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If you do put a battery in the port cockpit locker be sure to tie it down. The boat I just bought had a battery in that location but no tie downs. It is also a pain to water the battery if you don't make it easy to get at. It is on my list to relocate to a better location.

Mark Tamblyn

Thank you everyone for the input.
It looks like I will make the drive to Norfolk. I learned from another source that was the place. Two cylinders is the way to go by the sounds of things if I do the refill in the off season then it isn't a problem. In the summertime it can me an awful drive across the bridge tunnel to Norfolk with hour long backups. Glad I don't have that drive too often.

Mark Tamblyn

Despite the fact that CNG is a good fuel and the system I have works I am considering a switch to LPG. The reason is the lack of filling stations or exchange locations. My boat is located in Gloucester VA and I drive from Charlottesville VA where we live. A location that is open Friday evening or Sunday evening anywhere along the route would be ideal.

The only one that might be an option is in Newport News. Does anyone fill their cylinder there using the adapter?
What have other folks done in my position?

Mark Tamblyn

Obtaining a replacement raw water pump is on my list for the immediate future. What part did you buy and how much did it cost? My engine has the sherwood pump which looks ok but I don't much care for the design. Add to that my recent experience with a failed circulating pump and I'm eager to get a replacement.

I'm sure the info is in the history somewhere but I can't find something to hang my hat on and say this is the part for my engine.

Mark Tamblyn
1987 C34 #326 Alena

My engine is an M25 also known as a Kubota D850 when you are buying your new water pump from edi distributors.

The replacement water pump was less than $100 (fresh water / circulating pump)  www.edi-dist.com. They were the cheapest source we found for Kubota parts and they had the part shipped to us overnight.

Mark Tamblyn

After some challenges our new boat is now tied up on the Potomac at a friend's dock and only an easy weekend sail from her final home at Gloucester Point VA.

Lessons Learned:
Buy a Fresh Water Pump and a Raw Water Pump as spares. You will need them one day so buy them now.
Expect engine water hoses to fail and watch the temp gauge. (A water hose failed near the water heater failed and we lost our fresh water circulating pump too)
Check out your sails and lines before getting into high winds. There were no reefing lines rigged on our main though all the hardware was there to do the job.
Buy gloves for handling the lines
Buy a new battery unless you know absolutely that the battery is good.
Bring metric tools for the engine, feeler gauges to check the alignment
volt meter
soldering iron and solder along with misc connectors and ends for wire, wire strippers and crimp tool.
wire for connecting new required accessories (12V lighter plug and galley light)
trickle charger (in case of battery charger failure)
Be sure your ground tackle is up to snuff and have a backup anchor. (we used both anchors when we anchored with no engine)
Bring a dinghy and outboard
A 15A to 30A adapter plug is very useful when getting power to a boat on the hard as is a long extension cord.
A plug in anchor light like a Davis light is a very useful accessory
Paper charts and electronic charts (I have Sea Clear and NOAA charts on my laptop)
101 sealant, sail lube, ptfe for the zippers, cordage for tying up things, simple green, 409 cleaner, head lube etc etc
A propane heater for this time of year is essential
Down sleeping bag

There is much more but the important thing is to not go to sea with a tight schedule and with a bad weather forecast. We were careful of when we were on the bay and so when we ran into trouble it was not a big deal to sail to an anchorage or put up sails while troubleshooting the engine. Having enough hands with some experience helps an awful lot too.

Mark & Annette Tamblyn
1987 Catalina34 #326 Alena
Gloucester Point VA

Useful advice. I will make sure I have a spare racor element I would likely have missed that and I've just now found the instructions on changing it. I have the manuals printed and I expect to have lots of tools spare belt, spare raw water impeller, new battery plus a second in case of issues. I guess I should figure out what parts I need for the head in case that is a problem. My wife and kids will be part of this adventure after the initial shake down and I don't want them to suffer the indignity of the bucket.

It is a week before our departure so if anyone else has any thoughts please chime in.

Mark Tamblyn

In the first week of April I will be delivering my new boat down the Chesapeake Bay from Baltimore to Gloucester Point VA. The boat is a 1988 model #326. The previous owners had the boat two years and it almost never left the dock so it comes with nothing extra in the way of spare parts. I figure I need some basic spare parts for the engine, impeller, belt, fluids, etc. The question is what things would I be well advised to have that I might not know about already. This isn't my first boat so I'm well aware of the concerns of picking weather windows for making the trip at this time of year. I was on the bay on Sunday delivering my old boat to it's new home. The weather was beautiful but the wind off the water in March is still VERY cold.

She also has a spinnaker pole and halyards etc to fly the spinnaker just no sail.

Mark Tamblyn
Alena #326