Messages

Thanks for posting the link Mike.  Now I have something to keep me busy new years eve.

As to help or advice from Catalina, (and I'm trying not to be too negative) is that Jeff is likely better off researching on his own via this great resource on this site.  I have called Catalina many times this fall.  If there is a technical question (how parts are installed, like interior siding, cabinets, bulkheads, flooring, what type of varnish or how applied, etc) Parts refers me to Kent Nelson.  He must be a very busy person because he doesn't return calls.  I was really quite surprised that he finally returned an E mail on December 27.  My E mail to him was November 1.  His response  to my question about varnish was to just "contact Jeff at Target Coatings".  My question about attachment of bulkheads, cabinets, etc, asking if there are diagrams available went unaddressed except to say they use cleats and to "take a look at how your current parts are installed and match that for installing the new pieces."  I must admit that any answer two months later, while not especially helpful, was a pleasant surprise.  That's why I suggest that we are pretty much on our own.

I would think that with any boat under production for so long there would be detailed information available, but from my experience that is not the case.  That's why this site and others experience is so valuable.

Thanks again,

Randy Thies
Voyager 1345

You have probably already thought of this, but one alternative to shipping H&L the actual wood would be to use newspaper cut out to use as a template.    But you got the same feeling as me when I talked to them, that they really seem like they are not very anxious for the small jobs.  They told me I'm better off going local.  I was interested in just getting 2 face half inch teak to replace cabinets.  I have two areas with a slight discoloration on the floor but a carpenter told me to just leave it alone unless I refinish the entire floor.  good luck with your project

got mine through Lewis Marine in St Lucie Florida.  I know they ship anywhere.  They also sell the gasket that sits between the face plate and the pump body.  I don't know if it's the best price, but it was very reasonable, I think about 125, but I'd have to check my engine log receipts to see if it's in there to be sure of the price.

Hi Guys,
Interesting links.  I'll have to play with them a bit.  Was on the boat Sunday and Monday. Windy on Sunday, quite a chop in Guemes channel.  wish I was out there.

Have the side paneling stripped.  After a few finishing touches will be ready to varnish. Looks very nice.   dropped off the cabinets to have them rebuilt.  I know I could have done it myself but I couldn't find 2 sided teak locally.  And I couldn't see buying it from H and L and having it shipped.  They don't parcel out the pieces.  4x8 or nothing.  The master carpenter at Cap Sante says better to have a few imperfections behind the  cushion rather than replace the bulkhead with something that wouldn't match in color or grain.  Structurally says its fine, no soft spots.  So once he rebuilds the cabinets, and I have the side paneling varnished, I'll reinstall the cabinets and be done in that area.  I did install the new V berth piece.  Wow, it looks great!  better than new.

I reinstalled the instruments.  He said the ST 60's would work with my ST 50 plus wiring but would require a different cut out.  They replaced the insides and LCD screens and they look new.  There are two plastic nuts that screw down tight in back of the unit.  Only problem is that requires removal of hanging locker walls.  OK now but what if need to redo in the future.  Ended up using a silicone type glue where the screws enter the white board.  apply to both services and clamp.  Starting to look like a boat again.

Have not gotten the survey report from the surveyor that came out last Monday.  Will likely take weeks to hear back from boat US on how that survey compares to the yard estimate.  Hopefully all will be covered.

Next step will be to varnish post side wall, then install cabinets.  I can't imagine trying to do all this and get it done long distance had I left the boat in Florida!

Happy Sailing

Randy Thies

I too am bothered by all the noises, whether it's water lapping at the stern, or in the water tank, or the clang of what's in the mast.  The little orange ear plugs dull the noise just enough so that I can sleep, but that if something really loud happens, I wake up.

No, Voyager is new to Anacortes, being just recently delivered from Florida.  We kept our Newport 30 there 10 months a year for 7 years, on the hard.  Had a big yellow "off ramp" sign on the back.

I'm not sure what to do about the heat situation.  We had a diesel heater on offramp that was from scan marine.  it was warm when it worked but they had it set up that you should remove it and send it in for special cleaning once a year, otherwise it wouldn't work very well.  that was both troublesome and expensive.

Brrrr.  after 5 years in the Bahamas, where you can't take off enough clothes to stay cool, getting back to the NW will have it's challenges, but at least there are no tropical storms!

We'll have our own mini rendezvous.  I am so looking forward to it.  I know I should be more patient when it comes to sailing, but if we're headed some place and we get to sail, then that's great, and sometimes we'll go one direction or another if the wind favors one place or another, and if the sun is shining and there's no where I want to be, then I don't mind sitting becalmed, but more often than not we'll motor a few hours to keep the batteries up.  of course, Ice down in the Bahamas was about $5.00 for a bag in some locations, sometimes more, so last year we did not buy ice once in 8 weeks, and relied on the fridge to make ice.  When we were cruising the NW we didn't have refrigeration, so this will be different.

