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Looking around Harbor Freight found a battery powered LED bicycle handlebar light that fits on the Bimini frame and spreads a perfect spotlight to aid folks coming and going on board in the dark. Mounted another one to spotlight helmsman location. Only $6.00 and they work great.

We had a boat load of guests both days sailing last weekend.  And as some of you may have experienced, someone broke off the ignition key.  No problem. . . with a handy knife blade, we could turn the switch on and off.  Upon return to dock we extracted the broken key part and, believe it or not, found the six replacement keys we had made when we purchased the sailboat.  My question:  Is it worth the trouble to replace the keyed ignition with a more user friendly toggle or other kind of switch?   We could extend a guard over the key and design a new key head, but have any of you fixed this problem in a special way?

Our boat has very light lint fuzz stuck to the interior teak walls.  How do we remove this fuzz?  It isn't noticeable unless the sunlight shine directly on it.  It looks like sunbeam lint stuck to the teak.   I do not want to change the color and do not want to refinish.  Any suggestions appreciated.

Sorry, Fleet Four missed reporting in the last issue of MainSheet.  

This winter brings a great south wind of continuing warm weather to Stockton Lake and Fleet Four members wain slowly to winterize their ships.  John and Linda ordered a new Jib planning to race some next spring, Mark and Norma move their yacht around on F Dock to catch the morning sun down the hatch versus evening on the stern, Joe and Carol went LED in total shore power after reviving the economy with IKEA purchases and the absence of Todd and Jonie still linger in sitting on the dock tales of the sunsets.  

Fleet Four Lake sailors go into coming of winter like the appreciation of starting something to endure knowing it will end.  The Annapolis Show over and St Pete Show to come, with a chance decision to bare the cold of the Chicago Show, we now long for the warmth of March to uncover, exhaust the pink, hoist up the sails and ale and discover what project old man winter put upon our provisioning. Have you heard the story of the couple finding a Beaver had made home in their boat for the winter?  Makes Fleet Four members schedule regular visits to their boats. Lake Stockton is not that remote or austere but some of you must image what it is like to sail in the Ozarks?  

Those who have to pause sailing in the winter appreciate more the seasons of earth like the Bald Eagles circling above watching the waters for the sustaining life they provide. We will sail again as soon as we can or dare despite calender or temperatures or Obama.  Keep us in mind if you ever visit Stockton Lake.  One of the top ten fresh water sailing lakes in America!

Joe and Carol
YachtaSea

We have friends whose sailboat ( not a Catalina ) black plastic salon windows have turned white/gray on the outside.  One can still see through the windows from inside and they do not leak.  Is there an inexpensive fix to re color the exterior of the plastic windows without losing ability to see through the windows?  Would a film application work?  Ideas?

Carol asked me to move shore power outlet further to the rear of the boat.  Great idea.  Now outlet and cord are no longer in the way of boarding ( Yes, I know we could have boarded starboard instead of port, but it just doesn't seem right ).  Used 12/30 amp Marine wiring and connectors, new socket ( left old one in as hole cover ).  Project, with help from Fleet Four member, John Finch took less than one hour.  New position is about four feet further to rear than original location.  Cost not a factor cause Carol is happy! 

I elected not to run wiring all the way to the electrical control panel and insured all connections were solid ( crimped ). Any comments if warrented would be welcomed.

Todd and Joni have moved to Flordia and will be taking their Catalina 34 with them.  Fleet Four members will greatly miss their sailing fellowship.  Todd was the popular choice for Fleet Four Commodore and now that he is gone Fleet Four must again face the leadership campaigns of remaining members to take Todd's place.  Look for the Fleet Four Group Picture coming up in the next Main Sheet.  It shows all members including the dogs.  You gotta love the dogs!

We have a 1987 Catalina 34, Hull number 244, with factory plastic water tanks, one forward in the salon and one aft in the rear berth area.  When we fill up with fresh water it takes forever with water backing up in port opening plate unless we fill at a trickle flow.  It seems to take too much time to fill? Our overflow vent in rear seems to work properly.  What can we do to speed up the fill?

