Messages

Susan

Just a humorous evaluation of the numbers

1989 to 2006 = 16 year old boat     3,400 engine hours divided by 16 = 212.5 hours per year

Most "normal" boats use 100 hours per year, some in the Northeast where they only sail for half a year but really get around  or those of us on the left coast who sail all year round, but maybe sail more.

However, I ended up using the boat an awful lot the past few years and have averaged 200 engine hours for the past three years.  I bought the boat in '98 with 888 hours, have 1806 now.  While that's a straight average of less than 200 per year, we used her more in the past few years than when we first started.  That's good.

5 or 6 knots at 3,400 hours is 17,000 or 20,400 miles, just short of going around the equator.

Could be a charter that was used a lot, or could be a boat owned by a retired skipper who got to use her a lot.

End result, as long as the engine was cared for and the oil changed regularly, this puppy's got a lot of life left in her.

For an '89, i would think the engine is most likely an M25XP rather than the M25.  This simply means it's a 23 HP, rather than a 21 HP, and also has two important improvements:  3 inch HX and the new alternator bracket, installed as OEM.

mst: I recommend that you check out the exact engine you have in that boat.

Important stuff at: http://c34.org/bbs/index.php?topic=2738.0

Just a reminder that stuffing box information is written up in the original C34 website home page in FAQs.  It is: http://www.c34.org/faq-pages/faq-stuffing-box.html

Additionally, after I wrote that, Gore came out with their new packing material, which can eb found at: http://www.e-marine-inc.com/products/gfopacking/packing.html

We use a halyard to pull up the dinghy to the foredeck.  To use the windlass, it appears that it would simply be a matter of running the heaving line through a tackle to get the right approach, maybe even connected to a halyard.  Plenty of ways to do it.  Sometimes we use brute force, but that's only when our son does the grunt work.   

willie

The John Gardner article in Mainsheet, referenced in one of the two posts above, has been published in the C34 Projects section on the original C34 website.  it is: http://www.c34.org/projects/projects-electrical-system-upgrade.html

I think one of the most interesting things in the article is how he analyzed his wiring and reused some of it.  Study the wiring pictures and the discussion of old and new wiring carefully.  It's very helpful and well written.  Read in conjunction with Jim Moe's excellent electrical article, they both explain about all you'll need to know about C34 electrical systems.  Jim's article is: http://www.c34.org/projects/projects-electrical-system-upgrade-2.html

If you go to the Projects page at: http://www.c34.org/projects/projects.html  you'll also find other electrical articles.

PB Blaster should be available at any hardware store.  It's in a white can, yellow top, it's spray on stuff.

willie

There are a number of good references here about maximizing your house bank when on the hook.  Here are two:

http://c34.org/bbs/index.php?t=973&highlight=calder

http://c34.org/bbs/index.php?topic=2347.0  This is a good one for you.  Also, Roc P had the same issue with his boat.

One way to get a LOT of info from this Message Board is to use the search engine.  Once you get into it, it's not that hard, because the engine shows you the sentences "around" any search word.

One of the good ones to use is "Calder" since he's referenced in MANY discussions, mostly about batteries.

Of course, as we've mentioned many times, alternators, batteries, Link 10, generator, and electrical are also good starting points.

[ENTIRE]

Roc and others who need a new bracket:

I recommend starting NOW to use PB Blaster on the bolts.  That way, when you have to remove the old one, you will have a head start on the bolts.

Also, this is yet another example of our repeated recommendation for ALL of you to read the ENTIRE Mainsheet magazine, including information about boats that are similar to ours (C30, C36, C38 - not 380 - etc.)

Jerry, you wrote: "Once this [the new bow roller] is mounted it seems center bow cleat will be useless. It will now be too far forward and I will be using the twin cleats for both mooring and anchoring."

It just occurred to me that once the anchor is down, the eisting enter cleat will still be useful, even if you have the new bow roller.  The line comes straight back from both the old and new rollers, so why turn it to go to the newer side cleats?

This post is somewhat associated with the Bow Rollers post at: http://c34.org/bbs/index.php?topic=2716.0

willie  I'm confused.  I thought the new boats came with (2) 8Ds.  If so, wouldn't combining the two OEM batteries into a house bank, and adding a separate smaller single start battery for the start bank be better by increasing the house bank capacity?

Great job.  The other question is: how are your battery banks set up?

Ron's original bow roller article is in the May 1995 Tech Notes, Online for C34 IA members, another benefit of joining the Association.

Start here: http://www.c34.org/tech-notes-index/tech-notes-index-1995.htm

Members can access the PDF article.

We keep it as simple as possible.

"There are only two simple rules on board:

1.  One hand for yourself one hand for the ship (and explain what that means)

2.  When I (we) ask you to do something, sometimes we don't have time Beforehand to explain why.  Please do so and we'll explain it afterward, but we'll always try to explain it first."


Usually works.

PS  We also never explain the head operation until someone needs to use it.  Information overload at the start of a nice sail just isn't appropriate.  Think of how you might feel (or may have felt) at first.

Vic, I agree with your concerns.  One suggestion is to call Gerry Douglas at Catalina Yachts, or Frank Butler.  Going through the dealership is like trying to get a seasick person to barf downwind, it ain't gonna happen.  many people have reported fine things about Gerry's and Frank's responses.

Please email me offline at mraquaq@aol.com.

Also, please see http://c34.org/bbs/index.php?topic=1506.0

As a new participant, also see: http://c34.org/bbs/index.php?topic=2629.0