Topics

Any suggestions for lubricating the in-mast furling system on our 2004?

Thanks

Chuck

I have been using a product from West Marine to clean the rust off the deck that forms from underneath my stanchion mounts when they get wet both at the dock from moisture in the air or when I'm on my mooring in Catalina after sailing over.  My frustration is that it comes back very quickly after I've cleaned it all off with the chemical.  Has anyone else had this problem and can tell me their remedy?  I am wondering about cleaning the deck really well and then applying a "caulking" compound around each base after the deck is really dry in hopes that the caulking will keep the water from getting under the mounts causing more rust to appear.  Thanks in advance for your ideas.

Chuck
#1725

We use a Boston Whaler 130 Sport for our tender.  There are times on our mooring when I don't want to side tie it, rather I would like to tie it off of the stern and board over the swim step.  My dilemma is it hits the ladder when there is any surge.  Anyone have a good fender(s) system they use on the bow of their tender to remedy this problem?

Thanks
Chuck
Forever Young #1725

If you have a whisker pole that you aren't using anymore, I'd like to buy it.  I want to use one when sailing this summer from Catalina back to Alamitos Bay, Long Beach, CA.

Thanks

Chuck Philips
559 593-2437
chuck.philips@gmail.com

Anyone have a whisker pole for their 34 they aren't using and want to sell? I'm interested.

Chuck Philips
Long Beach, CA  area
559 593-2437

We are still using the Xantrex inverter/charger system and Link Panel 2000 for remote management of the batteries on our 2005 Mk II.  It was original equipment and is showing its age--inverter won't go to the on position from the panel nor will the panel allow me to reset the Amp Hours Used anymore.  Has anyone replaced their Xantrex with a new inverter/charge system that you would recommend us doing also?

Thanks

Chuck Philips
#1725 -- Forever Young

We have an '05 Mk II 34 with two small vents on the swim step that "appear to leak" water under the aft cabin bed. It only seems to happen when we are under full power and in a following sea. Then I can actually see water sloshing over the swim step toward the wheel.  I'm contemplating trying to seal the 2 vent holes from the inside to stop this leaking.  I have not noticed any water even in the bilge when we are just under sail or not under full power.  The transom area is always dry under sail.  Has anyone else experienced this situation and if so, what did you do to rectify it? 

I'm not sure what purpose the two vent holes serve and don't want to cap them if they really serve a purpose.  Anyone know this?

Thanks

Chuck Philips
#1725--Forever Young

Have any of you experienced getting water into the space in the little passage way between the galley and the aft cabin?  We were in light wind conditions last week with the motor on and a following swell of about 3 feet at 7 seconds that would catch up to us and push us along.  However, once in our slip, we noticed the carpeting in that area was wet.  It appears the water is coming from the stern vents in the swim step area.  The bilge was dry.  Any suggestions--we have a 2005 Mk II C-34.

Thanks
Chuck

I just found a vent that I think will solve my waste holding tank non-venting issues for my 34 Mk II at Catalina Direct.   It looks like it will work fine--it's one that is now being used on a variety of Catalina sail boats: C-28, 320 and C-42's.  Has anyone else added one of these vents to increase air circulation for their holding tank?   

CD's suggestion is to mount the vent just below the rub rail--I'm figuring on that location and virtually inline with the existing stanchion at about the "stripes level."  Does anyone know how thick the hull is at this point?  I'd like to have an idea how thick the hull is before I start drilling it out and installing the new fitting.

Thanks
Chuck Philips
#1725 AMB Marina,Long Beach

There appears to be metal covering the hole in the stanchion that serves as the vent tube for the waste tank for the head. I checked below deck--behind our switches panel.  I removed the hose clamps on the metal tube that protrudes below the deck where the elbow attaches that connects my tubing to the vent pipe.  I have attached a closeup picture of the stanchion base--I know that the hole in the stanchion used to be open as I often put water down it when washing the deck to clean out the pipes.  Now I see another metal blockage--should I just try drilling through it to open it up again?  I've read on this Forum about other owners adding a new thru hull for venting--I'd rather not do that.

