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Topics - Ray & Sandy Erps

#1
Fleet 5 / Dungeness Crab in Skagit Bay
May 28, 2008, 08:34:20 AM
Ever wonder what the crab are doing down there while you're drinking your umbrella drink?  I borrowed a drop camera from work and hooked it up to a bait bag and dropped it overboard at Hope Island.  Took about 4 minutes for the crab to show up once the bag stopped skidding across the bottom:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FpmflENfnwo
#2
Fleet 5 / A scary Memorial Day Weekend
May 24, 2008, 08:05:34 PM
We had a bad day today. Left Spencer Spit around 11:00 and headed north towards Doe Island. There was no wind so we motored. Just south of Doe Island a ways, in Rosario Strait, the engine sounded different and I noticed no water shooting out the exhaust. Temperature gauge was okay, so I caught it in time. I shut down the motor then went down below to check the water intake strainer. When I pulled off the engine cover, I found a fan belt completely off. What the heck. Next I found the pulley on the raw water pump broken, with the pulley completely missing.

Rosario was ebbing. It runs at 5 knots in places. We put up the sails and drifted south down Rosario like a log, doing 5 and 6 knots over the ground but only a knot or two through the water, barely able to steer at times. Rosario doesn't ebb straight down the middle of the channel. It sets to the west a bit against Blakely Island where it looks like river rapids. Even though I was trying to sail away from Blakely Island, we were being set towards it. My wife was getting scared. I've spent enough time running the Skagit River that I knew currents will push you towards an obstruction and then usually around it at the last minute. We zipped along the east shore of Blakely Island sideways and cleared a point I was worried about. The next obstruction was Black Rock and we were heading straight for it.

I put the 3 H.P. on the dinghy and hooked a tow line to the boat because there was no wind to sail and therefore no steerage. I started pulling the boat and could only get 1 knot. We just barely cleared Black Rock. I was starting to get worried now. The next obstruction we were getting pushed into was Bird Rock. I decided to see if I could patch the engine to get some control of the boat again.

I took our garden hose that we use to fill the water tanks and cut and end off. I screwed the other end into the anchor wash down hose. I took the cut end down below and bypassed the raw water pump and hooked the garden hose directly up to the hose to the heat exchanger. I started the engine and turned on the anchor wash down pump. Water was coming out of the exhaust again, but at a reduced rate. I put the boat in gear and started idling. We were making almost three knots and the exhaust elbow hose was staying cool. It looked like we were going to make it. We motored over to Deception Pass where it was flooding at 6 knots. We headed through. Unfortunately, a big power boat was coming through the other way against the current and taking his share out of the middle. I didn't have much steerage and aimed for the middle too. It's my understanding a down current boat has the right away due to reduced steerage. We cleared the boat right under the bridge and headed over to Hope Island and anchored. We can relax again. I think we'll sit here until Monday and then go in with the current. It could have been a lot worse. I have a new found respect for Capt. Vancouver who explored this area 200 years ago without an auxilary engine.
#3
Main Message Board / Other Catalina Boats
June 06, 2007, 03:12:49 PM
Our daughter and son-in-law are soon to be third generation sailors.  They want me to go look at a 1976 Catalina 27 with them.  I know that a lot of C-34 owners previously owned smaller Catalinas, so I thought I would check with this crew to see if there is anything I should watch out for when we go take a look.  If you can help, please private message me or email me since this is off topic.

Thanks,  Ray
#4
Main Message Board / Spare Voltage Regulators
June 04, 2007, 12:09:10 PM
Greetings,

A couple of weeks ago I did a boo-boo and damaged my charging system.  I thought it was probably the alternator and took it off to be tested.  It was fine.  As I mentioned in a previous post, several of these high capacity alternators are based on a souped up Delco 10-DN alternator used on GM cars in the 60's and 70's and that repair parts are available on the internet.

Well, after reinstalling my alternator and doing further checking, I think I determined my fancy voltage regulator has a short in it.  Mine is like several other smart three stage regulators out there that cost an arm and a leg.  Since it was the weekend and we wanted to go boating again, I ran down to NAPA and picked up one of their $15 external regulators typical on cars back in the 60's and 70's.  I mounted it right next to my fancy regulator and the wires pretty much swapped over wire for wire.  I started it up and everything worked fine.  Now I have a functional back up regulator that will get us by while the other one is sent back to the shop to be fixed.  Once it's fixed, I'll switch the wires back to the gold plated regulator and leave the $15 one mounted up in case I do the boo-boo again.  Just thought I would share that in case you're the type of person who can learn from other's mistakes.  (I wish I was one of those, I have to make them myself before the learnin' sticks).

