rod and marked it the same as the dip stick and was able to read the fluid, does anyone do it different? Do you check it with the cap screwed all the way in? the book says to read it at the groove in the dipstick.   Thank you  Bob

On my mast boom, I have 2 Garhauer reefing blocks, they slide on a track and have a part which goes in the holes on the slide to lock them where you want them, the part that goes in the track holes are missing, does anyone know of a fix other than buying the whole block?  Thank You, 88 catalina 34  Bob

HI, the lifeline covers on my boat are cracked and are missing pieces, does anyone know where I can get the life line vinyl covers, the ones I have are split so I can put them on over the existing life lines.  The ss  3/16" line seems fine, I am in lake superior.  Bob on "Ghostrider" Catalina 34, 1988,  Thank you

Thank you Ted and Ron, I have printed this out and will go over it with my friend.  I would have liked to send a picture but am not real computer savvey.  I did try though  Bob

Last fall while backing I hit a rock and took a chunk out of my rudder, does anyone know what the composition of the rudder is?  A friend who fixes bodys on boats will help me with the project, but he would like to know what the rudder is made off, we may have to use a insert of some sort before fiberglassing. I would like to send a picture of the damage, but I cannot figure out how to put it on here.  The damage is in the outside lower corner, kind of peeled back the fiberglass and ground up what ever was in there, thank you for your help, Bob on "ghostrider",  The boat is 160 miles from here and would like to bring what we need the first trip.

Thank you all, those are all good ideas, my boat is on the hard in a different marina at Lake superior, right now, maybe I can check a few things before putting it back in the water.  It sure felt like a 110 jolt, I have done a little wiring in my time and have been bit.  It also felt like I grabbed a spark plug on my car.  But I doubt if there is anything on the boat that could provide that many volts.  Not clear what a pushpit is Doug, I do know one thing, I don't want to feel the shock again, am going to relie on my volt tester.  Thanks guys, 3 months till summer launch.   Bob

Ron, the sailing school is over and I am at home, of course I  asked the sailing instructor, he told me to check my book when I got home, he said some manufactors list it for varying conditions.  The salesman at US Marine store said the same thing.  In the Annapolis book of seamanship,third addition, on page 258 they list a generic table of boat types for wind speed conditions and "leeway"  (thanks Stu) angle  for  if  you are on a Beat or Reach. You guys are the experts in my opinion and if it isn't published for our boats (88 Catalina with a wing keel) you guys would know it.  FYI, the course was out of Ft Lauderdale Coastal navigation (105) and  (106), Thanks for your time,   Bob

Thanks, I feel a lot better now and will do it.  How did you route the #2 cable from the upper chain plates to the bilge?  Thank you all.  Bob on "Ghostrider"

last fall, I was in my dinghy which had a wet floor, grabbed the backstay to get out and got a good jolt, any ideas why?  I was plugged into shore power.  I took my volt meter and could detect current from the back stay, I connected one end to the backstay and dropped the other into the water, the needle moved slightly. I check other boats around me, and one other boat showed the same symptom. some boats did not move the needle on the volt meter.  Last summer the boat 4 slips down got hit by lightning, the same lightning took out my battery charger.  I changed it and was back in business. I havn't noticed anything wrong with the boat except for that puzzeling current from the back stay to the water.  Any Ideas on what to check?  Thanks, the boat is on the hard right now in Bayfield WI.  Bob

Just got back from ASA sailing school, old salt instructor said our exposed keel bolts in the bilge is a perfect place to install a strap, (battery cable) or such, he said to bolt it to the mast and to one of the keel bolts. Any Ideas in this one?  thanks  Bob    34 1988 model

Just got back from asa sailing school, they talked about leeward angle when chart plotting for various wind conditions, they said it should be listed in our boat data, (catalina 34, 1988)I can't find it, any body got any ideas?