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Noah I hope you fair well over the weekend! Be safe.

I thought I would post this for fun. I went fishing with my brother-in-law who grew up on the shores of the bay Sunday. It was opening day for Rockfish, and we managed to catch a couple. We then fileted, baked and topped with crab imperial. This is about as Maryland as you can get. Although the crabmeat was from Indonesia, there is no way the local crab industry can meet demand.

https://www.facebook.com/1285699072/videos/405956221367130/

First sail of the year was terrific. If you can see the videos I have the ship that has been aground in the Chesapeake for a month. Great sail, 24 miles, 1 tack and averaged 7 knots.

Just saying!

We had a boat owner drown at my marina yesterday. I did not know him and do not have the details. I know it was windy here yesterday and the water temperature is cold. Although my boat is out for the season my thoughts are we should all know where the ladders that the marinas have put out for emergencies are located and we should set up our slips with some safety lines to use in case we fall in. The piers at my marina are long and maybe he was hurt when he went in and could not make the swim to safety. We all need to stay vigilant about safety, sometimes we forget we are all getting older. Sucks

Here are some videos of my marina and boat. We are having a high tide and wind at same time on the Chesapeake. When we have a "Noreaster" wind from the eastern low pressure the water tends to "Pile Up" on the western shore. Of course my pier is floating a little although it is not a floating pier. The wind is gusting to 35 now on the bay and supposed to go to 50 later.  I took these videos.  Sorry could not upload videos but here are a couple of photos. Downtown Annapolis is flooded now.

I am going to remove and refinish my cockpit teak this winter. I have started with the eyebrow piece above the companion way hatch. I drilled a small hole in the middle of the plug then screwed a wood screw into the drilled hole. The plug then broke into pieces and I was able to unscrew the screw holding the wood onto the boat. I am going to get the forstner bit  to clean the hole. I will become a plug expert by the time I am finished. Some pictures.

I am leaving for a 300 mile round trip from Baltimore to Norfolk in a week. I am going with a life long friend, 1st grade, who is flying in from Nashville for the trip. I have the boat ready in terms of my systems have been repaired, replaced or added over the 4 years I have owned the boat. We are leaving the wives behind so it is just the 2 of us. I have not set a schedule for where or when we need to be on any day on purpose. We will basically be marina hopping every day. I do have a basic itinerary on our route down the Chesapeake. We will be eating breakfast and lunch on the boat, dinner off. Through the years I have done many week long cruises on the bay but once we are past day 4 we will be in new to me locations. I am looking for any advice you may have for me that could help me during the trip. Not in terms of where to sail on the bay but things I may not be taking into account on a trip like this. 

I have looked but cannot find where to get a replacement oil dipstick, mine leaks. Any help would be appreciated.

I will be able to go sailing any day the wind is good. I hated just having the weekends to sail.

Painted the bottom today and I have to say it seemed easier just a couple of years ago.

My depth gauge raymarine started working sporadically last summer. From what I have read it is a good chance that it is because of wire connections that I need to clean. However I would like to clean the surface of the transducer before I launch the boat. Has anyone cleaned one before? Sandpaper? Steelwool? ???

Would it make a difference if I replace the front mounts with the k75 and leave the rear mounts? I can do the front fairly easily.

I am in the process of refinishing/repairing the steps. The top steps are in good shape and I have sanded, applied 1st coat of cetol. See Pictures. I am going to replace the tread piece for the top step, see picture. The PO had the tread in place and I never slipped on the step so I am going to keep it. I am going to fill the other steps groves with either caulk or wood filler as others have done.
Now for the problem, The bottom steps are mounted on plywood and it is separating at the bottom. It will only get worse and need to be replaced. Pictures coming. I looked on the site and cannot find any threads on this repair. I plan on replacing the plywood which will force me to replace screw plugs, new for me. I have also ordered sound proofing from Defender because mine is degrading.

I replaced my original traveler, so it is free if anyone needs it.

I am planning to take a 300 mile trip this summer from Baltimore to Norfolk. I was thinking I could post videos and some text about the trip. Would that be allowed on this site. Also can the video portion be loaded directly or would I have to do a link to Youtube?

I am new to fleet 12, anything going on?

I may have been one of Guido's last orders for our club. Dave finished assembling the order and it arrived today, took about a month. Some pictures, I am happy with the order.

I am having new cushions made and would like to offer the original cushions to anyone for free. I do not want to deal with shipping so preferable someone local. Picture of pattern. I would ship covers.

I wanted to replace my mainsalon cushions, I priced them from several local shops and the prices were higher than CD. I also was not comfortable with their experience in cushions. I will attach one of the estimates.I have decided to order new cushions from CD. CD is using the same pattern and maker that catalina used. I would like to offer my original ones for free. I do not want to hassle with shipping them though. I would ship the covers but not the foam or someone can pick up locally. I am including  a picture.       

