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Messages - ellispe

#31
Main Message Board / Does anyone elses rig Creak ?
February 02, 2009, 11:03:08 AM
Fellow Catalina 34 owners.

I finally sailed my recently purchased 2005 Catalina 34 home to its new birth and noticed that the rig made a strange creaking noises while under sail. Sounded like what you would hear in the movies, inside and old steel freighter. 

I have one of those in mast furlings and am not sure if that is part of the issue.  I never had a sound like this on my Catalina 30 or my Catalina 28.

Has any one else had this issue ?

Many Thanks
#32
Main Message Board / Re: Water Heater Replacement
January 28, 2009, 12:21:35 PM
See link below for a good price.

I think this is the same as the 6 gal original ones and is made by the same manufacture and seems like a good price.  Please note, that they make a 3 GAL as well, and while smaller than the original may be easier to install.  Click on the link below or paste it into your browser. For 200.00 you can't go wrong.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Seaward-Marine-Boat-Water-Heater-6gal-S600-Galvanized_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQ_trkparmsZ72Q3a1205Q7c66Q3a2Q7c65Q3a12Q7c39Q3a1Q7c240Q3a1318Q7c301Q3a0Q7c293Q3a1Q7c294Q3a50QQ_trksidZp3286Q2ec0Q2em14QQhashZitem390022037621QQitemZ390022037621QQptZBoatQ5fPartsQ5fAccessoriesQ5fGear
#33
Kind sir, I saw a slick rig on the back of a Cat 309 with a pole that ties into the backkstay. I will take a picture and drop it on this site.
#34
Main Message Board / Re: Sale advise
January 18, 2009, 10:07:39 AM
Kind Sir,

I just sold my 28 ft Catalina. Craigslist.org is a great place to start, but you may want to put it on a few of their geographic areas to get the best response. You may need to change the wordings in the descriptions a bit or they won't let you post more than 1. Try to put it in the most populated area on Craigslist. Also, if you sign up on Craigslist and create an account, it will be much easier to manage your postings and re-postings.

I also put my boat on http://www.sailboatlistings.com .  While not looked at as much as Craigslist, it is a great site and is very easy to set up your add. It is 100% free and you can put all your pictures on this site. Also, if you search google and put "sailboats FOR SALE" that is the site that will come up first.  When I did my Craigslist postings, I included a link from this site to my boat.  This was my listing  http://www.sailboatlistings.com/view/11410 . I just pasted this into my CL add and said for more info and Pictures see :... This site is great, if not for sale traffic as a place to put your pictures. If you click on the pictures at the bottom of my link you can then use your page up and down to move between pictures. It works great.

You should not have to pay to put your boat on a site. I paid for Boatrader but did not get any response.  Having said all that I finally sold my boat through a Yachtworld Listing via a broker.  For whatever reason the person who purchased my boat never looked online at Craigslist or other sites. That was at least until they were looking for comps to use to bargain my price down.  Be sure to search yourself to see what the other boats equipted like yours are going for. This will help if somone trys to get you down on price.

I just purchased my 2005 Catalina 34, 4 weeks ago, so people are still buying.

Good luck with your sale.
#35
Quote from: Ron Hill on January 09, 2009, 06:52:47 PM
So don't belittle a boat that doesn't meet your expectations, all because you made an inappropriate/hasty/what ever - decision. 

Now Ron,

I do love Catalina’s and have owned them exclusively since 1989. This is my third.  Many of the other members shared my feelings regarding some of the things that I initially noticed after my first night on the boat.

What C34 owner would complain if Catalina put more head or leg height in the aft birth? My boat came with a spring mattress that Is 3 or 4 inches thicker than the foam mattress that most people have, so I even have significantly less room than others.  Even Catalina finally figured that one out,  as on the new modes the mattress is ½ as thick. 

The salon table mechanism that I have is the solid internal rod and not the hydraulic version that you can push down.  You have to actually remove the entire table from its post, remove a steel rod and get it back in and push it down,. I can honestly say that the thing is a piece of  %$#@, and the fact that I have to remove all the heavy cushions (newer models have particle board built into the bottom of the dinette cushions) is criminal,. It literally took three people to manhandle the table out and back in.

My boat is 3 years old and the fake Wood Floor is already peeling. Don’t get me wrong, I love Catalina’s but let’s just say I think that someone over there, at least for my year was sleeping. Why put a crappy RV table base in a boat that cost $150,00.00. What I think happened, was all the good folks went to Florida to set up there new factory.

Remember, I never dissed the boat, or said bad things about it, was simply trying to get some vaidation that I was not the only one who noticed theses things. I feel its important that we at least recognize the shortcomings and dialog about the ways to mitigate them. That’s how we made America great, innovation and learning to turn adversity to our advantage. The fine folks on this site have already provided me with great incites to how I can resolve many of my concerns.

Like any good relationship learning to love a boat takes time, lets just say, I have a bad first date.

Many Thanks for the support

Peter
#36
I know that at this point I have still not actually sailed my new boat, but in preparation for that first long sail to Catalina Island, I was pondering the future purchase of an auto-pilot.

I have seen on other boats Auto-pilots with the rings and pulley's attached to the wheels and I have also seen people who had the mechanism used to turn the wheel mounted below deck.   If possible I would like a Ray Marine display on the topside, but would like top have the mechinisims to turn the wheel mounted below the deck.

