Messages

Steve:

Read your post listing the immpressive upgrades you accomplished. Good work, you were a busy man!!
A question though. I am unclear whether you put the plug in the bilge, or in the keel faring on the exit hole. I have seen it in both places and just wondered what your thoughts were?? The three strand manila is a great idea!

Mark

This new to me boat(keel stepped) and has never been winter stored with the mast stepped. I do however want to consider storing it up. My last boat was a c-30 (deck stepped) and I had no problems in 12 years. I did pull it every five years for a through inspection etc. What I did do however was to drill a hole in the lowest part of the bilge. Then glass in (not epoxy in) a brass coupling to fit a 3/8 npt pipe plug which I simply removed in the winter. Keep in mind that I made sure that the entire drain hole had an epoxy coating on it by plugging the bottom (on the outside) with tape. Then filling the hole with epoxy ensuring  that all sides of the hole were saturated with epoxy. I then simply removed the tape from the bottom of the hole while the epoxy was still liquid and let the excess drain into a container. It worked perfectly, and drained the bilge of all the unwanted water on a yearly basis. No more freeze-thaw cycle. It also allowed for a real good bilge scrubbing on an annual basis.  I searched this site for anything similar but could not find it. Has anyone done this on a c-34? Which compartment is the lowest in the bilge. Any thing else to consider? Thanks in advance!!

Mark

Dan the pads on the wood to protect the fibre glass are a great idea. I just hope you keep your eye on the padding and don't allow it to wear through. To late for my 1990 but should help all newer boats.

Mark Wey

Just returned from a Jr. B hockey game. We (Stratford Cullitons) won 7-5. If you are up here in the "Great White North" (Ontario, Canada) this is what you do when the water is hard. I have recently purchased a 1990 C-34 in Oct 2002. It has a teak cockpit floor in excellent condition. Looks beautiful. I had nothing but a F/G floor in my C-30 and am wondering what all the fuss is about. It looks great and I am sure feels great on bare feet. However I am sure, like all teak it requires an anual ritual. Is there anything I am missing regarding the teak floor. I do know, that at the end of last year. At haul out last fall, when I purchased the boat and lifted the cockpit floor before winter storage it was a real mess and hard to clean. Also the wood did scar the cockpit sole enough that I will probably never be able to remove the teak floor because of the unsightly scars in the gelcote. Don't get me wrong I think I will love the floor. But it is 20 degrees below zero right now in Canada and I have just returned (yesterday) from the Totonto (Canada) Boat Show (Have I got a deal for you). I require some of my C-34 friends with much more experience than I to set my mind at ease. I have so many things to pick your brains about. Thank you in advance.

Mark Wey

Tom

That should read no moving parts.

Mark

Tom:

This stove will cook at least equal to pressurized stove. It is quiet, clean, simple, safe (no pressure). Also moving parts,and it is maintanace free. It also uses a cheaper grade of Methyl Hydrate available at any hardware store. You don't have to buy the purified marine stove alcohol as there are no orrifices to plug with impurities. You won't be dissapointed. Just my opinion though.

Mark

Tom:

If you have no luck getting your parts, and find your self in the market for a new Alcohol Stove. I highly recomend an Origo 3000. It is an Alcohol stove but not pressurized. It works off the principle of a wick. Very reliable and trouble free. I had one on my C-30 and loved it. My new boat a C-34 has propane and I have little experience with it. As I have just recently purchased the boat and not sailed it yet. Also the Origo fit neatly into the same space as the stove I replaced. (Somebody was thinking) Any questions let me know.

Mark

Hello and Merry Christmas from the great white North (Canada).
I am going to purchase a new VHF radio for my C-34. Which I have just purchased last October and which I haven't even sailed yet. (It's going to be a long winter) I am considering the option of a RAM Mic in the cockpit at the helm station. Has any one had practical experience on this, and could they offer some advice as to your experience? A review, Make and Model would be welcome. I saw in the Tech Notes the radio that Ron Hill has installed on Apache. (What a great name for a boat). However, with the hand held VHF I think I would prefer to go with the RAM. Any advice would be welcome.

Mark Wey

Thanks Dave:

How much room did it take up in the locker. Or how much room was left to store other gear? I am also afraid I might damage parts of the unit. Any comments?

Mark Wey

I checked out the FAQ on this web site and could not find what I am looking for. Can you help me? The cooling unit for the fridge is located in the aft stbd locker beside the helmsman seat. There is a lot of spare space, and I need to utilize all the space I can. What kind of air space is critical around the unit? Will I hinder the operation of the unit if I am to close with other products stored there. Can I glass in a shelf in that locker while maintaing the required ventilation? This is a new boat to me. I am going to spend a lot of time on this site. Great work by all.

Thanks

Mark Wey

It is now official. Paid for it yesterday. More questions will follow, I am sure.

Mark

Hello all. I am almost the proud owner of a new 1990 C-34. Subject to survey. I have graduated fron a C-30 and I have been a follower of this sight for a while. I have an idea what to check for. However as I have not had long to inspect the boat is there any thing from this vintage that you can give me a heads up on. One thing I did notice. Is the rust on the painted mast in spots. It is just in a few places but none the less still there. It has not broken through the paint yet but scratching with a knife confirms it.

Thanks,

Mark