#5
A few years back, Jim Moe gave C-34 owners some great advice on a source for a high output alternator.  I installed one on the C-34 we had and it worked great. 

I just recently did a major boo-boo on our current boat and damaged one of the alternators.  It was a 105 amp Lestek alternator.  When I started looking for repair parts for it I found that Lestek, Balmar, Ample Power, Powerline and others each have high capacity alternators based on a cheap old Delco Alternator that was popular in the 60's and 70's.  I just re-read Jim's post, and it appears that the Blue Circle alternator is also based on the same Delco, although that still needs to be confirmed.  The Delco is model 10-DN, called a three wire alternator, because it was externally regulated.  If you google Delco 10dn, you'll find quite a bit of information about them.

You can buy a used Delco at an junk yard for around $25.  You can buy a 105 amp rebuild kit that includes diodes, stator, brushes and bearings for just under $40.  These Delcos come apart and go together pretty easy compared to other alternators I've been into.  So for under $80, you can build your own high capacity alternator, or if you already installed the blue circle alternator, you can have a repair kit that replaces diodes, brushes and a few other parts for around $20.

My current boat has two alternators on it.  After doing this little bit of research, it turns out that they're both Delco's and the one repair kit will probably work in either if I screw up again (sometimes it takes me a couple of times to learn from my mistakes).  Unfortunately, I learned all this a little too late, because the Lestek is already in the shop and I'll probably end up paying a large fee for a kit that costs $20.  Nutz.
#6
Fleet 5 / Desolation Sound 2007
May 05, 2007, 09:10:26 AM
Greetings to fleet 5,

Although we're not in a C-34 anymore, we're still sailors who happen to be heading up to Desolation Sound again the first three weeks of July.  Anyone else heading up?
#7
Fleet 5 / Gray Whales are in Saratoga
April 02, 2007, 03:05:10 PM
There are a couple of Gray Whale hanging around Saratoga Passage.  I've seen them two days in a row now, Sunday and Today (Monday)  Sunday at Onamac PT.  Today, north of Sandy Pt. about a mile or so.

I understand they frequent the bay just north of Onamac Pt. and often go into Crescent Harbor.  Might be worth a sail in that area this coming weekend as I think they're on their way north and just stopping by.

#8
Fleet 5 / Weekend March 17th-18th
March 12, 2007, 07:03:53 PM
Between the weather and family obligations it's been a few weeks since we've been out.  We're going to remedy that this weekend, depending on the weather.  We may sneak out early on Friday to Coronet Bay then who knows where after that.  I've never been over to Sequim Bay before, which looks like it could be kind of a cool sail if the Strait's not blowing a gale.  Anyone else from the Anacortes area going to be out and about?  The floats still aren't in yet at James Island or Doe Island, so that means we have to tow the dink if we go further than Coronet Bay.
#9
Fleet 5 / President's Day 3-day weekend`
February 14, 2007, 12:59:15 PM
Hey,

There currently isn't any ice on the boat and it's not getting dark until after 5:00.  We're thinking of going to either Saddle Bag, Eagle Harbor or Coronet Bay for the weekend depending on the weather.  So far it looks like most of the rain will be on Thursday and Friday.  Will anyone else be out and about?

Ray
#10
Fleet 5 / Thanksgiving Rendezvous
November 13, 2006, 08:57:28 PM
Greetings fellow PNW boaters,

There's an informal get together being discussed on the SSCA website for the Thanksgiving Holiday at Hope Island.

http://64.70.221.24/DiscBoard/viewtopic.php?t=1000

Ray
#11
Spring is supposed to be here in the Pacific Northwest, although you wouldn't know it by the snow line in nearby hills.  I'm waiting for my schedule to change again in May so we'll have weekends off so we can start getting out in the local Islands again.  We're getting out for sure on Memorial Day weekend and would enjoy meeting up with other local boaters again.  We've had very good luck getting the float at Doe Island in the past, even on Holiday weekends, if anyone else is interested in a rendezvous.  We're also in the process of firming up our vacation to Desolation Sound again, probably the first three weeks of July again.  I think we'll hit Princess Louisa either while heading up or heading back down.  We enjoyed meeting Jack and Ruth on Mariah III last year along with Randy and Jeanne on Voyager.  Happy sailing
#12
Main Message Board / Moving on
February 10, 2006, 11:08:13 PM
We sold Diamond Girl to a fella taking her up to Silva Bay British Columbia.  I recommended that the new owner check out this website to keep informed on the boat's wonderful attributes and clever improvements that other owners continue to come up with. 