If anyone has done this, or if anyone knows of any great autopilots I would appreciate if you could share the model numbers and descriptions

Many Thanks

Peter
#37
Quote from: Jon Schneider on January 08, 2009, 08:05:54 AM
And, Peter (and all who haven't already), don't forget to join the C34 International Association in order to support this "free" (to you, not to the Association) site and receive Mainsheet magazine.  At $25/year ($45 for two years), the ideas you'll get may even save you enough to buy back one of your kidneys ;)

John,

45 bucks for two year is a bargin !. Its the best money I will ever spend on my boat.
Well, its 1AM in California and as seen in this recent picture I just said goodby to my caT 28.  Capt Lumpy is sleeping on it now in my slip and taking it about 70 miles to the new owner early in the morning. I sure hope he makes it. 


Thanks for all the help.
#38
Quote from: Jon Schneider on January 07, 2009, 07:25:39 PM
Peter, you seem pretty focused on the fridge.  If you're simply wondering why CY hasn't adopted a more contemporary galley configuration, the answer is that the C34 was designed in 1982-83, and then it was marginally enhanced (IMO) in the Mk II in 1994.  IOW, it's an old (I would say classic) design.

Jon,

I have to say the lines of the boat were hard to resist. She is so sexy from the outside that I just had to own one.  I guess my hangups on the fridge are due to my love of hanging out for  long weekends  with friends at Catalina Island in California. We eat and drink a lot. I think the Ice Chest for the drinks  will have to suffice and as I mentioned, I should  actuallly leave the dock and head to the Island for a weekend to see how the food storage and refrideration works out. I guess if I really feel that I need more space I could swap out the Oven for a frontloading fridge.

PS that Table looks HOT !. Thats going to be my first project.
#39
I had the table with the Ridged rod in it. Must be the same kind you have. On New years when I spent my first night, the rod was rusted and would not come out. It was 11:30 PM new years and I am running around the dock looking for someone to lend me a pair of heavy duty channel locks. I should have been looking for beers.  With that and a socket wrench I was finally able to get the rod out and lower the table.

Even with all that it still took a few people to jiggle and wiggle the table just to get it out and in. I looked online and saw some fancy stainless telescoping gas filled pedestals but they were all from Europe. I am sure they cost a bunch. The pictures you all sent of your tables are great and will give me some ideas for mine.

Not to bitch again about the Ice Boxes, but I just don't get it. The 309 the 310, the 320 have at least two, some three and some even have an additional upright fridge. The 36 also has ample boxes. I keep having this dream that there was another Icebox and I just did not see it. Guess I better go back to bed.

So... Tomorrow they take my 28 away and thus open the door for me to move my new boat in. I still am not sure what the LOA is as I keep seeing different numbers on different websites.  So the fun will continue.

Thanks again for all your help
Peter
#40
Jon, Waterdog, Rick, and Stu, I have to say that you hart felt and knowledgeable responses have made my day. I now feel that I am not alone in this quest and feel honored that you have graciously accepted me into your Catalina 34 sailing community.  I will diligently look at all of your recommendations.

I love Catalina's and owned a 30 for 12 years and have had my 28 for 3 ½ Years. I do not think I have had enough time to bond with my new boat as is still at another harbor port as I just sold my Catalina 28 last weekend and are waiting to have that boat moved to its new owner before I can move my new boat to my slip.  The word is not out yet on weather my new boat will fit in my slip as it's officially a bit big for the marina's hang over policy.

Looking forward to many more online engagements with you all.

Peter
#41
I just purchased a 2005 Catalina 34 and spent my first day and night (new years eve) on the boat. Unfortunately what I thought would be a great adventure turned out to be an uncomfortable stay.  Now I am having second thoughts and need your help.

First, thing I noticed when I brought my groceries in was that there was no real storage in the Ice Box to store anything of substance. I looked at a Catalina 32 and it had 3 ice boxes !.  I though, my boat is bigger it should have more storage. 

The next thing was the dinette table. I am not large, but I could barley squeeze in-between the tabletop and the cushions.  When it was bed time the frustration continued when I tried to convert the dinette table into a bed. I had to remove all the cushions from the settee (what a pain)  to  put the table down and that was only after I had to manhandle the table out of its base to remove the center pole that was rusted into its base. Surely their must be a better solution for this.

Once I had the dinette bed set up I moved towards the ¼ birth. The headroom was so low in there that there was barely enough room for my 5 year old. I am only 5-9 and I can not even put my knees up without hitting the ceiling. Again, not to harp on the 32, but the ¼ birth in the 32 seemed like the penthouse suite compared to the ¼ birth on the 34, and my previous boat a Catalina 28 also had more room.  Now I have to admit, I did notice this before I purchased the boat but it did not really hit me till I spent the night on the boat.

And last but not least the v-birth.  First, has anyone had issues with the mattress insert in the front of the V-birth falling to the floor? This happened to me a few time during the night. Another thing I noticed was that I was unable that unlike my Old Catalina 30 or my previous boat a Catalina 28, I was unable to sit up in the V-Birth and read with my back to the wall.

So... Having said all that, I know I have not actually sailed my boat with the exception of the Sea Trial, but on-board comfort is important too.  I just sold my Kidney's to purchase this boat, and what I would like to ask you fine Catalina 34 Owners is... What are some of the good points this fine boat that I may have not noticed in my day on the boat that puts this boat as a better choice over a Catalina 32 or 36.

Many Thanks

Peter