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On my Catalina 34 MKII one Saturday my wife and I sat out for a sail.  Started the engine (Universal 35hp) and noticed all of my engine instruments were not working.  (Note: My fuel gage hadn't been working for a year, don't know how to fix.)   On way back to port we decided to drop anchor to have a late lunch, but engine would not start.  The winds were light and blowing such that sailing into my slip was feasible ( had done it last summer to show off) so we sailed into slip.  No problem.   My friend, Bruce with a Catalina 34 MKI, (Andiamo) came over and he being an airline mechanic had with him his volt meter and began to look for problem.  After three hours Saturday night (till midnight)  three hours Sunday till noon and another hour on Monday he had eliminated:  batteries, 20 amp circuit breaker, wiring and oil pressure gage.  (Note:  The engine would always start after I resset the 20 amp breaker and then the breaker would trip.)   Headed home and my assignment was to get a wiring diagram to see where the two wires from oil pressure gage went. (Downloaded a complete engine manual off internet from Torresen Marine.) Wires went to the fuel lift pump.  Bruce was at work and I at my boat and we communicated by pictures and email (have a phone with all the bells) and he instructed me to disconnect the wire from the fuel lift pump and the engine should start.  I did, it did and the 20 amp breaker didn't trip.  Bruce said I could run engine without pump and did one weekend while waiting for new pump to arrive.  New pump is now installed and engine runs like a top.   (Note:  Fuel lift pump wire had worn off it's insulation and was shorting out.)

Bruce is a GREAT friend!

So, if you're having a similar problem in future, it could be your fuel life pump.

Question:   Where is the 10 amp breaker?   Shows on wiring diagram, but could not find.

My refrigerator stopped cooling.

I had two different refrigeration representatives tell me that my evaporator had a leak and that the evaporator and compressor/condensor needed to be replaced.  The low bid was $1,467.00.

My friend, a Catalina 34 MKI owner and an airline mechanic with past experience in refrigation, suggested we try a leak stop.  What did I have to loose, nothing.  We did and it didn't work - the first time.  But the second shot of leak stop with another can of 134a coolant and my frig has been working for over a week.  The 134a coolant cost only $5.00 and the leak stop cost about $7.50.  If anyone is having simular problems, I suggest trying leak stop before spending big $'s on a new unit.  If it stops cooling again, I'll buy some more coolant and leak stop.  (Note:  We had to make an adaptor to fit the valve stem fitting on compressor, but I've now learned Napa Auto sells the adaptor to fit the compressor on our boats.)

What do you cruisers recommend for keeping batteries charged?

My wife and I did some anchoring for the first time last summer on our cruise and found to keep the frig cold and not worry about running down batteries, we needed to run our engine an hour 2-3 times per 24 hours.   

I'm considering a Honda generator or some solar panels.  If solar panels are suggested, how many amp/amp hours do I need?