Messages

Hi Tim,
I have no experience with your M-25XP, but I had a 6 HP single cylinder diesel on my previous 27' boat.  I could hand crank it but it was a lot of work.  I would doubt that you could hand crank a 4 cylinder engine.  Just my opinion.

Jack

Thanks for all the input guys.  I am very concernd about running a generator in an isolated anchorage, as I know how it irritates me!  We have been out up to a week running everything and did not run the battery's down.  I have never run the engine just to charge battery's.  I get what I have needed with just moving the boat when there is no wind, but am not sure that will be sufficient when out for a month or so.  My tender is oar power only so I don't have to carry a second fuel type yet.  Having that hot shower first thing in the morning sounds great though.

Does anyone out there carry a small portable ultra quiet generator like the Honda?  Are they really quiet as advertised so as not to disturb your neighbor while at anchor?   We plan to cruse Desolation Sound for at least a month next summer and generally don't plug in to docks when we are out.  Is this a more efficient way to recharge batteries rather than running the diesel?  If you carry one do you get more use than simply emergency power or battery recharging?

I have never drained anything in the engine or added antifreeze to the saltwater side of the cooling system.   I know salt water can freeze but at a lower temperature so that is why I have not been too concerned.  We use the boat on many winter weekends, enjoying "our cabin on the water" even if we don't leave the dock.  Keeping the engine ready to go allows me to run it for few minutes every time we are there to keep oil circulated which I understand is good for the seals throughout the engine and transmission.

I have a deep appreciation for all of the owners who have to put their boat on the hard every year and really take care of all these things.

Seems appropriate we all get together when we get sailing in the spring.

Ray,
I just noticed you are in Laconner Wa.  We keep our boat in Skyline Marina in Anacortes.  I have never worried much about winterizing as the water we sit in is usually about 43-45 degrees.  I usually run the water out of the freshwater system but that may or may not empty the hot water tank.  I also keep an electric heater with the thermostat set at 38 degrees pointed at the engine compartment with the door open so it will blow warm air in there if the temperature drops.  I have never thought that the heat exchanger or the muffler water could get cold enough to freeze with this setup.  I also keep a couple of dehumidifier fans that put out a small amount of heat going continuously.  So far I have had no troubles, but maybe I am just lucky.

Have you ever had problems in your location?

Randy,

Have been watching reading your reports with interest.  Looks like a lot of work but seems like you are well into it.  We have our C34 on B dock in skyline.  Will look you up the next time we up at the boat.  We live in Redmond but still get to the boat every couple of weeks in the winter.  It will be nice to have another C34 in the neighborhood.  Maybe we can start our own fleet!

We sail the San Juans regularly and are planning a trip to Desolation Sound next summer.  We have the best cruising grounds in the world, you just have to get used to the cold water.

Jack

Thanks Ron, I knew I had seen that somewhere.

I will be pulling our boat for  new bottom paint this weekend.  I have heard that this is a good time to lubricate the thru hulls from the outside.  What should I use and how easy is it to get it up in there?  Going to install that zinc on the strut at the same time.

My diver notified me that its time for bottom paint and that there is noticable corrosion on the strut.  He suggested that a hole be drilled in the strut and a zinc added there.  is thois recommended?  I have never seen any discussion on the board of anyone doing this.  I plan to haul the boat next week for paint, so this would be a good time to add this.  Thanks in advance.

John, we regularly cruse the San Juan Islands as we keep our boat in Anacortes.  We will look for you when we are out there.  We had a great 4th of July weekend, perfect weather and good wind.  Enjoy your trip.
Jack and Ruthie, Mariah lll, #1555

Thanks for the input all.  Is the price about the same for either manufacturer?  The cost of not having to get a line up through the mast will probably offset the initial cost of the unit. I am also assuming that the solar unit will keep charged here in the sometimes cloudy northwest, a price we have to pay for being able to keep our boats in the water all year and sneak in a sail now and then!  Would not worry about that radio interfearing with wind data.  Your either sailing or talking, right?
Jack

Has anyone out there tried wireless instruments?  I need to install wind speed indicator on the masthead and would prefer not to have to run the wiring as I have a deck stepped mast.  Are they reliable, a good value, etc., or is it better to stay with tried and true?

Seems as though Catalina may have an idea as to what causes the problem if they have replaced hatches in the past.  I am way out of warrenty now, so plan to pull the screws on the cover this spring and see if I can figure out what the cause is and hopefully correct it.  We have a dodger that was installed when we bought the boat new, so I don't think that has anything to do with sunlight etc.

I have the same problem with my hatch on Mariah lll hull #1555. Opening from outside is not too much of a problem, but inside can be a bear.  My hatch is the solid fiberglass with the plexiglas insert.  I have noticed that if you pull only on the very left side of the hatch from inside (starboard side of the boat) it opens better.  Pull any other place and it sticks.  Could be a problem in the dark in an emergency.  I assume it is one of the back corners binding on something

Hal,
This sounds exactly like what my transmission was doing.  The dealer could not get it fixed with adjusting or any other thing they tried.  It was replaced under warrenty