Thanks
Chuck

We have two reading lights in the v-birth that are two-pin halogen bulbs on our 2005 34 Mk II.  I need to replace one of them that has now burned out--anyone know what wattage they are?  I can't find a notation on the bulb itself.  Thanks

I just received a call from the Marina.  I have a chance to move our 34, Forever Young to a new slip in a much nicer marina than we are currently located.  It's 20 minutes closer to our home and has pump outs every two slips.  My only concern is this new slip has the power box for the entire dock right where our bow will be.  Is there anything I should be worried about before accepting and moving to this new slip?  New Zinks are put on regularly by my boat cleaner.

Thanks

I'm looking into buying a new main from Ullman for our Cat 34 Mk II #1725.  We have an in-mast furling system and one option the sail maker is offering is a main with 3 vertical batons.  My current Main has no batons and I'm wondering if any of you have experience with batons and an in-mast furling system on your 34.  I would assume the sail would keep better shape; however, I wonder if it makes the sail more difficult to furl or unfurl.  Thanks, Chuck Philips

My wife and I have been keeping Forever Young--our 2005, C/34 #1725--at the Shoreline Marina in Long Beach, CA for a number of years and wonder if there are other Catalina 34 owners who might want to start a Fleet of our own.  We spend most of the summer at Catalina Island at the 4th of July YC on the West End of the Island and would like to get to know other C34 sailors better who also like Catalina Island.  If you're interested, please reply to this message.

Chuck

I have a Xantrex 2000 inverter and battery monitor panel.  For the last couple of years, the "Inverter On" soft switch on my touch panel no longer works when I press it to turn the inverter "on"; however, if I pull up the settee cushions--so I can get access to the actual inverter box--I can turn the inverter on by pressing the inverter button on the metal box.  The inverter switch on the panel allows me to turn the inverter "off" by pressing it--just not "on."  Has anyone else had this problem?  I've been wondering about installing in a "bypass switch" of some sort to turn the inverter "on" but would like to hear from my fellow 34 sailors if you think it will work or if it's a lame idea. Any suggestions?

It's a hassle to take the settee cushions off just to use the inverter to fire up the microwave or watch TV.

Thanks

Chuck Philips
Forever Young, C-34 Mk II #1725

Finally decided to change my own oil on my 2005 C34.  I've read about what oil to use:  10w-40, Diesel Oil CF or CF-4 or CG-4.  Can anyone advise me as to how much replacement oil I need to add after draining the old oil?

Thanks

Does anyone have a suggestion as to why my Chartplotter now identifies waypoints I have set over the past 5-6 years as numbers rather than displaying the "names" that I gave them?  The "names" still are associated to routes that I included them in; however, only a number displays on the screen.  Did I change a setting inadvertently?  I have tried to create new waypoints to replace the old ones and no matter what I enter into the system as the new "Name" the plotter will only display the waypoint as a number.  Another anomaly is it now doesn't display the icon that I associated with the type of waypoint, either.

Does anyone attach a one or two step boarding ladder to the side of their Catalina 34 MkII for easier side entry from their dingy?

When we are on the hook at Catalina, with the wind coming from astern or from the beam, I often tie my shore boat (a Boston Whaler 130) on the starboard side so it doesn't bang into the stern swim ladder or the back of the boat.  When the Whaler is side-tied and we want to get back onto the sailboat from the dingy or go from the sailboat onto the dingy, I don't have too much problem as I have longer legs than my wife--but she struggles!  When we are pointed into the wind, it's no big deal as I tie the Whaler off the stern and the wind keeps the Whaler off the sailboat and it's easy to board thru the transom; however, when the wind is from the beam or abaft I need to keep the Whaler side tied, fenders keep it off the sailboat; however, I think I need a boarding ladder for my wife and daughter to more easily get them back on the sailboat.

