Messages

I have bought a couple of the Garhauer #40 light ball bearing long shackle blocks for my boat and love them. I will probable replace all the turning blocks with the Garhauer SL blocks eventually. The #30 are probably adequate but the #40 are very rugged. They have a 5/8" schackle with a 1/4" pin for mounting. I also replaced my dual deck organizer with a quad (fits the same holes as the dual. I had UK replace the slugs on the main and can easily raise the main from the cockpit without using a winch. There's virtually no friction in the system. For a 34, I think batcars just add weight and cost.Call Guido at Garhauer. He's always been happy to take my money. Ph 909-985-9993

I would like to hear from other C34s doing the Newport to Ensenada Race. We may not be able to get a class start but I would still like to learn of others in the race. I have raced cruising geneker the last 2 years and am considering PHRF this year.

Ron,
I added a spinnaker block at the top of the mast which is forward of the forestay. This required adding a spinnaker crane (bail) to attach the block. However, Roger on Blue Goose flies his gennaker from his spare jib halyard. My solution may have the advantage of a longer luff but his is certainly easier to jibe since the tack does not need to go around the forestay. He can tack and jibe just like it were a jib. For cruising, this is definitely the easier handling solution.

Roger also has a pair of standup swivel blocks on his outside track which seem to be the ideal sheet block solution.

The tack has been the most difficult part IMHO. I run a line under the bow roller straight back to the secondary winch on the port side with a padeye on the cabin top to keep it from interferring with the forward hatch. This works OK but often jumps off the roller. An adjustable tack is needed for best performance. When running deep, a long tack line (tack about 6' high) will allow the luff of spinnaker to actually move to the weather side. (As Roger tacks inside the forestay, I don't believe he can run as deep.) A short tack line will allow the gennaker to point rather well to weather and stablizes the sail in rough seas. The Catalina 36, Everfit, has the best setup for the tack I've seen. They have a block and tackle between a padeye on the foredeck and the tack line. The line is led back to a port side clutch. I'm going to work up a similar rig for my boat. If you're interested, I'll post a sketch.

Bill

All C34 owners in town for the San Diego Boatshow on January 3-6 are welcome to attend the San Diego Catalina Association meeting at 7:30 PM on thursday the 3rd at Southwestern Yacht Club. SDCA is a "All Catalina" association and I would like to get an active C34 fleet within SDCA. Our speaker is Mat Bryant of UK sails. Come early and join me for dinner at the club.

SchatzSea is a 1990 model, hull no 1031 and has the 30 hp M35 which was optional that year. I have cruised to Catalina with another C34 with the M25 engine and he had plenty of power for 6.5+ kts. I regularly cruise at 6.7 to 7 knots and top is somewhat above 7 kts so the smooth water performance is small. If considering a M25, I'd listen to the advice on the board from owners. They seem satisfied with it and the 3-bladed prop. And there's over 10 years of boats with M35s available so you have your choice.
Good luck!

Min broke about 2 weeks ago. Both of the roll pins connecting the pinch roller to the shaft sheared. I drilled out the pins and replaced them. The most difficult problem was finding 1/8" roll pins. I did not not find a pin long enough for the lever which must be removed to reassemble the roller. When I pressed it out it was also in 2 parts about to fail. Now, it's just a pressed in metal rod fabricated from a stainless nail.

The SoCal PHRF rating is 150. San Diego (Area G) has a 3 sec allowance (153). The C34 is very competitive with the C36 but in this area, we rarely have enough wind to beat a C30 with it's 192 (Area G 198) rating. I've only been successful correcting against C30's in high winds. The C34 really does well when the winds pick up but in really light winds it not only fails to correct but is slower. From a handling point of view, I certainly wouldn't consider it below a C30 or C36.

I'm adding a spinnaker pole and need input on the fore deck structure and mounting a padeye for to attach the fore guy. Is the fore deck thick enough to use screws or should it be thru bolted? Is there a gap between the deck and the liner if there is a liner overhead in the fore peak?

I did not get an email reply so I called Vetus. I spoke to Leo and asked him about the recommended mount. I told him about the FAQs and experiences with the K50 mount.He said that if I want to reduce the fore/aft movement, go to the stiffer mount. He said he had recently received other inquiries similar to mine and said if the Vetus equation indicated a higher mount for the M35 engine, I should use it.

Here's my calculations:
Eng   Lbs   HP   ratio   RPMs   ft   Max Load
                  
M25   285   20   1.8   800   1.67   141.13
M25XP   285   23   1.8   800   1.67   151.61
M35   335   30   1.8   800   1.67   188.56

It looks like all exceed the Max load for the K50 (112) and the M35 exceed the Max load for the K75 (178) but is within limits for the K100 (224). I'm leaning toward a compromise on the K75 since everyone reports favorably on the K50 except for idle viberation.

I've just reread the FAQ on changing motor mounts and have a couple of questions. I'm especially interested in results by owners of M35 engines. The Vetus K50 seems to be the choice but considering comments about engine movement and idle vibration, would you reconsider using the K75 mount which has a hardness of 55 vs 45. My calculations (from Vetus's equation) indicate that it exceed the minimum load specified for the K75. With the K50, it sounds like a flexible shaft coupling would be a requirement. BTW, the FAQ on this subject is GREAT!

At risk of starting a battle and contrary to what Larry Calfee says, the forward berth is most confortable. However, I agree that the worst problem with the aft berth is bumping one's head. Unfortunately, I usually wear a cap on the boat which restrict my upward vision, so it's the cap's fault that I always bump my head entering the aft berth. But the berth is huge and, except for inflicting brain damage, is very good for a 34' boat. Give it a try, then use the v-berth.

George Sedgwick
SchatzSea #1031

David,

I saw some caps at Horizon Marine recently. You should give them a try.