          ---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Date     Service               Description                   Amount     
11/09/2020 Custom UphCouch with Luxor Leather $331/                  331.00T
                     Sunbrella Elements $219                               
11/09/2020 Custom FoaCouch Foam and Quilt Batting                    127.30T
11/09/2020 Labor     Labor Rate Reupholster Couch                  1,380.00
11/09/2020 Custom UphDinette with Luxor Leather $548/                548.00T
                     Sunbrella Elements $352                               
11/09/2020 Custom FoaDinette Foam and Quilt Batting                  244.60T
11/09/2020 Labor     Labor Rate Reupholster Dinette                2,415.00
11/09/2020 Custom UphAft Berth Seats and Bolster Sunbrella           102.00T
                     Elements $102                                         
11/09/2020 Custom FoaAft Berth Foam and Quilt  Batting                85.60T
11/09/2020 Labor     Labor Rate Aft Berth Cushions and             1,035.00
                     Bolster                                               
____________________________________________________________________________
                                     SubTotal:                    $6,268.50
                                     Tax:                            $86.31
                                     --------------------------------------
                                     Total:                       $6,354.81

                                                                           
                                                                           
50% non-refundable deposit required to schedule work.  *Our winter       
schedule is filling FAST!   Once deposit has been received, job will be   
added to our schedule.  Remaining balance is due upon completion.         
                                                                         
3% convenience fee for all credit card transactions.                     
                                                                         
We look forward to working with you!                             

I am currently refinishing the teak eyebrows on the cabin top. When reattaching to the boat would you seal the entire length or just at the screws. I think I want to just seal at the screws and let the water be able to go behind and thru the molding.

My PBO had replaced the black panels with a wood panel that was a oakish finish. We did not care for them as they did not match the rest of the salon. I checked here for ideas and the one that I liked was to replace them with teak veneer plywood panels. I looked around and found a teak veneer that had a sticky back that I could cover the old panels. They are thin enough, both the old panel plus the veneer to fit in the grooves in which the panels slide. I know it is blasphemy but I am toying with using cetol on them. I am playing with the remnants to see how they might look. I dont have to make that decision if ever. I attached some photos.   

Noah do you thin your varnish?

I thought you might like to see a Catalina 34 that caught the pier during a high tide. Might have to adjust his lines next time.

I am looking at refurbishing my gauge panel. I have looked thru the site and see the options for the panel itself however I do not see where anyone has disassembled the gauges for cleaning. Just checking to see if anyone has. I have done it on my TR6 and it was fairly easy. I am just wondering if their would be anything different for the marine environment, not that the triumph doesn't have a leak or two.

I just adjusted the valves on my m25xp. All the info is on this site. Job was easy and straight forward. 10 mm wrench for lock nuts, 12 mm wrench for valve cover nuts, feeler gauge and I turned the engine by turning alternator. The valves were all a little loose. I also replaces the valve cover seal because it was leaking a little in the back and I did not know it's age. I was also happy with the appearance of the valve train, clean and not worn from what I could see. 2500 hours

The manual says to close all hatches when fueling our boats. The only reason I can think to do this is it would allow you to smell a leak. Any other reason?

We have a disturbance coming up the east coast tonight. The storm should be on me around 9 am tomorrow. I will go to the marina and take some pictures. They are predicting a very high tide then a very low tide as it passes. The  good news is that it should be over quickly. Usually if the eye is east of the Chesapeake Bay the counter clockwise wind will blow the water out and west of the bay the wind blows it in. Have to see how it lines up.

I need to replace the slide that goes in the boom and attaches to the clew. Does anyone know the size?

I managed to break the shift lever screw in two yesterday while docking. I read the threads on this site, I called Edson and they are sending me 2 screws free of charge. The rep was very nice and accommodating. Now all I have to do is get the other half of the screw out of the shaft. I also have to find why shifting the trans is a little tight, the real reason for my situation. I hate it when that little voice in your head is right, I remember it saying to me to check the tight shifting out....

Just posting a picture of the U stack from Ullman sails.

Has anyone refinished their instrument panel in the cockpit? Mine is faded badly and I am considering repainting.

I would like to offer my used sails to someone that needs them. I have a 1990 TR. The jib is a 135 and the main has 2 full and 2 partial battens. I am in Maryland and don't want to fool with shipping. They are is decent shape. I have new sails coming soon and as soon as the new ones are on they will be available. Just paying forward:). I like this club.

I made the evening news.

The governor has closed all marinas, we cannot launch our boats.

I have removed my boom to redo the outhaul. While I am doing this I am also cleaning and waxing the boom. Which brings me to the end caps, they appear to be brushed aluminum but through the years a little blackish look to them. I am going to paint them, is black or aluminum the color? I am leaning towards aluminum.

Does anyone know of a source beside cruising concepts for folding teak doors.

Do we have any members in the projected path? What are you doing to prepare and let us know how it works out.

Both sons just left for their junior and senior years. I am 60 and sailing has to be so much nicer when you are not limited to weekends.  I cannot wait till I am retired and can go whenever the weather is nice/perfect. I think I can retire next year, although the financial planners say that either my wife or I will live to be 93, I have to believe it wont be me. Question for you retired guys, How nice is it just to be able to sail when the weather is nice? I take a week every year on the Chesapeake as a vacation and it is so peaceful when the weekend warriors are not out! Cant wait till I can do the whole month.