If you use a boarding ladder for this situation, what type of ladder do you have and do you attach it to the toe rail or by some other method? Or, if you have another suggestion for boarding that doesn't include over the swim ladder, please let me know.



Thanks,
Chuck
"Forever Young", #1725

When we are under power, operating at about 2100 RPM's and doing 6.7+ knots, the stern seems to sink a bit and water often comes over the swim step on our Mk 11.  Generally this only happens with a following sea.  Anyone else having this happen?  It's been doing it for the 5 years we have had the boat with no apparent issues other than I get wet feet when at the helm.  Thanks.

I neglected my old house batteries on our 2005 Mk II and let them go dry.  After adding distilled water, I get some charge out of them but they seem to lose power based upon readings from my Xantrex 2000 more quickly now when I'm on the hook than they did last summer. The batteries are 5-years old. Has anyone replaced their batteries on their Mark II and really like what they have purchased enough to recommend them?  Our house batteries are located under the dining settee cushion. We don't use much power on the hook other than the refrigerator (all the time) and a few lights for an hour or so.  We use a Honda 2000 to recharge when necessary.  I have already changed the starting battery as it tested "need to replace" at a local boat shop.  The bad batteries seem to have affected my inverter as well--I can't get it to start from the panel.  It will only work when I manually press the "invert button" on the actual device.

Advice would be appreciated.

Chuck
"Forever Young"

Has anyone had any luck finding a repair person for their fridge?  Our 2005 Alder Barbour seems to run constantly but does not cool down. I'm hopeful it just needs refrigerant; however, I may have gotten to exuberant the last time I defrosted it (September) and may have caused a little leak while knocking off the ice--not sure.  Have searched online to find someone to no avail.  Boat is located in Shoreline Marina, Long Beach, CA and we live in Huntington Beach. Thanks

I have the following 3 accessories for a Cat 34 Mk II--each piece is in perfect condition:
1)  Cream colored leather cushion for placing on top of the table top when transforming the dining area into a bed;
2)  One-piece smoked Plexiglas that fits in place of the hatch boards for privacy;
3)  Captain's seat with white leather raised cushion.

If you would like to see pictures of any of the items, email me at chuck.philips@gmail.com

Make me a fair offer and any or all can be yours.  Our boat is in the Redondo Beach area.

Chuck

We like to spend extended time on our mooring at 2-Harbors in Catalina--often, 3-4 weeks at a time.  Getting around the wheel is sort of a pain.  Removing the wheel and zip-tieing it to a life line or stanchion doesn't look difficult; however, with the Auto-Helm, is there anything we need to be aware of when we want to re-attach the wheel/autohem and are ready to go sailing? Thanks.

A friend told me that he kept the transmission in gear when he turned his motor off because he was told his 34 would sail better with motor in gear rather than in neutral.  Any thoughts?

We just received our Coast Guard Documentation Certificate and now need to locate our "7-digit Official Number" in 3" letters "marked on some clearly visible interior structural part of the hull".  Does anyone have a suggestion as to the best location of these numbers? 

Thanks
Chuck

I'm thinking of installing a TV by mounting a bracket on the bulkhead between the dining table and the V-birth.  The wood panel separating the two areas appears to be very thin.  I'm looking at two different units--1 weighs in at 11.6 lbs and the other just under 20 lbs. 

My questions are:

1. If I install wood on the v-birth side of the bulkhead and drill through the panel and through the new wood to attach the mounting bracket, do you think that will be strong enough to support the new "ultra thin TV"?
2. Do you think I can install either TV based upon their weights or do you have a recommended maximum weight for the TV?

Thanks for your help.
Chuck Philips
"Forever Young"

I was told by the broker who sold us our 2005 35th Anniversary Edition 34, that it came with a special decal near the triple stripes rather that the normal "Catalina MkII" decal. Does anyone have a picture of what this decal looks like?  The broker has replaced the old stripes with new ones and I would like to put the decal on, if possible.

Thanks

Chuck Philips
#1725