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Main Message Board / The Unexpectedly Perfect Sail

« on: November 23, 2020, 10:26:39 AM »

Some of my most memorable sail days have just come out of the blue. One in particular, maybe my best, comes to mind. It didn't start out that way, it just happened. I was taking Top Gun to Avalon for a week to meet family and friends. It's about a 4 1/2hr trip and a couple of friends volunteered to go with me to help out and keep me company.

The trip didn't start well, first the friends flaked out so I'd be singling over, next I had to leave early, which in these parts means no wind, so I'd have to motor all the way. Since the idea was just to get the boat over there neither would be much of a problem, but it certainly wouldn't be much fun.

I departed my slip assuming I'd be motoring all the way as I've done many times before. As I cleared the harbor an unusual breeze kicked up from nowhere. I thought fine, it won't last long but I rolled out the jib to take advantage of it and do a little motor sailing. Strangely the breeze held and actually freshened to 15 to 20 knots, I thought what the hell so up went the main and off went the motor, I'll enjoy it while it lasts, plus the sails were making a knot and a half on the motor. I didn't drop the sails until I arrived in Avalon.

It was a fast trip(under 4hrs) and a smooth trip. At a certain point I shut off the auto pilot so I could sit high side and hand steer the boat, fully enjoying the sensations of a boat flying along in perfect conditions. Sadly, all too soon I arrived at my destination.

While I've had many great sail days I've never repeated this one, that was about 25yrs ago. Maybe that's why I've kept my boat for so long, because while I've never repeated that memorable sail, there's always the possibility that I might.

2

Main Message Board / Glow Plug Question

« on: September 23, 2020, 07:49:52 AM »

I'm in the middle of my 100hr service and took note of my glow plugs, with over 1500 hours on the motor it occurred to me that I have never done a thing to them. Maybe because for 30+ years I've never had a problem, I push the glow plug button for 20 to 25 seconds and the motor fires right up every time.

A fellow C34 owner had recently replaced his glow plugs(not sure why)which got me thinking should I replace them or not, I don't know. That's why I'm posing this question to the collective wisdom of the C34 herd.

3

Main Message Board / An Interesting Story in MAINSHEET

« on: August 24, 2020, 09:38:50 AM »

The topic was right of way and rules of the road. There is a very impressive picture of a power boat sitting atop a really nice sailboat. Now while I consider myself reasonably well versed in the rules of the road, I wouldn't call myself an expert, but it seems the story missed the number one rule(at least for me), DON'T LET ANYONE HIT YOUR F**KING BOAT!

When I'm faced with an undesirable boat to boat interface I don't care who has the right of way or weather it's power or sail or whatever I'm not going to let anyone hit my boat. In that situation I start with the assumption the other boater has no clue about the right of way or is simply inattentive.

4

Main Message Board / Leaking Lewmar

« on: November 08, 2017, 07:25:54 PM »

    I know this topic has been has been covered has been covered to death, but it seems to be usually about the problematic Beckson ports or the need to rebed the port be it Beckson or Lewmar. My problem is I have a leak in one corner of one port, I have replaced the rubber seal twice---no joy. My question is has anyone used a sealant when installing the rubber seals?

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Main Message Board / Catalina Mk I 1/4 "Sugar Scoop"

« on: October 30, 2017, 09:37:23 AM »

    Up until a few days ago, not only had I never seen a "Sugar Scoop" model(and only in pictures), I had never even heard of it. Living in Long Beach, CA which is about 30mi from Woodland Hills, where Catalina built them until California chased them out of the state, I've seen a lot of 34s but never seen one of these. They must not have built very many of them before they went to the "walk through" model.

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Main Message Board / Oberdorfer Impeller Replacement

« on: October 17, 2017, 05:37:05 PM »

      I just finished my 100hr service on my M-25 which always includes replacing the Oberdorfer raw water impeller. I don't know about you guys but I've always found this operation to be a pain in the arse. Sometimes it goes fairly smoothly, most times not. This was one of those not times. The impeller went almost all the way onto the shaft and stuck. What to do? I consulted to manual which said if you remove the shaft you'll have to pull the whole pump to reset shaft. I went ahead anyway and pulled the shaft with impeller attached. On the bench I was able to properly set the impeller w/ circlip on the shaft. Then I used a zip tie to compress the impeller vanes, I was able to slip the shaft right back in, removed the zip tie, done and done.
       Going forward I think this is how I'll do it from now on, this method allows you to R&R the impeller on the bench and the slot end of the shaft fits in similar to putting a distributor in an engine block

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Main Message Board / Adler Barbour refrigerator replacement

« on: September 27, 2017, 07:26:50 AM »

     This is the start of what I hope will be a very short thread. After much diagnosis and attempted fixes I've finally had to concede that my 31yo Adler Barbour needs to be replaced. I bit the bullet and ordered a new(Adler Barbour CU-100, VD-150) unit. It's due to arrive within the week. I'll post updates on how it goes.

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Main Message Board / Voids Under Aft Berth And Water Tank

« on: August 31, 2017, 08:17:08 AM »

    I was wondering if anyone has done anything with these voids. On Top Gun #273 I have three of them running along the center line under the aft berth and water tank. A few years ago I noticed the one farthest forward(under the berth hatch)had filled with brackish, smelly water and little critters frolicking therein. I cleaned, filled, and glassed it in so now the water just runs past into the bilge. I thought I had solved the problem until I removed the rear tank and found two more voids. My feeling here is standing water in the boat not a good thing. I'm getting ready to fill these two remaining voids. I can't be the only one who's noticed this.