Messages

If you are interested in getting rid of your old panel let me know.

Rod

Hi Dave

Did you sell the lazy jack?

Rod

I replaced mine with fluorescent lights that are roughly 2' long and 2" wide from Fisheries Supply in Seattle (www.fisheriessupply.com) for roughly $40 a few years ago. They are very bright.  I also added one to the aft cabin.

I am going to boat tomorrow, I will try to remember to take some photos.

The gate lifelines are eyespliced on each end. I had to buy an eye fitting to go into the pelican gate lock  that attached to the rear pulpit. I also bought small d-shackle to loop the eye and attach to the lifeline eye on stanchion.

I plan to replace the rest of my existing 21 year old vinyl stainless lifelines that have corrosion where the vinyl has stripped away with all stainless wire. The reason is that cost wise it is slightly cheaper than Amsteel, I will never have to worry about trying to keep the vinyl clean, and the stainless is virtually invisible unless you are close to the boat. In addition I do not plan to raced and not worrying about trying to minimize  the weight that the Amsteel would provide.

I will take some photos this weekend on my gate lifelines this weekend and post them.

I replaced the vinyl stainless life lines for the gates with Amsteel. I very pleased that I did that.  As you know the normal stainless life lines are not very flexible and always seem to be a challenge to get them out of the way and easy to trip over. The Amsteel lines coil up and am able to put them in sheet bag next to the gate.

I would recommend going with Amsteel or equivalent.

I am in the process of completing the upgrade to a Garhauer traveler.

I just purchased eight new 3 inch 1/4"x20 and installed them to hold down the traveler. Could have used the existing screws, but decided I wanted to have new hardware. My C34 did not have the 9" bolt and placed an order with Catalina to get them. I could not find any other sources.

I am looking forward to completing the project to go sailing with the new traveler. This one moves with minimal effort. The old Nicro took the winch to move it with a load on it.

The Universal replacement thermostat is 180 degrees while the Kubota is 160 degrees.  Universal recommends that the engine have 180 degree thermostat. 

Is there any advantage to keep the 160 thermostat or repace and increase the operating temperature to 180? 

I know on my engine the heat exchanger stays cool to the touch and not worried about salt crystallizing.

I just finished doing the documentation my self. It was not difficult. The folks that the USCG Documentation Center were helpful when I talked to them for clarification of the forms to be filled out.

The only issue that I had was getting my seller to get the right names on the USCG Documentation form which cost an extra $16 for two submittals of the sale form and the time to the wait time for them to process. They operate on a basically manual system. You can go to the documentation website and search for your boats name if previously documented and it will give you the owner history and help ensure that you have the selling owners names accurately portrayed on the sale form.

I have a Whale Gusher manual bilge pump on my boat but I am not sure what model was installed. The manufacturer is still in business and the pumps can be located at http://www.whale.ltd.uk/marine/product_list/7/ .

I just replaced my pedestal on my 1987 C34 and in my research you can use the 1.25 diameter even though I chose to stay with the 1" diameter.

You can carefully drill out the 1" holes in the Guard Plate and replace the 1" guard foot with a 1.25" guard foot. 

Hope this helps.

I just replaced the solar vent on my 1987 C34 with a new Nicro 4" 24 hour day/night solar vent. This is a 10 minute replacement.

  - Pull out the old Nicro solar vent
  - Push in the new Nicro solar vent (after the battery has been installed).
  - Test to see that fan is working properly
  - You are done!

Has anyone replaced the solar vent with an opening hatch?  If so what type did you install?

My macerator pump just failed and will need to be replaced. The pump case is rusted and I am unsure of the manufacture. If any one knows what model was installed on the 1987 boats.  I was thinking of installing Jabsco Macerator Pump. What is your opinion on the type of pump I should procure.

I am planning on taking John's advise on replacing the lower hose with ABS pipe.


Thanks

Rod Sparks

Wind Runner 
1987   Hull #291

My current pedestal guard covers the top of my compass and also planning to replace mine. I have looked at the option of replacing the 1" with 1.25" and decided against it.   I am planning to have a local fabricator construct a double bend for approx $120.  If I went with the 1.25 pipe I would have the extra expense of pedestal holder on the binacle plus new feet which would cost me close to the same price as price of a new pedestal. I will use the savings to purchase the Navpods.

My 87 did not have any electronics to speak of when I bought the boat. The new electronics today have much smaller cables and I believe that I will be able to get by with only drilling one hole into the companionway deck to pass the cables. I am planning to install Navman 5500 gps/chartplotter and the Navman 3100 sail package. In addition I will put in an autopilot head (Raymarine or Navico).

Hope this helps in your decision.

I used a competitive product, Poly Glow, on my 1977 Catalina 27 that I just sold prior to getting my Catalina 34. I put it on over two years ago and it still good. It made the C27 look 20 years newer. The gel coat would easily oxidized and would not keep a shine plus it was hard to keep clean.

It took one very long day to the whole boat including nonskid to clean and put on 4-5 coats. Just follow the directions, I was extremely happy with the results and my cleaning maintenance decreased. I was able to rinse and the dirt went away.

The nonskid was not slippery either.

I am planning to do the same to my Catalina 34.