Just a reminder to watch the caps on aerosol cans. I have a collection of spray cans in my cockpit locker. I happened to somehow put something on top of a can of PB Blaster which then discharged completely. Nice mess and odor to deal with. I went thru and have thrown away a lot of junk/cleaners I had not used in 2 years. Looking at the bright side I have more room and a cleaner locker. I have a new project now to paint the interior lockers and hull.

Spent last week on the Chesapeake with 8 other boats. The group had the option of marinas or anchoring every night. I went to a marina every night.

No problem with water usage , although I showered off the boat.
New refer unit worked fine, put a half a block of ice at bottom of chest and that lasted 3 days.
Had enough room for food in the chest for week, we did keep another cooler under nav station for drinks.
AC worked great, mounted in locker near nav, vents in both berths worked fine.
AC noise when running is noticeable in salon. When doors are closed in births they are quiet.
Feature of the AC that I had not realized is that when the temp is acquired and the AC shuts off the fan continues at a low speed which keeps the births from seeming stuffy from the doors being closed. Made a difference.
Sailing in wind less than 5 knots is doable not desirable.
5 to 10 works , but you have to trim/work the sails, I enjoy that.
10 to 15 off to the races.
15 and more , need to reef.
Used the spinnaker that came with the boat for the first time. Had it up for a couple of hours on one tack. I need to work on the sheets and running rigging for the spinnaker. I am cautious when using a spinnaker, sort of figure if something is going to happen it will be with that sail!  Had a wind off less than 10 knots and with just the spinnaker cruised around 5 knots.
Head and holding tank work fine, again being in a marina daily helps.
Oven and stove worked fine.

I have found myself going back and forth thru the 4 sets of photos of our boats in SF. I don't know who's boats they are or the photographer but they sure are nice.

I noticed oil leaking last summer but could not find the source. Boat was launched today so was able to run the engine. I believe my oil sending unit is the culprit. Very hard to see but I can see oil on the tip of it.  I had thought it was the oil pan gasket or rear main seal so this is actually good. I have looked around on the site but have not found the procedure yet. I think I can remove the alternator and be able to get to it. While I am in this area of the engine is there anything else I should  check or perform maintenance on ? m25xp

Bill I hear there is a PT boat at Worton Creek Marina. Have you seen it?

Just  a question, when scrubbing the topsides do you start at the bow or stern? I start at the bow however when I finish in the cockpit area I always leave foot prints. 

I am having a cockpit table made and the man making the table is going to send pictures of the process so I thought it would be nice to watch the process. I will post them as I get them.

Here are some pictures of a new installation

I am looking into using 3D printing to make the trim rings for my ports that are no longer available. My son is attending the local university and has friends that are computer majors. They are checking to see if I give them one for a template if they can make it by 3D printers. I fear I will have to buy a lot of beer.

I have replaced my cushions so my old ones are available for free. 1990 mk 1.5 Chesapeake area.

I want to thank the people who keep this site working and the c 34 club . I have found it to be very helpful to me. I purchased a 1990 34 last spring and as I have been going through the boat system by system or project by project I always come here to check first.

Projects so far

Refinish teak floor in cabin, west system, almost satisfied with outcome

Remove and refinish wood handrails and eyebrows on cabin top, cetol.

Replace Heat exchanger, Straight forward took about an 2 hours, been a while since I contorted myself like that!

Just had bottom soda blasted to remove years of bottom paint, looks good and revealed no problems with bottom, now researching info on barrier coat and paint, Any advice welcomed.

Cushions- These used many boat units!$$, Went to Annapolis boat show, the real capt wanted cushions.  We had Island Nautical from FLA. make new V birth and quarter birth cushions. The cushions are 6 inches thick with the top 2 being memory foam. They had the templates for the cushions because they had made them for my model before. We also made cockpit and a hump cushion .  If anyone around MD wants my old cushions for free let me know.

I have AC being installed this winter. I debated on doing it myself but the capt said no and I agreed. Dometic 12K BTU installed in nav station hanging locker with vents in V birth, main salon, head and Qbirth.

I am installing a refer unit I purchased at the show, compressor is going under starboard settee in front of water tank, unit is 10x6x6.


I have an ongoing project of refinishing the interior teak, after many different processes I am going with cetol teak for many reasons. I have removed the doors on the Qbirth and head , brought home, stripped old wax and polish, and varnish off, sanded then applied cetol. I do 3 coats and I am happy with results. I have also done the folding doors and the wood around the main hatch and steps and the galley and nav station. I cannot apply cetol now as the temp is too cold, cetol needs to be above 50 degrees.

Previous owner replaced water heater, fuel tank and elliptical rudder. I was concerned that with a tall rig and wing keel I would have weather helm, which I did on my cat 30 with the same set up, however I experienced no weather helm this summer and I feel the rudder made a difference.