i'm not certain if my boat is backwards or just bow down, in the cradle but it's not right. this is the cradle the boat came with, from Catalina (which I just got back, after years, from a marina in Canada) but the yard I took it to, for storage, is all new people (new ownership after a bankruptcy) and the bow is down. how much damage could this cause my boat? i did put the cover on, got all the ice and water out of the cockpit, beforehand, and took a turkey baster to the front of the bilge, and took out the bilge plug out. how much possible damage could the boat, being bow down and/or backwards in the cradle, be looking at?
thanks
becki kain detroit
Pics?
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10217717478301116&set=pcb.10217717480341167&type=3&theater
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10217717477661100&set=pcb.10217717480341167&type=3&theater
i will take more today when i'm there.
Becki,
How far down is the bow and how water tight is your boat? If my boat was bow down there would be a problem with water collecting in the uncovered cockpit but I believe it would reach the rear cockpit drains before it could overrun the bulkhead and get into the interior. The rest of my boat is tight and wouldn't be an issue at whatever angle, fore or back. My boat sits in the water year round however I'd think if you couldn't store it level slightly stern down would be preferable.
it's hard to measure and hard to see in the pictures but i did get all the water out of the cockpit, at least what was there. there will be some water coming in, from the cover not being 100% solid.
Becki,
Just saw your pics, it doesn't look like much of a problem, either tell the yard guys to level it or get a couple of yard jacks and a few sheets of plywood and do it yourself if they won't.
how? and the yard is "too busy", and i'm moving next year, i guess
Remind the yard manager that if they don't get your boat stored properly then they are responsible for any resulting damage due to their improper storage. If you have a lawyer that can put that in writing that would help even more to get their attention. Good luck.
I will. I'm just bummed out they won't fix it. I don't want to move (and soon, before our river freezes)
Becki,
I agree your boats wasn't set correctly. Think Ted's suggestion to document, to the yard manager, in writing, your concerns, is excellent, even if you don't use a lawyer. Think the placement of the front pads are as much problem as being level. I would resist the urge to improve the level using the front pads, may create the infamous Catalina smile. Would also check that the yard didn't overtighten. I have seen a drawing of the cradle from Catalina. I believe it gives dimensions on setting the boat. If you can't find by searching I may have made a hard copy.
Hopefully you can check on your boat every couple of weeks during the winter and check that the cockpit isn't flooding.
Here's to a short winter,
Jim
if you have it, that would be great. and yes, i can visit every week, if i need to.
thank you
Anaisdog,
See this post on this forum from last Spring by Mas Tequila when their boat was stored bow down in their cradle. Its a sad story...
https://c34.org/bbs/index.php/topic,10190.0.html (https://c34.org/bbs/index.php/topic,10190.0.html)
Becki,
If the yard won't remedy and you don't feel comfortable making adjustments yourself the next best thing might be to tarp the cockpit. You can get an inexpensive plastic tarp from Harbor Freight large enough to cover the entire cockpit, this along with some bungee cords and some nylon line you should be able to make the cockpit relatively watertight. Next, find a new place to store your boat.
i've got a huge cover on there, its just not water tight, it's in 3 pieces from north shore canvas
Becki : Go to your owners manual page 5.2 It shows the measurements of the shipping cradle. Measure and you can confirm if the boat is? or is not? in the cradle correctly!!
The bow should be 5' 5" ground to pad and the stern should be 4' 11" ground to pad!
The bow cradle verticals are angled inward and the stern verticals are straight.
You should show the yard manager a picture of that page.
Guys: You should always keep a picture of that page onboard to show the yard - so they know where to position the lifting straps!! I have placed "lifting decals" on the hull just under the rub rail -easily done!
A few thoughts
QuoteGuys: You should always keep a picture of that page onboard to show the yard - so they know where to position the lifting straps!!
That works. Before lift out I put 10 inch long pieces of blue painters tape on the toe-rail where the lift straps should go. Four places fore aft starboard and port. It's pretty dummy proof.
Jim
I've seen boats with small "SLING" decals on the toerails. Never worried about it on mine because I stored it on jack stands.
wow! see, i just got the cradle back from the yard who was illegally keeping it so I didn't even look in that part of the manual! thank you very much. i will scan that page and include your write up and email them!
Becki
Sorry for the delay, I didn't see the pix. the c34 is not mailing me updated posts correctly and I haven't been able to fix it and webmaster hasn't responded to "help"!
I can't readily see a drastic problem in what the pix show...., but they aren't that "descriptive."
FWIW my front pads (c30) are totally on the bottom paint, not on the gel coat. I don't know about how the 34 sits????
https://groups.io/g/Catalina30/photo/63662/0?p=Created,,,50,1,0,0
Do you recall if the keel had heavier blocking under it in the past? A 6x6 or RR tie for example?
It looks to me like she might not be positioned correctly fore-aft? It's really hard to say/see - do u have any old pix that tell a story?
I wouldn't correct anything myself-because it's then your liability. But do put them on written notice, certified mail, and cc: your insurance. But also do anything you reasonably can do to prevent or minimize damage ( it's your responsibility to do so if you know of a problem.) document that to your insurance and cc the yard, certified mail.
Ken, i never had the cradle. well, i did but only for one store. the rest of the time it was illegally held by westport marina in canada.
the yard said they are fixing it and i sent them the drawing of the cradle which i didn't realize i had, again, because i never thought to look for it since i never had the cradle all these years.
what i didn't take a picture of was the over 1 inch thick sheet of ice in the cockpit
Cool, sounds like you're on the mend.
Becki,
Sounds like you found your cradle drawing and so I don't need to find mine, may have been in my owners manual.
Hope it all works out for you, you have done everything you could.
Jim
Guys : We have published owners manuals here on line. I don't believe that the cradle design change for the MkI Hulls 1986 thru 1994!!
A thought