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Jenny Jewel is for sale.   Please see below for more information or message me.

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I did not find a prior thread on this topic so thought I would share this disaster avoided.

Just thought I would share that I went  to my boat this weekend and found that my shore power cable (on the boat end) had melted and probably was on fire/smoldering at some point before the circuit breaker tripped.  Some fiberglass damage but so far no apparent damage in the boat.   I have replaced the cord but did not leave the power on this time.  I am also going to replace the receptacle on the boat.  I don't have a picture of the boat side, but have attached a picture showing the cord side.   Might be a good time to remind everyone  to check and possibly replace their shore power cord sets.  Mine was probably 6-8 years old and although it looked fine probably had some internal damage that started the process.  Obviously It could have been much worse.  Based on conversations in my marina, a majority of folks never even think of this and there are some really old cord sets out there.  I suspect based on the panicked looks on peoples faces, there will be a run on new sets from the local West Marine.


I have ignored the issue of leaving the power on as there are plenty of threads on that topic!

Joe

Anyone found a good recent source for the MKII Mobella latches for the cabinets?  Or a cheaper, suitable replacement latch?     

Anyone know how the heck you get the bi-color lense off to replace the bulb?  There is a small indent on the bottom of the fiuxture but I could not for the life of me figure it out.  I thought I might have to loosen the two screws on the back but all that did is loosen the fixture from the boat moutning plate (since they are the actual mounting screws) and now the two nuts are also loose inside that fixture (I know, I know).  I thought I was a pretty smart guy but this one has me stumped.  Help?

In renewing my annual consideration as to whether to purchase a Honda 2000 generator, I have seen quite a few "off-brand" systems online which seem to be pretty equivalent for significantlty less dollars.  Unlike others I have seen in the past these new models (Honeywell, Kipor, Yamaha) are more self contained, weather protected, quiet etc.  Basically Honda copy-cats from an appearance and alledged performance standpoint.  I have looked at older threads but wanted to see if anyone had any recent experiences (good or bad) with any of these non-Honda generators.  I suspect I will go with the Honda but worth checking.

Friend of mine sent this to me today.  Sort of leaves me speechless.  Thought it might generate a discussion.,

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aBsA3wa5OGE&feature=player_embedded

Not sure if they were OEM but I have roller shades on these two hatches.  There is a little retaining clip that a clip on the shade attaches to when the shade is pulled closed.  The clips on both of mine have broken.  The shades are fine and if the clips are available I would rather replace the clips even though I am sure i could come up with an alternate fix.  I thought I wrote down the manufacturer but can't find my note.  Anyone know what I am talking about and know a source for those clips?   

For the third time this summer I spent part of my sailing time underneath the boat scraping off barnacles from my prop after motoring at a top speed of 3.5 knots.  This after cleaning the prop spotless just a month ago.  In my 10 years keeping boats in the water in Central Florida in the same marina I have never had to do this more than once a year and even then there was not much growth.   Has anyone else noticed a much bigger problem this year? 

Well, after 3 years of heavy lurking and fairly frequent postings up to 2008, I kind of fell off the C34 "grid" for a couple of years.  So, here I am 1.5 years later after 2 years of divorce "discussions" and a nearly final divorce and the good news is the Jenny Jewel survived the carnage and will stay mine.  I have continued to sail these past two years although not quite as often as I like.  Now things are getting back to normal, well the new normal, and I am back looking forward to my weekends on the boat and hopefully another trip to the Abacos next summer.

The good news is I found a great new first mate who is learning to love sailing and already likes the effect of sailing on me and us.   Plus on only her 4th day sail she agreed to go up the mast in a bosun's seat to replace my flag halyard.  Certainly a good sign.  Also my newest boat dog, "Stella" (middle name Artois), a 9 month old black lab mutt puppy has 3 sailing days under her belt and already acts like she owns and loves the boat.

Like sailing, life has had its occasional squalls but things are much clearer and calmer after the storm.

So pardon me for getting a little personal, but the Jenny Jewel (and me) are back and I am looking forward to being back for the wisdom, wit and helpful advice of the my fellow C34 sailors, old and new.

Joe
"Jenny Jewel"
2005 C34 MKII
#1717

Has anyone seen any good articles on the use of the Spot Trak Satellite GPS units?  We are headed for the Abacos for a few weeks in early June and I was thinking it might be a decent alternative to an EPIRB.  In addition to the emergency function the tracking and "I am ok" email message capability seems like a nice feature especially for the price.  I know the emergency feature does not go straight to the Coast Guard like an EPIRB but the service claims a quick emergency response which in the case of a problem at sea would end up getting quickly to the CG including the location.  Might still borrow/rent an EPIRB but am interested in folk's thoughts.

http://www.findmespot.com/Home.aspx

Joe 

Has anyone with a Mark II bought and used one of the new see-through lite propane cylinders?  I need a new one and forgot to measure the size of the existing one to see if the new one would fit in the locker.