We bought a Canadian built cruising sloop, a Fraser 41.  We have eight years or so to get her paid off so we can head down to Mexico in the winters on her.  We'll continue to watch for familiar C-34's in the Puget Sound - Gulf Island region as we enjoy our new boat.  I wish there was a similar knowledge base on the Fraser line of boats that exists for the Catalinas.  My hat's off to the crew who contribute to this forum and the guys that maintain it.  It's a great resource for a great boat.

Ray and Sandy Erps
S.V. "Nikko"
Fraser 41
La Conner Washington
#13
Main Message Board / Racor loss of prime
December 13, 2005, 02:28:24 PM
My diesel furnace seems to be loosing its fuel prime lately.  Its fuel intake is plumbed into the Racor filter.  I think it's probably sucking air around the fuel primer plunger on the top of the Racor filter head.  I believe this because when the forced air furnace starts to sputter like it's starving for fuel, I gave the Racor primer a couple of pumps to build up a little pressure and this had two results.  The furnace continued to run for another few minutes and a little bit of fuel leaks around the primer plunger.

I figure if the primer leaks a little fuel while priming, it probably sucks a little air when the furnance lift pump is pulling fuel through the filter.  It looks like there may be remnants of an O-Ring around the plunger stem just under the primer plunger knob, but I can't be sure.  I googled Racor on the web to see if I could find an exploded parts diagram but didn't have any luck.  Anyone know if there is supposed to be some sort of an O-ring seal on the Racor Primer plunger?

P.S., not sure of the Racor model, but my recollection is that I use 24RS replacement elements (or something like that) and it has the clear plastic bowl and a replaceable element about the size of a standard automotive oil filter.
#14
Main Message Board / Propellor Ring
September 27, 2005, 04:55:08 PM
I haven't seen this symptom listed here yet.  We just replaced the cutlass bearing and had the propellor tuned up (balanced and pitch corrected so they're all the same).  The propellor makes a ringing noise above 2200 rpm now.  At first I thought maybe it was the cutlass bearing squealing a bit, but it's a ringing noise, not a squealing noise.  I recollect being on a power boat several years ago that had new propellors put on and it made similar ringing noise.  I figure it will go away as soon as it grows a baracle on one blade but in the meantime, it kind of bugs me.  I teased the wife and told her I was going to jump in with a hammer and put a ding in one blade to see if that makes the noise go away.

Anyone know what that's all about.
#15
Main Message Board / Full Cockpit Enclosure
September 19, 2005, 06:19:08 PM
Our dodger is about to split at the seams.  It's probably 15 years old, so time to replace it.  We're thinking about a full cockpit enclosure.  Paul was kind enough to send me some pictures of his outfit and whether he thought it was worthwhile or not.  Looking for additional input from boats with patios.

We use our boat year 'round and this is our first boat with a dodger (just love it, don't know how we got along without one for so long).  We're thinking after we got used to climbing in and out of the patio that we would come to appreciate the warmth and dryness during the dark months up here in the Pacific Northwest.  On the other hand, if we took the cost of the new patio and converted it to one dollar bills, we might be able to burn the money under our existing rain fly to keep the chill off for several months.

So what's your experience?  Got any good pictures?
#16
Fleet 5 / Sept 24th and 25th
September 13, 2005, 04:21:51 AM
Depending on weather, we're going to try for a four day weekend around the 24th.  We made it up to Doe Island on Labor Day weekend and found the dock open late Saturday afternoon.  That's starting to become our favorite secret spot because we've been able to tie up to the float everytime we've been there.  We'll probably hit Doe Island again then over to Jones and maybe Friday Harbor (who knows, we kind of go with the flow)  

Here's a link to some of our other weekend adventures.

http://mysite.verizon.net/resnxdf0/index.html
#17
Main Message Board / Bow Mustache Stain
September 07, 2005, 05:35:52 PM
In a previous post, Ken Juul wrote that lemon juice will take the water stain off the bow.  I had my dinghy stored on the fence after our summer trip and gave the lemon juice a try.  I saturated a paper towl with lemon juice and wiped in on a patch of stained bottom about a foot square.  I put in a little elbow grease too and then wiped it off.  I was dissappointed at first because I couldn't see any difference.  