See you at the Annapolis Boat Show!

Four charter members have formed the newest Catalina Fleet!  Sailing Lake Stockton, Missouri, Fleet #4 is organized to advance skills, knowledge and sailing pleasures of the great Catalina 34 .

We welcome your messages, questions and correspondence concerning fleet activities and projects.

Officers are being elected, other C34 owners on Lake Stockton are being contacted and the first official meeting is being planned.  Lake Stockton Show Me Fleet #4 is proud to join the Catalina Association as an official Fleet member. 

Contact:  Joe Pyles, wjpcsp@msn.com

Just completed project building a bimini frame that hard mounts to the dodger and to the stern rails.  Thus, we don't have any straps in our way when going forward.  And the entry space to our cockpit is greatly enlarged.  If we want to remove the bimini cover we just roll fabric to the rear and secure.  The dock gang thought we were building a Race Car Roll Cage for the boat. 

Hoping to meet some Catalina 34 Association members at the Annaplois show.

Joe and Carol

Can someone tell me the color of the nonskid surface on our 1987, #244.  I'm working some King Starboard
panels into the cockpit and want to match colors.  Thanks!

Yesterday while single handing, I decided to give myself a test of every maneuver possible.  Even tried to back the boat!  My point is sometimes we sail to destination or favor the long haul versus putting a boat through the paces of turns about buoys, figure eights, man overboard practice or adjusting sail trim to get the another tenth of a knot.  We have new botton paint, full set of new sails, thus opportunity to continue to learn to sail.  As a retired pilot my flights are now on the wings of Kappa sails in the cockpit of our Catalina and dancing with the wind is perfect practice of lift versus drag.  Does anyone have a suggestion of a series of maneuvers that improve sailing skills.  The hardest manuever?  I'd like to learn?

  Stepping off stairs onto floor in front of head entrance we feel a spongy give underneath feet.  I have removed the teak floor insert and inspected the fiberglass/plywood sub floor finding proper limber holes and no cracks.  How do I reinforce this area so that the floor is firm?
     A safety suggestion . . . insure upper section stairway brass holder brackets are properly seated.  Ours were not . . . stair separated causing a nasty fall. 

     Does anyone know a sailing simulator program specific to the C34?  I've surfed the net today to find a free download with little luck.  Is software available to sail the C34 on the computer screen?

Have read the projects about replacing sliding doors, how to remove them, etc.  What are suggestions of replacement material?

I have thought about gluing teak laminate over the plastic, using teak boards or a more decorative plastic?  Any ideas?

Joe and Carol
YachtaSea
1987 C34 TR
#244

Dock talk this weekend spun to possibly starting a C34 Fleet on Stockton Lake in Missouri.  Can someone tell me the requirements and how to start the process?  Thanks.

Joe and Carol
YachtaSea
#244

Todays harsh winds took a toll on our old main.  Noticed when flaking to cover a vertical tear is starting at the top of the main sail.   Will repair the tear, but it looks we may need new sails. 

What's the best suggestion for longest lasting durability?  We cruise inland fresh waters.  Need two reef points with full battens. Want to buy new sails.

We have a roller furling 155 Jib. The jib probably also needs replaced.  Both sails have been refurbished in past but believe they are original 1987 sails.

Where do you suggest we begin our search?  Quality versus price?  Sails tailored for the 34?  Package deals? 

1987 Tall Rig
#244 

[YachtaSea]

     Our 1987 Catalina 34 TR, YachtaSea, lives on Stockton Lake, Missouri, with a great eating place within walking distance of our slip.  We are not big eaters and enjoy lite fare when sailing.  We have a microwave on board.  

    My question is:  removing the oven would allow space for a modification that might be more useful than "having someone sweat over a hot stove?"  
   
    Anybody made better use of the salon area by removing the oven?  Appreciate your ideas.  

Joe and Carol
Hull  # 244