Joe

Probably not a big deal for the places where some of you sail, but this is not a usual site off of Cape Canaveral.  Needless to say VHF16 was quite busy with warnings about approaching too close.
This was this past weekend (75 degrees and 10 knots for those of you northerners).

Joe

Anyone had to replace their pelican hooks on a boat in the early 1700 hull numbers?  I use my port side ones every time we sail and I have had 2 in the last year where the spring mechanism basically fell out of the hook.  I can't seem to find a replacement that works as these have a female end which threads onto a connector at the end of the lifeline.  Few I have obtained from West et al have not been the right thread size or rotation.  Not a single manufacturer's mark on the hook itself.  I will make the obligatory call to the factory but wondered if anyone has had the same problem as me.

Joe

I changed my zinc this weekend.  I have done it many times and am frustrated each time as to how hard it is to get to.  I basically have to reach from the top front access and there is little room to get a wrench on it between hitting the side wall, throttle cables and metal bracket below it.  I have tried ratcheting wrenches, box wrenches and a socket driver but nothing can get in there easily.

So how do my MKII M35B brethren do it?  Am I missing an easy idea, tool or method?

If some of you remove the entire rear engine access can you let me know how you do that?  It appears there are corner braces on the aft port and starboard corners of the engine box.  Do you have to remove the braces on both sides in order to remove the starboard side panel?  Do you have to remove the lid or any screws in the bracket holding the lid?  It seems like a lot of work to change the zinc every few months, but probably better than the frustration I have been fighting.

Joe

Looking for some suggestions.  I have searched these Boards as well as the M35B owners manual, numerous websites and books and have gotten a variety of answers.  I have a list of things to try but thought I would at least see if anyone here has experienced this problem especially on a M35B.

I have about 300 hours on my engine.  I have done all the required maintenance.  Sometime over the past few months I started noticing a little bit of what appeared to be steam/white smoke after the engine had been running for awhile. Seems to be a function at load and more steam at higher revs.  Since the weather was pretty cool I was sure it was just steam due to the temperature difference.  Now that things have warmed up it has not gone away.  I have not noticed any difference in power, no coolant loss and no smell from the exhaust.

It is definitely not black smoke.  I think it is more steam-like than what I would call white smoke but not really sure what the difference is.  Definitely fairly wispy.  No fuel coming out that I can see and the water flow seems good.  Does not start out with any steam/smoke but comes on after the engine warms up.

I have seen suggestions running from checking the raw-water circuit, water in the fuel, fouled prop causing too much load to things like head gaskets, injector problems and other bad stuff.  Some have said the steam/smoke comes from not enough water mixing with the exhaust gasses.

I am going to check/change the Racor, clean the raw water intake, try and take a look at the prop.  Plus other things to check based on my frantic web-searching. 

Anyone had any similar problems they have solved and can suggest for me?  Hoping to avoid an engine service call on a pretty new boat but will do it if I have to.

Thanks.

I single-handed the Jenny Jewel for the first time this weekend.  Had done it a few times on my Catalina 270 but never got around to it on this boat.  Probably was mostlty intimidated about docking and about the trip out of my marina, down the barge canal and under the drawbridge.  Wife was out of town this weekend and 72 degrees and 15-20knts just begged for some sailing.  No problems and I really enjoyed the solitude.  Would have been a little tricky without the autohelm but with planning a trip to the head or the galley was not even a big deal.  I ended up racing (for fun) a Catalina 36 who was ahead of me and caught him after about 15 tacks.  Return trip and stern-to docking ended up being a non-event.  Still love my wife but an occasional solo sail is now part of the plan.

So, here is my question.  On tacking I was able to release the jib sheet and get to the other side to trim the other sheet fairly easy.  Although the autohelm has a tacking feature I found it easier and more control to simply do it without it as it was easy to keep helm control as I passed from one side to the other.  However, more than once my jib sheet from the point of sail I was leaving would get fouled in the turning block as it ran out.  Not a big mess of the sheet (I always make sure everything is flaked so it can run free) but just a very small loop that jams the turning block and I think comes from the twist in the line as a result of it coming off the winch.  I have always pulled the loops over the top of the winch free when tacking but wonder if that really is the right way to do it.  Obviously I have never raced and the last boat had cabin top winches without turning blocks so it was not a problem. 

Any suggestions would be appreciated.