So a week later I'm mowing the back yard and I go by the dinghy and see a bright white square patch on the bottom of the dinghy.  The lemon juice definately removed the stain over some time.  The results were good enough that I'll experiment with cleaning the rest of the dinghy's bottom to get an idea what works best then I'll give it a try on the boat.  Looks promising though.  I have some rust looking stains up around my bow roller.  I think I'll give it a try up there too.
#18
Fleet 5 / Labor Day Weekend
August 24, 2005, 05:41:32 PM
Just in case someone else is out and about we'll be heading out with company on Saturday afternoon, probably going north through Swinomish Channel to either Saddle Bag, Eagle Harbor or Doe Island for Saturday evening.  Sunday, we're headed down to Rosario Resort for a treat, then back home to La Conner on Monday.  So far we've met Jack and Ruth and Randy and Jeannie so there are other C-34 Members that we haven't bumped into yet.

We're getting a dirty bottom so I'm going to have to haul and paint here pretty soon.  I've used Latitude Marine Services in Swinomish Channel in the past.  Is there any good deals for bottom painting in Anacortes?
#19
Main Message Board / Kubota D-950 Part Numbers
June 07, 2005, 04:03:09 AM
I'm gradually increasing my inventory of spare parts for the boat.  I plan on getting a spare glow plug and I might pick up a spare injector.  I've been looking all over the web for the Kubota part numbers for the M-25XP engine and I finally found a source.  It's a large PDF file of the parts manual.  Whoopee!

http://www.sailingboatefaki.gr/Engine%20Manuals.htm
#20
Fleet 5 / Long Weekend May 28th.
May 25, 2005, 02:50:46 AM
We're taking my sister and her two boys out Memorial Day weekend.  Heard the weather is supposed to be a little nicer than last weekend.  We're getting a late start Saturday, so we'll probably anchor off the south side of Hope Island and have a campfire so the kids can burn their dinner on it.  Sunday night, we haven't decided yet, maybe Garrison Bay so the boys can see English Camp or anywhere in between.  I've about given up on James Island on the weekends now that it's boating season.  Anyone else going out?
#21
Fleet 5 / Weekend May 21st
May 17, 2005, 12:31:19 AM
Through some creative scheduling, we will probably be able to head out Friday evening for a two night weekend (Friday and Saturday back on Sunday).  The extended weather forecast looks good.  There is also some sort of whale festival going on out at San Juan Island.  We'll be going somewhere, just don't know where yet.  I haven't looked at the tides yet but we had nearly minus tides last weekend, so we may be coming into the Neap tides this coming weekend.  Anyone else going out?
#22
Fleet 5 / Weekend May 7th
May 06, 2005, 03:17:04 AM
Anyone going out this weekend?  We were thinking of making a run up to B'ham to use up a gift certificate for the Anthony's restaurant but the tides suck.  There's a minus tide on Saturday around noon, so that means the current will be against us in the Swinomish Channel when we leave so I think we're going to save the B'ham trip for another weekend.  

I forgot to check times for slack water at Deception Pass, but I think that's against us too, so that leaves Skagit Bay or north of the Swinomish Channel for us.
#23
Fleet 5 / Weekend, April 23rd
April 20, 2005, 02:39:32 AM
We've been away to Florida for two weeks and are anxious to get back out on the boat.  We haven't been out for a month which is probably the longest period of no boating we've had since we bought it.

So...... if it's not raining cats and dogs we'll be anchored somewhere in Skagit Bay or up near Saddle Bag Island, depending on the current flow in the Swinomish Channel when we go to leave.  We'll know more as the week progresses but just wanted to give a heads up in case someone else in the group can get out this weekend.
#24
Fleet 5 / Weekend March 26th
March 21, 2005, 11:24:38 PM
The weather didn't cooperate for the outing March 19th.  Maybe next weekend will be better.  Anyone else heading out if the weather is nice?
#25
Fleet 5 / Hope Island, March 19th?
March 10, 2005, 02:58:06 AM
Nutz,

We're busy with some family stuff weekend of March 12th, but if the weather is nice, we'll probably try and get out March 19th.  We like going to Hope Island in Skagit Bay.  If there is no wind, the south side of the Island has a nice place to anchor with a couple of primitive camp sites and an unlimited supply of firewood for a big camp fire.  Crab season is still closed, so we can't cook fresh crab, but we'll bring the marshmellows and graham crackers if you bring the Hershey Bars.

