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  Congrats! Hope you find it rewarding as I did.  This September will be 8 years!

Today when we left a dock the knot meter was reading zero.  I stopped and backed it up a half knot and it started working fine.   seems like that is a frequent problem, even when underway sometimes I pick something up.  As to wind speed, I had a weird experience today.  Been working fine the past several weeks and today started her up and as I pulled away the wind speed AND autopilot both appeared they had no power, not registering anything.  (my boat is 3 years older than yours).  Sailed to Anacortes and started to make some calls, but in the mean time took some readings at the bus bar that attached my mast lighting and wind speed.  the cabling coming from the mast is blue and red and the cabling to the instrument is green and red... The reds "in" and "out" are on the 5th bus bar screws, and the 6th bus bar has the blue "in" (from the mast) on the top and the green out on the bottom.  When I put them on the multi meter the number 5 (red-red) read a steady 6.2.  The other seemed to vary from .8 to 2.0 depending on wind speed.  After checking a few cables under the pedestal just happen to glance at the wind speed and autopilot.  Both were on and working.  I have no idea why. I checked the in out screws on the bus bar and they were totally tight. and unfortunately didn't look at the wind speed until all done with all my fiddling, so no clue as to why mine started working.

One ounce is worth a pound of cure.  Years ago used jb weld on underside of sink.  This year noticed corrosion on other side.  Not leaking but did now what I should have done and cleaned from underside.  Several rust spots.  Anyone done that job?  Looks like getting it out would require removal of entire galley top (corion).  Any ideas where to start if that is needed?

at the end of last year noticed a tiny bit of weeping on my Obendorfer water pump- barely a drop in several hours of motoring.  last replaced in 2010.  Saw a good price on Parts and Pumps on line $238 but have not called to check on shipping time frame and if they have a gasket available. https://www.pumpsandpartsonline.com/shop/oberdorfer-pumps/rubber-impeller/rubberimpellerpumps/N202M-15

but it says for engine model M30 and M 50, but I believe my model is M35 on my 1997 Universal Westerbeke.  I am sure of the model number on the pump I replaced in 2010.  and I have yet to contact any local shops in Anacortes for their price and availability.  Thought I'd see if any of you have ordered recently, and your details and buying experience.

In 2004-05 (October/November ) we researched and found out that a Company called Dudley Boat Company was the Company Catalina uses in Florida to haul new Catalina 35s.  so we went with them.  It was $8,000 to move Voyager from Ft Pierce to Anacortes Wa.  They use a semi.  Mast was on the trailer.  I was working at the time and could not take time off, so there was a yard charge for loading, but I don't remember what that was.

I had a traditional stuffing box on a Newport 30 and it seems I could never get a consistent tightness , but that was before some of the new packing material was out.  When I bought my C 34 in 2001 part of the deal was to include a PSS and a Y valve.  My only complaint is that in some conditions of heel and following waves it seems like a little air gets in the bellows which dries out and consequently caused a squealing sound where the zinc mates.  Now every week or so depending on what conditions have been I burp the bellows which prevents the squeal from occurring.  and it seems like there is always a little zinc residue similar to what you see in the pic, as well as minute specks of water.  the mechanic says that's normal.  even though it didn't look worn after 12 years I had mine replaced.  I put on abut 100 engine hours per year in 2 1/2 months of daily cruising.

Thanks all.  that makes sense, especially for the info on the catalogue.  The site is a facebook DIY which is really interesting to watch all the different projects.  interesting that they say its ash glued onto plywood.  I thought it was quite thin, as i refinished the wood and pulled off the inner window frame.

on another site someone was asking that question.  I refinished mine on the port side, but I really am not sure of what the wood is.  maybe a cedar?

I have a 1997 and thought it said the bow and stern tank were each 25 gallons.  We only use the boat for cruising 2 months each summer, so we fill both tanks and alternate usage of tanks so we have a better sense of when we need to be someplace that has water.  Seems to me you would want to experiment as to which tank you leave empty if you are mostly day sailing, based on trim and sailing characteristics and weight of equipment distribution.  First mate prefers bottled water for drinking, but I don't think it's that noticeable.  And even though I keep a new spare water pump, I have never needed to replace it (and used it 2 months x 19 years), so I don't think you need to be concerned about wearing one out.

you question has me wondering if I am unnecessarily spending alt of money doing the racor every year at the start o my cruising season.  when we kept the boat in Florida we found even using biobor that in the course of the year algae would grow in the filter and would kill the motor.  Since then, even in the north west, we still have been changing it every year.  and the R15s is north of 60 bucks.

Stu, Batteries were not down huge, maybe 40 amps of the 440 amps  (about 220 in each bank, so only 20 amps  down in each bank).  I'll post some pics when I get home in 3 or 4 days.  I did find a different number when I had the door partion off for oil  change, and it matched with the napa 7405.  I remeasured the belt deflection carefully and definitely 3/4 of an inch, so I think it must have loosened from when the mechanic was aboard in June and tightened it. Squealed once ll summer, 2 days ago after daily use.   (the longest we ever stayed in one place without running the engine was three days.    I looked closely at the nubs and say no wear on the inside.  Those intermittent issues are always the tough ones, so I appreciate all your ideas and suggestions.

how does the wiki work?  I put in M-35 manual and don't see anything related to the Universal Westerbeke engine.  or is it more important to use extended syntax when looking for something? 

I edited my post above to include the current belt.  The belt on there looks like it's in excellent condition.  there is no cracking or apparent wear, no broken nubs or wear marks.  It hadn't squealed since they tightened it in June and we've used it every day since with no squeal until a brief one yesterday at start up.  although it looks like there could be a hair more than 1/2" flex in the belt when I push in the middle of the belt between the alternator and the main fly wheel.

I am getting old and forgetful, and at the risk of looking like the total idiot that I am, do you loosen both the bolt at the top of the alternator arm and the bolt at the lower end of the alternator arm.  from the picture, I only see the loose bolt in the picture on the right bottom being loose on picture number 1.

Thank you, that is the post I had seen.  I followed the links within the links to see the pics I remember seeing.    I have often been reluctant to try anything new, but know I should bite the bullet and try it.  Years ago I changed the belt, but recently when the yard charged me $300 to come out when I was not on the boat and ran the motor for 20 minutes taking pics and video to support a range of other issues they proposed, and ended up tightening the belt (which seemed to fix the squeal until yesterday)...guess I have to get my shibletts together and figure it out.   The more I look, the more confused I become.  currently the belt say 761084FC followed by 31 on ne line, 32 on another and 33 on the third line.  ie 761084FC  31  , 761084FC  32,     76 1084FC  33. The outside length looks like 41.1/4".   I had bought as a a possible spare two napa belts  XL 25 7405 (outside measurement 41 1/8" and napa XL 25 7410 with an outside measurement of 41 5/8", so if the time comes to replace the belt, I would opt for the 7410???  I am just uncertain if the shorter one would work and how much rotation/swing adjusting the arm allows.  and since the napa numbers don't seem to line up with anything other posters are using leaves me even more uncertain.