Messages

I am getting serious about sailing my boat. Hooray I hear you all say.
Anyway, my anchor locker will not drain. There is a white tube in a recess in the bottom of the locker. I am guessing that there should be a drain cover or grille?
Is there a safe way to unblock what I assume is a tube leading to the through hull?
Thank you

Hello. Can anybody recommend a brand name for the oil to apply to unfinished teak in the cabins please?
Thank you

I also had he dreaded brown sludge. Turned out to be a leak from the hot water tank.

Sorry for this. I tried to use the email link from the "contact officers" section but that does not work.
I have lost access to tech notes despite being a member and being logged in.

Jon W. Thank you so very much for such a detailed, awesome document.
Incredibly helpful.
Thanks too for all the other contributions.

I am going to be buying 1 1/8" and 1 1/2" hose for my bilge this weekend.
Pros and cons for the different types please.
Also, is there a definitive, (as definitive gets on a forum with many obviously very independent people), answer as to whether one should use a check valve or vented loop in the case of a bilge system?

Thanks for all the advice. When I said "stripped", I meant I have used a heat gun and glass paper to remove the old finishes. I will leave the trim on the boat. I am getting new Sunbrella sail, wheel/instruments, handrails and forward hatch covers made and will leave teak in place until I am living aboard, bored next year.
I did strip the eyebrows and filled the holes with color matched resin from Catalina Direct.
(Talking about sunbrella stuff, I am also thinking about having a boom tent made until I get around to making that fiberglass dodger).

Thank you so much. I have a person urging me for them to do the work and apply cetol "before winter". At $30 per hour and no quote for the amount of time needed. I don't think so!
The link is hilarious. 
Thanks again.

I may not be able to get around to finishing my teak trim before the onset of winter. I have it stripped.
Apart from the ugliness, are there any other significant issues with leaving it naked until I am living aboard my boat next Springtime?
(A horrible question for some I am sure).

I found a well recommended marine electrician who owns a business in teh marina. He is visiting my boat for a survey on Saturday. I have asked him to look at all the wiring on the boat.
Can people remind me of some of the questions I might ask?
So far I am going to ask for inspections of and quotes for:
1) replacing engine harness
2) replacing all 110V wiring and adding additional GFCI outlets
3) replacing batteries with golf cart bank
4) adding wiring for second bilge pump
5) ensuring that all navigation lights are ABYC

There are many tasks that I feel able to tackle myself when I am not working 60 hours per week and when I am living on my boat. These include most if not all of the above.
I am a long way from being in that position.

Duh! I never claimed to be bright 

Can somebody please explain how you can determine the hatch model number? I have two on my '87 C34.

That's great Ken. Thank you so very much.
Hx?
Love the gummy bear analogy. 

@Ron: I wrote: "It seems that I was lied to by the PO, somebody I know! He said that all the critical upgrades were done including the harness and that the engine had been serviced and inspected by the local (supposedly reputable) diesel experts at the harbor".

Thank you Noah.