This may fall into the category of being invited to a party and being shown home movies, but for those are interested I posted a highlight video on Google Video of my summer trip from Merritt Island, Fl to Hopetown, Abacos Bahamas on the Jenny Jewel.  Only about 8 minutes and some nice videos/pics of the trip down the ICW, across the stream and round the Sea of Abaco to Hopetown.  Credit goes to my friend and crew John who put it together.

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=8859658292594374066&pr=goog-sl&hl=en

Joe

Anyone sailing with a Doyle Utility Power Sail (or equivalent) instead of a asymetrical spinnaker?  Spent some time at Strictlty Sail - St. Pete today with my Catalina broker and the folks from Doyle.  Idea of a roller furiling multi-use large sail that ius easier to use than a ASM spinnaker (for a cruuising couple) is interesting.

Just curirous if anyone has one or has tried one.

Joe

Talked to Catalina today about my salon table pedestal getting stiff and hard to move.  This weekend it basically got stuck in the lower position.  It won't move no matter what I have tried

DO NOT LUBRICATE YOUR PEDESTAL is the lesson.  They said the materials which came with the boat say that but I never saw it.  Art at Forespar who makes the pedestal says any lubrication whether silicone, dry lubricant, WD40 or whatever totally destroys the innards after some time.  That and pushing down with any angle can cause problems.  He also said the end of the pedestal assembly is supposed to be expoxied to the flange mounted on the cabin sole to prevent it from being pushed down into the hull.  Not sure mine ever was which may be why the table always seemed a little low.

So my $330 lesson is to not lubricate.  Also, I think when I lower the table I might simply remove the table top and then push down on the piston and reattach the table top when it is down.

Just FYI

Has anyone with a relatively new MKII found a mid-ship cleat that will work with the outside t-tracks?  Every one I have found fits the track nicely but has too big a pin size to fit into the holes in the track.

Joe

Just back from 2 weeks in the Abacos.  Jenny Jewel did great the entire trip including 2 Gulfstream crossings with less than perfect conditions.

I noticed that on the starboard side of the lower stern area (starting on the sugar scoop area and traveling upward) a series of spider web type cracks have occurred in the gelcoat and non-skid area on and starboard of the swim platform.  I had no damage here before and no casaualty event occurred which can acount for this.  Has anyone experieced this with a relatively new MKII?  Anyone have any ideas on whether this is covered by the warranty as I have to reveiw that once I get back to the boat?

Anyone have any experience with Markel Marine Insurance?  I currently have a Drive (Progressive) Policy that is very reasonable.  However, I am going to the Bahamas for 12 days this summer and the policy only covers that portion of the Bahamas 125 NM out from the coast.  I will be about 160nm during parts of my trip.  Drive can't insure farther out.

Called USAA (who originally set me up with the Drive Policy) and they have quoted me through Markel.  Decent coverage although for hurricane partial loss it is actual cash value and not replacement.  Also got a quote from Boat US which is $1000 more, higher deductible but will pay replacement on a partial loss.

Just trying to figure out he best deal and don't want to change to a compnay that has not given good service.  All this for 12 days in the Bahamas.  I would like to keep the Drive, get the Markel and then cancel the Markel after the trip but am told that is not legal to have 2 policies.

Thoughts on all this?

Going on 6 months for the new boat and still very happy with her.  Every sail is a new learning experience.  Getting ready for a cruise to the Abacos in early June so trying to learn as much as I can before then.

I anchored for an afternoon on Sunday in about 15-20 knots on the Intercoastal and again noticed how much the boat seems to "sail" back and forth at anchor.  No current, just wind in about 10 feet of water.  About a 7:1 scope.
Nothing I ever noticed on my Catalina 270 also with a wing keel.  Chapman's says this is common with wing keel boats. 
Any suggestions out there for minimizing this when using a single anchor?  I typically lock the helm, all sails are in (excpt a very small triangle of the roller furling main).  More disconcerting than really a problem
Joe

2005 Hull # 1717 - about 75 hours on the engine.  Last time we were out the tach seemed to be reading about 500 rpm too high.  It was responsive just off.  Up to now seemed to work fine.  Anyone had any similar problems and/or suggestions?   Sure hate to make a warranty claim if it is something simple.

Joe

Where/how do people have their documentation numbers on the boat?  I have seen some with an expensive teak engraved board mounted somewhere down below. 

I was thinking of getting some stick on letters/numbers and putting them in the port side lazerrette by covering them with a thin coat of fiberglass resin.  Any other ideas/suggestions?

My MKII came with screens for all the hatches but the square ones above the head and aft cabin entry.  They don't appear to have any way to hold a screen in but I can't beleive there is not some way to have screens over those.  Anyone have/seen them?