Messages

You can discharge black water into the Great Lakes?

A big no to that. Any black water overboard discharge valve is to be disabled.  At least the handle has to be removed.  Both the US and Canada officials will check and often fine. They used to look for that a lot, now not so much. They must not find many offenders.
Jim

Has anyone else had these thoughts, removed this valve?

When I bought Shamrock that valve and the macerator were already removed.  No problem for now as I sail the Great Lakes.  Would be a small thing to replumb.
So I think it depends on where you are.  If you are in a no discharge zone, remove it and plug the thru hull.  If you can discharge replace it, and check your hoses they may well be permeated.  ie stinky
Jim

How did you fabricate the shelf in the vberth for it to sit on? I think I saw your report here on the install. How did you get the duct to the aft cabin?

For the shelf went to the local lumber yard, a real one, and got a couple of 2 inch by wide boards.  If memory servs it was yellow pine.  I cut and fit them to the hull to support a plywood shelf that the AC would fit on.  Tabed and fiberglass them to the hull, kept that thin if they were ever to be removed.  The strainer and thru hull are just inside the little door and the water outlet is just above the boot stripe port side.
For the duct, mostly was able to run a 4 inch ? duct down the port side in the cubby holes behind the seat backs, did cut some holes but it wasn't difficult.
I purchased my AC from OceanBreeze.  They were very knowledgeable and sold me a very complete kit.  As I remember the only additional purchases were a circuit breaker, wire and little else. I had a few problems I believe were caused by poor handling by the shipper. They took care of them, no problems.
Oceanbreezeac.com

Jim

I was onboard today looking at placement options for my install. The cabinet aft of the nav table looks good as does the starboard forward setee and the vberth.

On Shamrock, a MKII, I installed an AC under the v-berth. The only loss was the drawer, and it's quiet, can sleep well, in the v-berth, with it running.  Am very happy with it.  To be honest it is slow, doesn't to a great job, cooling the aft cabin. Need to keep door open and a fan helps, possibly a booster fan in the duct would help. Not a problem for me as I don't sleep there, rarely have overnight guest there. 
Recommend you consider your sleeping needs and preferences when you think about AC installation.  Another thing to consider is doors for the companion way.  So much easier to keep the cool air in.  I'm very happy with Zucor doors.
Jim

We took a full month off last summer for the first time as I'm nearing retirement and had one of our best cruises, Boston Harbor area all the way to Brooklyn, up the Hudson to West Point area and back.  This summer with a month off again, looking to head down east Maine possibly to the Canadian border.  Added a second 110 W solar panel to the bimini, in the process of replacing the engine mounts to the Vetus K75s to hopefully reduce the noise level motoring, replaced the whole propane set up and sanded and varnished the cabin sole.  Hoping for the best summer yet!

You will have done much of the "Downeast Loop",  Something I've been thinking of doing.
Jim

Tom,
I don't have any good suggestions for you.  I would suggest that you make doubly sure that there isn't an exhaust leak.
Jim

Are the "Mains'l Cover Insignia C-34" from Catalina Direct also suitable to have a sailmaker sew onto the mainsail?

Simple job for any sailmaker to make a sail insignia.  Sailrite has a how-to video.
Jim

that's an amazing trip!  Is 2 months the longest you've been on Shamrock?  How many in your crew?  I've heard many good things about the beautiful north channel.  I would need a solid amount of time off to sail there from the toronto area

I've spent a little over 2 months on Shamrock, enjoyed every day.  I mostly single hand and like my sleep, so it takes me longer to get places.  The North Channel is great for me, gorgeous scenery, lots of anchorages, very clear and clean water.  Looks much like the coast of Maine without tides, lobster pots and much less tourist. Downside for some is its basically remote, bars and restaurants are few and far between, make your own drinks and meals. You should look into the Trent Severn, one season in the North Channel I met a couple on a C32 they took the Trent Severn and enjoyed it.
Jim

When did Peggie Hall switch allegiance from Raritan K.O.to no flex? Haven't heard of noflex until now.

My statement saying Peggie Hall recommended noflex may be out of date, that was a few years ago.  I remember something about noflex adding oxygen. Was thinking about adding the larger, below the rubrail vent, now using noflex and don't seem to need it. It works for me, but I was 95% happy with odorlos.
Jim

Will also look into NoFlex.  This past season I used Odorlos - are they comparable products?

I had no problem when I switched from odorlos to noflex.  Just did a good pump out and started using noflex.
Jim

Working in such close quarters the fumes can be quite overpowering to the point where I've actually gotten a headache, to say nothing of working with the horrible smell.

A season before I changed the sanitation hoses I started using Noflex.  Was impressed with how clean and lack of smell in the system.  Of course the old, original hose was permeated and need changed.  FWIW it's what Peggy Hull recommends.
 
 https://www.amazon.com/BoatersMate-Noflex-Digestor-Treatment-Eliminator/dp/B07C7HRV4P

Jim
 

I'm dreading replacing the sanitation hoses.

I did Shamrock's a few years ago.  Wasn't bad, finding and cutting all the cable ties were what I remember as time consuming.

Thinking of attending the GLCC rendezvous in Escanaba MI.  That would be a couple of months on Shamrock.    Of course that would include the North Channel    A plug for the GLCC, Great Lakes Cruising Club, terrific information on Great Lakes harbors and anchorages.  Their harbor reports take a lot of the mystery of pulling into an unfamiliar harbor, marina or anchorage.  Also the GLCC school, webinars, are great, I recommend the weather series for anyone.
https://www.glcclub.com/.


Jim

Ron makes an excellent point here and I want to second that motion.

I agree with that.  Also go with the better isinglass, think the trade name used on mine was stratiglass.  It's still nice and clear after 6 seasons.  Also haven't restitched anything.
Jim

It was surprising to me to find our NTU C34 with a double ended mainsheet with jamb cleats. I think I will rig ours as a single line on the port cabin top with an added Garhauer clutch.

The way I sail Shamrock, MKll double ended mainsheet, is I rarely adjust the port side of the mainsheet.  I adjust the starboard side and when things get hard to adjust I use the cabin top winch, the mainsheet just pops out of the jamb cleat.  If the winch in needed for something else it's easy enough to ease the sheet into the jamb cleat.  That works well for me.
Jim

Survey recommended new motor mounts amongst many other things

Welcome and Congratulations.  Hope you enjoy your C34 as much as I do and find this group as helpful as I do.  The better surveys I've seen rate their recommendations in order of do immediately to nice things to do.  Was yours rated that way?  Were you present at the survey?  If they are original motor mounts I don't doubt that it's time to take a good look. If the PO, that's previous owner in C34 speak, was careful changing oil the original may be ok. What I'm saying without seeing of feeling the mounts is that they may be usable and the surveyor just put them on the list. In my opinion there are lots of good surveyors and some that are just good enough.
The reason for my long post is that you probably have lots to do on your new to you boat, probably too much.  Can be overwhelming.  Make a list, starting with the "do this or else" post and your survey.  Safety and must do first, then sail and sail some more.
It helps if you put in your signature the boat information year, model, hull number engine, see what others have.
Welcome,
Jim