Reefing point and head question

[Sailor Vic]

Hi All,

I just took possession of my new 2005 Catalina 34 wing keel in Alameda, California (purchased through Farallone) and so will mainly be sailing my boat in the San Francisco Bay area.

I have two questions:

I was very surprised to find that (unlike my Catalina 250wk) the main sail didn't come with a second reefing point. It only came with one reef point.

If you were I, and mainly sailing in the S.F. Bay, would you go through the hassle and get/pay to have a 2nd reef installed?

2nd  Question:

My head/toilet will not fill with water at all. When I have the lever down it flushes fine. When I have the lever up it will put some water into the bowl but never more than 1/2" or so. The only way that I can fill the bowl with 3 inches of water is to add water with a cup, etc.

Is this normal?


Vic Makau
Letting Go #1688
Alameda, Calif
Oakland Yacht Club
(home is 3 hours away in Chico, California)

[Stu Jackson]

Vic

I have been sailing the Bay in our C22, C25 and C34 for 20 years and only once have I even considered putting in a second reef.  Of course, it all depends on what you want to use the boat for.  The second reef should have been an option during your ordering process.  You could live without it even here.  Also depends on what size jib you have.  Anything over a 130 is gonna cause you lots of grief (unless it's winter with no wind).

Head:  are both valves open (i.e., intake under the head sink, AND into the holding tank)?  If not, nothin' happens.

Our boat is in Alameda at Grand Marina.  Call me if you need any help.

Congratulations on your new boat.

[Sailor Vic]

Thanks Stu for your advice.

Guess for now I'll "live with" the one reefing point.

--------------

Yes, I have both of the valves open. Both the intake and the discharge.

I can get water going into the toilet.......but as I pump water in, it just will leave while replenishing with more water.

The bowl simply will not fill at all and that doesn't make any sense to me and doesn't seem ideal.

The only way that I have found to be able to fill the bowl is to not pump the toilet and just add water with a cup.

The toilet does flush.

Using it with #1 (urine) it's not a problem but when going #2 I would like to have some water "standing" in the bowl and I can not do that currently with this new toilet.  I have to physically add water with a cup.

The toilet does "wet" and does get water into it, but it just won't fill with water no matter how long that I pump water into it.

Just as much water leaves as that goes into the toilet.

I called the toilet manufacturer but whomever answered (at their "help line") didn't appear to know much......(like she was reading from a script)....and she told me that all was "fine" and that the toilet is just fine the way that it is and that it isn't supposed to be able to fill with water, even if I want it to.

Yet their literature says "wet or fill" the bowl.

It's the first marine toilet that I have ever seen that won't fill with water if you want it to.

I just can't believe that I have to add water with a cup if I want it to fill the bowl a little with water.

Vic

[patrick]

On my toilet you pump until you start getting water, stop pumping and water will continue to flow when the water gets to the level you want close the valve or it will continue until it overflows

[APACHE]

Vic : On reef points: I've found that on a single reef point main, that that reef point is about half way between where the 1st and 2nd reef points are on that same sail.  So if you add another reef point to yours it might really be up there.
      Head flush: With a Jabco head - With the lever in "wetbowl" you can normally only get about 3-4" of water in the bowl while you are flushing.  The in "drybowl" it should evacuate the bowl down to about 1 " of water.   As previously mentioned, make sure that you head water intake thru hull is all the way open and the hose is clear of debris.  

[Stu Jackson]

Vic

Patrick's right, just be patient and it will fill, but it sure ain't your household WC.  It's a boat.  If you need to, and you sound like you will from your description, just fill it up as high as you need with the head sink faucet.

Stu

[dave davis]

Hi Saylor Vic
I'm staying clear of the head question, but i do have an interest in the reef points. I also call SF Bay my home sailing area. I only have one reef which has been quite successful for the last 16 years. The key to fun sailing here in SF is that you need to have a smaller jib that the factory list in their brochure. They list a 135%, but Farallones knows better and usually orders a smaller jib, like a 120%. They have been told many times that the local fleet limits the jib to a 130% max for class racing.
Good luck, Join  Fleet 1, we would love to have you and your new boat.  

[Sailor Vic]

Thanks all for all of your input.

I will join Fleet 1.

As far as my toilet......having been a plumbing contractor, college plumbing instructor, plumbing wholesaler and now the largest Internet plumbing supplier for nearly ten years I can tell you that I do know "a little" about plumbing, (regular) toilets, piping and valves.

I also have a lot of patience when it comes to waiting for my toilet to fill.

     

Believe me, it simply won't fill more than 1/2 an inch.

It probably is something simple but so far as I can tell,  no one has been able to tell me what is wrong. :)

Stu, dave, and all, I'd love to buy you all a beer/scotch/drink/breakfast/lunch/dinner/ or whatever is your fancy........this Friday afternoon after 4pm or Saturday, Sep. 25th...I'm just a short drive or cruise away.

Would love to show you my new toy (and my malfunctioning head)..

Slip 512 Oakland Yacht Club


Thanks,

Vic
Letting Go #1688
:)

[Sailor Vic]

Maybe Patrick gave me a/the clue.

It sounds like after he pumps his inlet water, his head water will syphon into the bowl?

Possibly my tubing, etc has an airleak or was never primed properly?

Think that's possibly the problem?

[Roc]

Vic,
What kind of toilet do you have??  Is it a manual Jabsco??

[Sailor Vic]

It's a Headmate Marine Toilet #1460

Made by Wilcox Crittenden

According to their website (http://www.wilcoxcrittenden.com/) "Thetford Corporation acquired Wilcox Crittenden in 2003"

http://www.wilcoxcrittenden.com/sanitation/manual/head-mate.asp?bid=

[Stu Jackson]

Vic call me tonight.  510-208-1906

[APACHE]

Vic : I re-looked and see that you have a fairly new MKII.  If you inflow water line is clear, I suspect that you have a problem with the "anti-siphon" valve.  

[Sailor Vic]

To all,

Just to keep you all informed, I called Stu and he is awesome and is coming to my boat tomorrow and will look at my head and give me his advice and experience.

This is an amazingly wonderful site.

Thank you Stu and all.

I look forward to reciprocating and to being a contributing member for a long time.

Vic

[hdevera]

Vic,

Let us know the outcome.  I am curious as to what the problem really is.  Thanks.