We went out Feb 26th to go over to James Island but ended up at Coronet Bay instead, as the float was still out for the winter.  The park ranger thought they would have it in sometime in March or April.
#26
Fleet 5 / Desolation Sound Trip 2005
March 01, 2005, 02:22:25 PM
There is growing interest in a rendezvous up in Desolation Sound this summer.  I think Jack and Ruth are heading up in July as are Sandy and I.  One of the Randys mentioned they were probably heading up as well.  There is a lot of water between Puget Sound and Desolation Sound so we might be able to schedule a couple of gatherings with other folks who aren't going all the way up.  Just thought I'd throw it out there to see if something starts to gel.
#27
Fleet 5 / James Island Excursion April 26th
February 22, 2005, 06:45:56 PM
Looks like the weather is supposed to stay nice through this coming weekend.  We're thinking of taking the boat over to James Island Friday evening to see if we can get a spot on the dock (I think they leave the dock in all year.)  If anyone else is interested in meeting over there, drop a line.  We could even bring a bundle of firwood for an evening camp fire.  Will probably have the whole island to ourselves.
#28
Main Message Board / Anacortes Fleet Cruising Section.
February 19, 2005, 05:48:37 PM
Would there be any interest among the Anacortes Washington bunch to see if we could get a separate message board section just to post cruising anouncements?  It wouldn't be of any interest to the C-34 general population, but I wouldn't mind checking a smaller message board section regularly to find out if anyone is going out to the San Juans for the weekend or something like that.  It might catch the eye of other Catalina models in the same area and turn out to be a lot of fun.  I check the CAPS website now and then, but most of their get togethers are too far south for me just for a weekend and they don't have that many either.
#29
Main Message Board / Maintenance Checklist
December 19, 2004, 03:44:18 PM
The C-380 website has a pretty good maintenance checklist spreadsheet that works in Microsoft Excel.  It's easy enough to download and modify it for your boat/circumstances.  

The part that I thought was pretty neat, is that once you get your checklist the way you want it, you stick it in your log book in those clear protective sheet, then each year, you print out a work sheet, trim it with some scissors to use only the left numbered column and check off the items each year on the worksheet instead of messing up your list.  The C-380 website can explain it better.  ( my wife didn't want to go out on the boat this weekend, so I putted around at home on the computer )

http://www.catalina380.org/check_lists/check_list_page.htm
#30
If there is anyone else out there using "Cap'n Voyager Mosaic" charting software, this website is a pretty good resource.  The website has .jpg photographs of Puget Sound Shorelines.  "Mosaic" has a feature that allows you to put a "user mark" on your charts that refer back to a digital photograph.  I've downloaded aerial pictures of most of the bays and marinas I frequent.  If I want a bird'seye view, I just click on the little icon on the chart and up pops the picture.  "Mosaic" also allows the user to import and export these user marks.  I use this feature between my desktop and laptop for the boat.  If you have "Cap'n Voyager" and would like to give it a try I would be happy to email the database I'm using.

http://apps.ecy.wa.gov/shorephotos/
#31
Main Message Board / Lamp Oil
November 29, 2004, 06:07:15 PM
Anyone have an alternative fuel oil for kerosene lamps?  I've been buying lamp oil at the local drug/hardware store.  It labeled 99% pure parafin oil.  I've used a product labeled liquid candle before that burns well, but it's expensive.  I tried regular kerosene once, but we both thought it stunk.  I went to the local home improvement mega store to see what was on their shelves.  They had some sort of painter's naphtha, mineral spirits and big cans of kerosene.  I suspect that the naphtha and mineral spirits are too volatile to use in a wick lamp, but they were priced right.  Anyone have some insight into all these fuel possibilities?
#32
Main Message Board / Cabin Light Switches
November 22, 2004, 07:43:34 PM
Thought I'd try the collective mind here before spending my dime to call Catalina.  My boat is an 89.  The switches in the lamps in the v-berth are flakey.  I unsoldered one and popped it out of the lamp to bring it to the local NAPA to see if they could look it up in an automotive book, but that didn't pan out.  Figured someone else has already replaced theirs so thought I'd benefit from their experience.
#33
Main Message Board / Inexpensive Cabin Heater
October 26, 2004, 05:31:00 AM
I've been thinking of scrounging up a heater core and fan out of a wrecking yard and plumbing it into the lines to the hot water heater with some t's and a shut off valve for an inexpensive cabin heater.  I didn't see any similar projects listed on the projects page.  Anyone do something like that already and how did it work.  (I don't believe in re-inventing the wheel)
#34
Main Message Board / Computers on boats
February 18, 2004, 09:55:42 AM
I have a surplus desktop CPU with a smallish footprint that I've been thinking of putting in the boat.  I'd rather use a notebook but gotta work with what I have.  I have one of those 200w inverters that I used with an old 386 notebook computer when 486's were cool.  Seems like most desktops use a 200 watt power supply inside so I thought I might get by with a 200 watt inverter.  Anyone try it already?