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Messages - Joe Kern

#2
Main Message Board / Re: C34IA fleet formation
August 29, 2013, 07:07:27 AM
...and congratulations to Bob on being elected our first Commodore and a thank you for all his hard work on getting this off the ground.
#3
Main Message Board / REPLACING SHOREPOWER CABLE
August 28, 2013, 09:51:43 AM
I did not find a prior thread on this topic so thought I would share this disaster avoided.

Just thought I would share that I went  to my boat this weekend and found that my shore power cable (on the boat end) had melted and probably was on fire/smoldering at some point before the circuit breaker tripped.  Some fiberglass damage but so far no apparent damage in the boat.   I have replaced the cord but did not leave the power on this time.  I am also going to replace the receptacle on the boat.  I don't have a picture of the boat side, but have attached a picture showing the cord side.   Might be a good time to remind everyone  to check and possibly replace their shore power cord sets.  Mine was probably 6-8 years old and although it looked fine probably had some internal damage that started the process.  Obviously It could have been much worse.  Based on conversations in my marina, a majority of folks never even think of this and there are some really old cord sets out there.  I suspect based on the panicked looks on peoples faces, there will be a run on new sets from the local West Marine.


I have ignored the issue of leaving the power on as there are plenty of threads on that topic!

Joe
#4
Fleet 14 / Re: A name for Fleet 14
July 19, 2013, 01:26:42 PM
Bob- I am admittedly biased as a central Florida hanger on but I prefer the east coast version.  Having the geographic reference probably makes sense for prospective members to find us online and on the forum. There is no florida east coast fleet at all right now so take the whole east coast and if it grows it can be divided up and the names modified.  Just a thought and I am ok with any of the names
#5
Main Message Board / Re: Dinghy Davit Idea
April 02, 2013, 07:39:53 AM
Final part of the project was adding interior lift rings to my Airdeck floor dinghy.   
#6
Main Message Board / Re: C34 Slip consideration
April 01, 2013, 06:15:00 AM
I think it is pretty tight but if I was going to do it I would go stern-to.  I would back from the bottom of the picture straight back and then use the prop walk and rudder to back the stern and make an almost 90 degree turn to port into the slip.   Leaving the slip would be easy as long as the wind was not driving you hard into the finger pier.  I would be concerned about backing out of that slip if docked bow in as it looks pretty tight to back hard to port and backing straight out or slightly to starboard is always a challenge due to the prop walk.
#7
So where does SE Florida end on the northern side? 

Signed,

A man without a fleet  8)
#8
Can't help you with the jerry cans but I would not worry about pouring from one if you just get one of these.  Best $10 I ever spent

http://www.amazon.com/Triple-Seven-Safety-Siphon-Priming/dp/B000BG1X54

#9
Main Message Board / Re: USA's AC 72 short video
March 20, 2013, 05:35:08 AM
Can't tell you how jealous I am of you folks who have them sailing in your home waters.   Must be amazing to see a sailboat fly by you at 30 knots.
#10
Main Message Board / Re: Stern cleats for Mk II
March 18, 2013, 04:18:52 PM
I installed my stern rail extra supports (for the davit install) on the flat surface of those seats.   Plenty of room underneath to get in and secure a backing plate.   Not the thickest fiberglass on the boat so I would be a little nervous using them to secure an anchor.  Also, would need to be pretty close to the edge to avoid the line rubbing.
#11
Main Message Board / Re: TV coAX cable Help please
February 28, 2013, 07:47:39 AM
In just ran a cable back to port storage seat area.  When I need cable i just attach a cable to the line that site in the locker and run that to the dock .  The locker closes with the cable running out of it and the connector is inside so no weather issues.  Not very fancy but it works, costs almost nothing and does not result in another connector plate on my already crowded stern.
#12
Main Message Board / Re: Dinghy Davit Idea
January 30, 2013, 12:20:57 PM
I will take  a few more and send them your way this weekend. 

This is the email follow-up I had with Mark on the order which gave him the measurements he built to.


Mark:

Nice speaking with you at St Pete Boat show.
As we discussed I went and measured my 2005 Catalina 34 MKII for the length of the davit legs.  It looks like 48 inches from the base is the length that will work.
40-42" for the length of the davit arms will work fine as we discussed.

#13
Main Message Board / Re: Dinghy Davit Idea
January 28, 2013, 01:46:57 PM
Serge they actually come with the Garhauer davits.  I would recommend you talk with Mark at Garhauer as he has been a huge help.   He recommended that because of the split aft rail that the supports be added to strengthen the aft rail and prevent it from torqueing under any sort of load.  The kit came with the support posts, mounting brackets and everything else needed to install them along with the davits.   All I had to do was measure and cut to length.  The davits and the afte stern rails are solid as can be. A huge benefit to going with Garhauer is that everything, and I mean everything, you need other than the sealant comes with the kit.  The support poles do take away the ability to sit on the molded seats on the sugar scoop but in exchange I now have some nice handrails for assistance with boarding the boat from the water or from the dinghy.  I never actually sat on those tiny seats anyway.

The only change I had to make to the boat was to cut the port side cup holder off in order to get the davit post in there behind the motor mount rail.   You will also see the the location of the mounting plate on the port side is off to the side while the starboard side is directly under the backstay attachment point.  Due to the engine mount and support bracing each side on the MKII stern is a little different.   All the marina amatuer engineers who helped me with the project agreed it would not make any major difference and the davits are rock solid and level as can be.  I am very happy with the quality of the davits and for the pricee I really do not think they can be beat as many other options out there require you to pay extra for each mounting point, the blocks etc.   Plus these were built for my boat after I measured and not just stock.  I can send better close-up pictures if you end up going forward with it.  

Joe
#14
Main Message Board / Re: Dinghy Davit Idea
January 28, 2013, 11:23:36 AM
Stu, it is a 6 hp 4 stroke.  It sits on the Catalina rail mount on the port stern next to the stern seat.  Historically I stood on the stern, lifted it with the lifting strap, and muscled it by hand as I tried to stablizie myself on the stern, step into the dinghy and get it seated on the transom.  Always an adventure.  I did some experimenting this weekend I am comfortable that the port davit will be able to assist greatly with this.  Once I get the dinghy in the water I will have to reverse it so the stern is on the port side (I have it the way it is in the picture as the bow of the dinghy fits better  the way it is since the engine mount on the stern rails sticks out).  Then, I can attach the port davit hook to the top of the engine lifting strap and use the 6:1 blocks as an aid to lifting and lowering it into the dinghy.  I think I will have to still lift the engine by hand off the mount (since the davit arm sticks out so far from the stern) but once it is hanging off the davit line the first mate should be able to assist in lowering it to me in the dinghy.  Not as easy as if I had an engine lifting post but still way better than what I was doing.   And, as hard as it was finding space to mount the davits and stern rail supports I can't imagine trying to fit in an engine lift in addition to all that.  Certainly open to ideas if someone thinks I am missing something in the above process.  Right now my biggest issue is that I have an airdeck dinghy with no internal lifting eyes so easy way to attach the dinghy to the davits and get it as tight as I would like against the davits for transport.   I am working on a solution to that.
#15
Main Message Board / Re: Dinghy Davit Idea
January 28, 2013, 10:48:10 AM
Davits in use.   Looks like this ended up being a successful project.