Menu

Show posts

This section allows you to view all posts made by this member. Note that you can only see posts made in areas you currently have access to.

Show posts Menu

Messages - KenAyer

#1
Main Message Board / Reef lines jammed
November 09, 2015, 09:25:32 PM
I have a 2002 Catalina 34 with a 2 reef line main sail.  The reef lines tend to jam when raising the mainsail.  The lines appear free of clutches, etc., but the mainsail is still really hard to raise, even though we're straight in to the wind.  Any help?  I think the turn blocks in the boom need to be lubricated, but don't know how to access them. Just spraying graphite doesn't do it.
#2
Can anyone tell me how to rig the second reef line inside the boom of a 2002 C34 MK II?  The specs show that the blocks are pre-installed in the boom, but how do you lead the line around the blocks?  I'm having a new main sail made and want to be sure it's installed correctly.
#3
Fleet 1 / c34 MKII for sale?
February 13, 2012, 09:45:45 AM
I got a phone call from a fellow in Vancouver who wants to know if there's a Catalina 34 MK II, vintage around 2000, for sale.  Anyone interested?  Please reply to KenAyer@comcast.net
#4
Main Message Board / Re: Battery ratings MCA
August 16, 2008, 08:31:47 PM
Thank you all for your advice.  I found a great article at http://jeanneau.tripod.com/id295.htm that shed more light on the subject, indicating especially what various systems might draw in amps.  I can recommend it highly.  Amongst other things, it points out the the fridge is the main draw.   For day sailing or port to port, this is easy - charge up on shore power, prechill stuff, and worry not.  The occasional couple of days on the hook that we seldom do isn't a problem generally in the S.F. Bay Area where temps are more likely to be in the 70s summer and lower in the "winter".  (We don't have one of those by Midwest or Northeast Coast standards.)  Our air conditioning is AKA the Pacific Ocean, not the Carribean/Gulf Stream.    

I also decided that the "best" thing was to replace the 2 4D batteries that came with the boat (a 2002 C34 MKII) originally.  This meant no rewiring or other switching was necessary.  I also learned that I was measuring the battery's physical size in the wrong way - I was taking the measurements of the footprint and the advertised dimensions were max external measurements, which makes a big difference in terms of the height (box vs terminals) especially.  

I wound up buying them at American Battery in Hayward, CA, as recommended, and was astounded by the price difference - $142 each vs West Marine's $275.

As to the other issue raised on this thread, red wine should generally be served at about 60 - 65 degrees, which can be achieved quickly here in a bucket of water drawn over the side if the air temp is too high - like 70 - 75.  Beer should be prechilled, unless it's good British beer, which should be served about the same temp as the wine.  After sailing, on the hook, decent scotch doesn't need ice or chilled water.  Rum should be served British style with a bit of lime, sugar and water, the original cocktail.  Stuff like white wine, vodka, gin and such should be prechilled or left to the ingenuity of those who drink such stuff.  Water, actually, is best around 65, too.    

Thanks again

 
#5
Main Message Board / Battery ratings MCA
August 13, 2008, 02:48:35 PM
I need to replace the 2 Exide Nautilus 4D (?) batterries in my 2002 C34 MKII.  The originals say they are "1400 MCA and have 400 minute reserve power" & are "dual starting/deep cycle".  The current replacements from Exide wouldn't fit the available space.  It seems like the originals were much more powerful than is necessary.  Posts under "batteries" don't list the MCA, which I thought was the critical number for starting power.  Would 2 Group 27 (745 MCA) or Group 24 (650 MCA) work OK?  I do mostly day sailing and occasional cruising on San Francisco Bay, so don't lay up for the winter.