Topics

Can anyone suggest a method to pump out the holding tank on my C34 mkII at our private dock - perhaps a suitable manual suction pump and waste bucket?

Can a Booth wrench with 5/32" security tip be used on NavPod security screws in lieu of the expensive NavPod tool?

My NAPA 3390 10 micron secondary fuel filter developed a small pin-hole leak on the bottom of the spin-on cartridge after about 1 year on the engine (Universal M35).  It looks like it may have rusted through....My primary filter is a Racor 215R10 filter with R152 cartridge, which is supposed to separate out 100% of water contamination.  Has this ever happened to anyone else?

Has anyone used an automotive Group 41 battery (650 CCA) as a starter/reserve battery?  I have a M-35B Universal diesel that specifies 400-600 CCA for starting (per engine manual).   I have four Trojan T105s configured as my house bank, which I also use for routine starting, so the Group 41 will be used only for emergency starting as necessary.  Any potential problems if I use this battery?  I don't have the space for a Group 24 or 27.

I have a 2005 C34 mkII with the Universal M35B engine and original 51 amp internally regulated alternator.  The previous owner replaced the original two 12 v batteries with two pairs of 6 v Trojan golf cart batteries (each pair in series is 12 v 200 amp).  Each pair is connected to the 1-2-both battery switch the same as the original two battery installation.  I plan to reconfigure the system (as explained in many posts on this site) using the four golf cart batteries reconnected in series and parallel (12 v, 400 amp) for use as the primary starting and house battery bank and add an additional  12 volt reserve battery. 

Can someone recommend: 1) what size cable I should use to connect the existing alternator to the primary battery bank and 2) what size and type of fuse I should use at the battery bank?  Also, what type of battery would be best for my reserve battery? - it will be charged with an echo charger connected to the primary battery bank and thus needs to be compatible.   

Does my 2005 Catalina 34 mkII have a screen on the end of the fuel tank lift tube?

I am planning to mount a Garhauer outboard motor lifting davit on the stern of my 2004 C34 mkII.  Before I start drilling holes, however, I was wondering if anyone has experience with a similar project on their own boat.  It would be useful for me to know if the transom is solid or cored, what size and type of fasteners I could use, and whether or not a backing plate is necessary. 

Just a note to follow-up on my earlier posts regarding problems with starting my engine after changing the primary and secondary filters.  I received excellent advice regarding this issue, and appreciate all the help and comments from this message board.  I called Joe Joyce at Westerbecke and he suggested that the most likely components associated with the problem I described (i.e.: no low oil pressure signal, solenoid "clicks", but no fuel flow after turning ignition key to pre-heat position) could be either the resister, or circuit breaker associated with the electric lift pump, or the pump itself, all of which are on the bracket located on the aft, starboard side of the engine and easily accessible in the aft cabin engine compartment.  After turning the ignition key to the "on" position (not preheat) I went below and checked the wires from the engine harness to these components.  When I moved the positive lead wire (female spade connection) from the lift pump, the low oil pressure alarm came on immediately.  When I went back up and turned the switch to the pre-heat position, I could hear the lift pump clicking.  When the start button was pressed the engine primed and started right up.  The problem was a loose connection of the positive lead from the lift pump to the engine harness - a pretty simple solution.

Subsequent to my last post regarding changing my fuel filters, I'm now unable to get the engine to fire at all.    When I open the bleed nut on the secondary filter I'm not detecting any fuel flow...When I turn the key to the pre-heat position, I hear a single "click" from the pump and nothing else.  When I crank the engine, I also get no flow from the bleed nut.  In the past, when I activate the ignition switch, I have been getting either no or intermittent noise from my "low oil" buzzer, could this be a problem with the oil switch,which I believe is also connected to the pump?  Or is it possible that my fuel pump itself is no longer working?  Should I be able to detect fuel flow by gravity alone at the secondary filter even if the pump is not working?   Any help here would be appreciated.....thanks.

I recently changed both my Racor and engine-mounted fuel filters on my Universal 35B engine (Catalina 34 mkII 2005).  I first changed the Racor filter element and filled the new one with injector cleaner before mounting to reduce air in the system.  Engine started up immediately and ran well.  When I changed the engine mounted spin-on filter next, I also filled it with injector cleaner before mounting.  The engine started up OK, smoked a bit from the exhaust, but after running for about 5 minutes, it began to lose power and eventually coughed out.  It starts OK, but exhaust shows smoke and the engine acts as if fuel starved and cuts out.  Is the injector cleaner causing the problem?  Should I remove the engine-mounted spin-on filter and refill it with fuel instead?  I don't think it is an air block problem...  Any suggestions would be appreciated.

I've just purchased a Catalina 34 mk ii and went for the first sail today, but had difficulty in getting the roller furling main out of the mast with the outhaul.  I eventually got it out by pulling on the sail at the mast and cranking quite hard on the outhaul with the winch.  Rolled it back up under tension, but still very difficult to get out.  (Sail rolls back up with the inhaul, but still requires a winch.)  The sail came out OK during the survey ocean trial and the previous owner did not mention this difficulty previously.  Any suggestions?  I tried raising the end of the boom a bit, but this didn't help.