Messages

For anybody with a 'need to know' the deck thickness at the bow center cleat is a nats eyebrow thicker than 1 inch. That's on a 1988 C34 and if I am successful with my new mouse trap (modified bow roller.... gasp!) I will post pictures. If not I'll be drifting somewhere off the coast between Washington and Japan.

Thanks, Kirk

Okay thanks Ron I'll look that up!

Actually I am trying to determine if there is enough clearance above the rub rails (2 inches) to run bolts vertically thru the sides of the hull underneath the deck. Or does the deck actually meet the hull at the rub rail?

Does anybody happen to know how thick the deck is up at the bow (near the center bow cleat)? If I were near my little ship I would just measure the bolts thru said cleat but unfortunately I am not). Working on a bow roller modification (gasp!) and have a 'need to know ASAP'.

As always, thank you kindly!

Kirk

I would like to teach myself Celestial Navigation this Winter just as a hobby. There are many 'kits' available online and some include crap sextants for practice. I would appreciate good advice from any who may have already been down this road. Don't want to spend a fortune but would like a solid program with at least a good enough instrument to use as back-up later should the opportunity arise.

As always, many thanks!

Kirk

Forgot to mention that this is a project I have moved up on my list to take care of this Winter!

Thanks again!

Kirk

I won't say I bought an '88 C34 because that's what Ron owns but I can say after the fact that I'm mighty glad I did. 'A few thoughts' at a time has ended up being a ton of very good, useful and reliable information that has saved me a lot of money and sleepless nights over the last few years. Thanks Ron, Stu and many others for sharing your knowledge and valuable experience with the rest of us!

Several years ago I had the opportunity to lend a hand to an elderly couple who were chartering an old Catalina 30 that had some very significant mechanical and electrical issues. We had met at an anchorage and I learned that they were actually quite scared and ill prepared to deal with the situation in a fairly isolated area. I offered to sail close by with them the next morning to a Marina several hours away (heading in the same general direction I was heading anyway) to offer support and be available if things got much worse. Long story short, they were greatly relieved and I ended up getting by far the very best photographs of my little ship under sail than I could ever have hoped to get before.

It doesn't really take any more than just a willingness to help that makes all the difference in the world to those who are facing dilemmas, both very real and imagined and when the time comes I am convinced that what goes around comes around and I may very well be on the receiving end of somebody else's kindness! Hopefully I will remember to shoot some great pics for them as well!

Thanks for sharing Kevin!

Kirk

Hi Steve,

Just want to say thanks for sharing this with us, really encourages me to to press on and take care of the bigger, 'scarier' stuff on my own instead of owing my soul to the company store! Seems like every time I do I end up learning such amazing things about my little ship and about myself and I really think that in the end I do a better job than the 'pro's' because mine is truly a labor or love.

The pride you take in your work is evident and very inspiring to us all.

Thanks again!

Kirk

Hi Paul,

What are the advantages of using green board? Thanks to all for your help!

Kirk

I am working on the East Coast and will be heading back home for some R&R shortly. Want to rebed all stanchions, bow and stern pulpits. Can somebody advise how many plates I will need to complete the job since I am 3,000 miles away from the Marina? Also is it the same plate for pulpits as stanchions? I would like to order these and have them waiting for me when I return as my time off is precious too little. Got the butyl tape already last year from Mainesail.

As always, thanks for your help!

Kirk

Hey Thanks! Harold Mueller was the PO and Vivant was registered with USCG. Mystery solved.....

Sorry for the trivial question but I have been curious about something since I took possession of Dixie several years ago. In the forward cabin attached to the bulkhead is a beautiful teak placard apprx 24" x 5" with the number 927008 engraved on it. I am the 3rd owner and do not know if this was attached by the PO or if this number originated from Catalina and what the significance may be???

The number on the mainsail is 636 which I believe means that Dixie was the 636th C34 manufactured but I may be mistaken here as well???

I really appreciate this site as the weather turns grey....... makes the downtime a little easier to bear!

Thanks again!

Kirk

O...... doit! Thanks Mike (and Ron)!

I would like to remove mine also for refinishing and resealing but have found that several of the nuts are frozen to the studs and the whole stud turns. Anybody have a trick for removing these without having to drill out the plugs? The screws all come out of course.

Thanks, Kirk