Topics

Who doesn't want a bigger boat.
We all suffer from two foot envy.
Oh the extra room.
Two heads.
But then reality sets in for those of us in the north.
Paint the bottom, buff the side,and then wax them
Boy a Catalina 25 is sure looking good right now.

Just saying

Got the A/C installed and now I can retire
Went with Flagship Marine because I wanted heat without using a heat pump.
It has resistive heat so I can have heat on the hard which the boat spends half the year on. 
Put it in the hanging locker by the chart table and used the macerator through hull as being on the great lakes
no overboard discharge.
Splashed boat in the snow 1 inch on the deck and got the boat up to 70 degrees.
Next weekend it was 85 degrees and had the boat down to 68 degrees.
It seems like a nice unit and it contains no printed circuit boards so will be easier to maintain.
have a great season all 

Any members at Dana Point, going out there and would love to get together for a drink and walk the docks?

Pulled the boat today that nasty white stuff is just around the corner.
What to spend the time before that to install my a/c unit.
Hope all you warm weather sailors enjoy your extended season.

Ok Had a thread about our boats getting older (along with us) well the person cutting it up gave the go ahead to offer parts for sale.
He has ask me to handle this.
So if anybody has a need for parts please let me know. The boat will probably get cut up in the spring as winter has been showing its
ugly face.
The boat is a MKl, Keel stepped, do not know the year as of yet.
Please understand this is not a commercial operation and the boat is three hours driving away.
I will try to get a list of what people want and get pictures of those items.
Again remember this a fundraiser for the Sea scouts  and not a business.
   

I know most of us love our 34's but they are aging as we all are.
Sad to say came across one that is destined to be cut up .
Thought I would share some photos before it meets its end.
Story is that it grounded hard and cracked the bilge floor, it has also has what appears to be keel bolt corrosion.
Jumped up on it to see how sad it was, nothing a good cleaning would not take care of.
Went below (sorry no pictures) and found the mast step rotted and the stringers rotted with cracks in the keel floor.
Both the mast step and the strings had the glass off them and just mush wood.
The plus side is the fellow that cuts them up uses the money as a fundraiser for the Sea Scouts.
Guess the moral is enjoy and maintain our boats.

Used transmission worked but did not snap into gear.
50.00$ and shipping.

Use for parts or whatever.

Started this since it is not related to my transmission install. The c34 has three bilges that Do not drain to the main bilge. These fill with water over time and if you are in a colder climate can freeze and develop leaks. Two out of three areas leak on the boat, came across these while replacing my strut. The blue area is my biggest leak about one drip a minute with the white area about one drip every five minutes. the red area is dry and the shallowest of the areas. My plan is to dry out the area, apply a few layers of fiberglass in the sumps then fill with expanding epoxy foam and glass over so as water will run down to the main bilge. Will also apply a few layers on the outside of this area as I have to tie in the repair to the strut. Well that's the plan, and you know how plans go. 

Well the next winter project is here. A little something I picked up at the boat show.

Our boat is a work in progress. We bought it out of probate so it had been sitting for a while. This past off season had me repairing the two stringers in the bilge, replacing the holding tank, all new hoses for fresh and drain water supply, and installing a hot water heater.
I started by cutting the tabbing that holds the waste tank in, the tank then slides rear and out. Ordered the tank from Ronco the tank number was still on the old tank and was a good number. I had them leave off the pump out for overboard discharge as we are on the great lakes
and can't use it. While the tank was out realized that this was the time to replace the thur-hull with a seacock.

Does anybody know or have the color code for a 1987 Catalina. Searched around the site but only found reference to the small paste kits from CD. Looking for a pint for some repairs.
Thanks
kurt

Was replacing the hoses and waste tank hoping to rid the boat from some unpleasant smells. Had to cut the tabbing off the plywood holding the tank in. Tank came right out after cutting.
Ordered the tank from Ronco, they have the dimensions on file and are just super. Sent them some pictures of the ports so they know where to put them. Left off the port that went to the overboard discharge as we are on the Great Lakes and would never have a place to dump overboard. While the tank was out was looking at the thur-hull and decided would never be more room than now to replace (going to use in future for a/c).
On the flip side of the hull and water system decided to replace all the hoses and valves on the fresh water side along with the hot water tank. Again when all the stuff was removed decided to do the two thru-hulls on that side. Again access was great at this time.
So the question is what is the sealer of choice for the new seacocks, yes installing true seacocks with backing plates.
Also putting in a Bosch under cabinet mount hot water tank. I know i will not be able to make hot water under way but after a conference with the Admiral she is fine with that. This removes the two long hoses from the engine and the problems they bring.

I know this is not a Catalina, but this was going g down the river last week in Fairport Harbor. Seems every couple of years one gets pulled off the hard and goes for a winter sail.

Have six lewmar opening ports from a Mk1. Glass is crazed but still serviceable.

Winter has it's good points. Have time to try to improve the boat without cutting into sailing time. One of the small projects for me was the alternator bracket. Although you can tighten the belt it is not the most convenient job to do.Searching the site came up with many ways and tools, all that can get the job done. My spin on it follows. Wanted to get rid of the sharp edge of the factory bracket and allow adjustment without special tools. This simple rod and two nuts allow me to adjust and lock in place the alternator with only a 9/16" wrench. works good on the bench but this weekend will mount on the boat and try

OK pulled the keel stepped mast off the boat for the winter and was going to dry the bilge for the winter to repair the tabbing on the mast step/stringer. Found the PO had done some repairs to the stringer and the wood was sooked / rotted. Searched the site and found mention of the problem but found no info on the repair. Wondering has anyone else done this repair and how did you go about it?

Replaced the dash gauges on the boat while putting new wiring harness in.
The old panel was beat, washed out. Could not see spending the money for a new panel
so cleaned mine up and painted it off white. Then sanded it leaving just the lines and writing white.
Put a little color on the Catalina logo and installed new gauges.
Gauges were about 75.00 with reed switch sending unit.

Friday is the day. We are splashing our new to us boat. Yes I'm nervous.
Have spent all spring going over the critical updates list and hope I'm ready. Although not all updates are done and the boat needs a lot of work, hoping I have done enough for the trip to our home dock. Will take a few shake down runs and then hopefully move the boat 80 miles to our home port. Anyone want to see a nervous man hit every boat in the marina trying to dock feel free to come down for a laugh.

Has anybody removed the stern pulpit on a mk1. Wondering how to gain access to the bolts?  Aft lazarette is out as to much mounted in there and even if you could get in and reach you can't reach the screws on the outside. Thinking of installing an inspection port in the rear hanging locker.

Hi new here but have been reading and following for a while. Purchased a 1988 Catalina 34 last fall. The boat had been sitting on the hard for the last three years due to the unfortunate death of the owner. We love the boat, even the wife said it was prefect with three years worth of dirt and mold. We have to move the boat in the spring and I have been going down the list of critical upgrades and I am replacing the muffler and hump hose. When the muffler finally popped free the base was loose from the hull. Cleaned and sealed the base with west system.  So now the question I have is 5200 better than west with some filler to bond it back down to the hull? More questions to follow I'm sure.