Messages

You're right.  Just down from LBYC. We've been in Shoreline for a long time and think it will be a good move.

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

Thanks for the info. I'll probably order a new 3-batten Main from Ullman tomorrow.

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

Kevin,

You're right about Avalon and Two Harbors.  In any case, if you ever decide that you want to sail to the West End, let us know.  Our YC in 4th of July Cove is a great place to hangout and have a cocktail at sunset.  Since we don't have any reciprocal privileges with other YC's, we're happy to sign you in as our guests. My wife, Sally, and I are usually at the Island for most of June, August and September.  Just send me a text--559 593-2437.

Chuck

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

Stu.

Thanks, I haven't tried testing a new wire.  I had an electrician out a few years ago when it first started acting up and he attached a different panel to test it and the inverter would turn on and off with the other panel.  Unfortunately, that panel didn't have any of the other monitoring functions so I was not interested in purchasing it.  I'll try switching phone wires, though I am not real hopeful that will make the difference...can't hurt to try it though.

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

Thanks for the tip.  I searched the link you provided and as soon as I get back to the boat, I'll try out their suggestions.  Again, thanks

I had our local Ulman dealer (Long Beach, CA) do some repair work on the 34's Genoa; however, I've been buying Ulman sails for an old Victory 21 that I still race and have nothing but good things to say about their quality and customer service.  I've purchased three main and jib combinations from the Santa Ana loft over the past decade.  They have a great staff to work with to meet all of your needs and exceed expectations.

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

We tow our Whaler 130 Sport with a 40 hp Mercury EFI (that I keep down in the water) to Catalina from Long Beach each May and then tow it back to LB in late September at the end of our sailing season at the Island.  We give up about 1/2 knot when towing.  I use approximately a 100 ft rope that slides over a horseshoe rope that is attached to both stern cleats of the sailboat--both boats ride easy.  I also keep the steering wheel of the Whaler tied off to the BW's rail which keeps the BW tracking straight behind our sail boat.  Others that I see, keep their motor out of the water, but I notice their boats don't seem to track as well as ours does.  Once we get to the Island I pull the Whaler in to the sailboat and often remove it before we head into the mooring area.

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.