This summer we'll just do the San Juans and gulf islands, maybe a trip to Victoria, until we know everything is working well.  Thinking about getting a Wa state parks pass.

anyway,
e mail is  caprannospam@yahoo.com     remove the nospam

I am happy to report that the instruments arrived today.  The cushions look almost brand new, but I probably won't bring them back aboard until late spring.  Am still working on the steps varnish.  Not sure if I'll be over one of these weekends or wait till Christmas break and come over for a few days to install stuff, but by then Voyager may be in the barn getting worked on, so it may be even longer than that.

keep in touch

PS  Had a hard drive fail several years ago.  Not a good deal!

Wow, I always admire the folks out there rowing their dingy.  Especially with the tidal current the way it is up there.  You deserve a commendation!

As to the batteries holding up, like I said before, it will be very inter sting to see how Voyager behaves in the colder climate.  The link 20 has made it very nice monitoring what's going on.  I re-read all the postings on high output alternators and think that will be on my next years projects list.  (I think by the time I'm done with fixing everything, I will be project'ed out this year.

WOW!!!!  After an overnight soak the mildew stains are gone and the berth cushion looks brand new!  I found a link to the IOSSO mold and mildew stain remover at snapfastener.com.  I bought some at $33.40 (with "free shipping")for 12 ounces, figuring it's expensive but if I can save my cushions it was worth the chance.  Instructions say 15 minutes, which did nothing, but it said for tough stains soak over night.  I am very impressed with the results, as there were some pretty tough mildew spots.

I did, however, find a link direct to the manufacturer and it is only $19.00 including shipping, but I'll call next week and see if it's available anyplace locally.


http://iosso.com/products.htm

I wonder if  any of their boat cleaning products are as impressive.

I hope I don't offend anyone with this opinionated view:

I know it's nice to have a generator, otherwise so many people wouldn't have one, but let me offer another opinion.  We too have cruised for long periods of time in Desolation as well as the Bahamas(2 months at a time).  There is nothing like sitting outside enjoying the beauty and peace and quiet.  There are places in Desolation that you could run it without being intrusive, but there are many places that have close quarters anchoring.  If you do get a generator, please be courteous and anchor as far away from Folks as you can so as to not to disturb the ambiance.  Those things can echo in some of those anchorages and I used to get pretty irritated when someone would pull into an anchorage, drop the hook 50 feet away, start the generator and leave their boat to go explore ashore.

Since I have not cruised the NW with my Catalina yet I was hoping that my batteries would hold up better than in the Bahamas, as it seems like the biggest draw on the batteries is the refrigeration, and as you can imagine, it's hot down there, which I am assuming made the fridge work overtime, but maybe it will work just as hard in the NW. In the Bahamas we stayed at a Marina about once a week and found that motoring a couple of hours a day seemed to keep things up reasonably well in between stays.  I know there's not much in the way of Marinas in Desolation, but if you have a long extension cord you can often find power even when rafted up at the public docks, at least that's the way it was 6 years ago.

Practical sailor did a review of the C 34 which is one of the reasons I bought mine.  It's in their boat buying guide.  If you can't find it I'd be happy to mail you a copy.  509  4662706  or e mail ( remove "no spam" )  caprannospam@yahoo.com

Randy Thies
Voyager #1345
1997

I think I'll go with the one that can be hard wired, since that is what is on the boat, and the convenience of just being able to flip the switch is great.  I have quite a list developing for my next trip to west marine, as I am hoping to get most of the few items remaining in one fell swoop.  (the Insurance Co was nice enough to send an additional 10% off coupon, so with price match, and my two 15 bucks rewards certificates, I'll save a few there).

The steps are sanded and looking very nice with their first coat of helmsman varnish. The triangular piece at the foot of the bed has 4 coats of varnish and looks better than new. RayMarine called and can replace the electronic boards for only  $300. plus shipping and handling and should work as good as new! They offered reconditioned ST60's for $480. but they would be grey and the cut out bigger but said the wiring of the ST 50's would be compatible, but I saw now advantage to switching them out.  Should have them in a few weeks.  After 14 hours to carefully sand the worse of the two cabinets I have come to the realization I'll make new cabinets.  There are a few areas where there is small grey streaks in the grain and one minute cracking in the grain that was obviously a defect in the original wood (as the crack extends from below the cupboard door cut out to above it).  A woodworker friend suggested I try a filler/coating designed to fill the small cracks/defects, which I might try for the heck of it, but leaning toward new cabinets.  I have the part numbers for H&L for the moldings and am looking around to see if I can get some two faced ply locally.  But am also seeing what they would charge to build new at a big yard on the coast that has a woodworking department.  And still no word on approval from the insurance Co on the approval for the outside work.  Will call Friday if I haven't heard as that will have been 2 weeks since submitting the estimate.

Happy sailing to all of you.  With the first snow here I'm sure looking forward to spring!

That sounds like the deal of the century!   You should go buy the lot of them and sell them on ebay for 100% profit.   I checked Costco on line and only found one with wheels and some very small wattage inverters (  http://www.costco.com/Common/Search.aspx?whse=&topnav=&search=inverter  ).  So I am wondering if this was just a local thing where you are.  I'll check our local costco this week.  I had earlier posted a comment and discussion about inverters.  I still have not made a decision, but it boiled down to the statpower (which seems related to Xantrex) vs Xantrex prowatt vs Xpower.  The technician said the X power, which is cheaper, has a meter on the side but the prowatt has the light bars.  My original was a statpower "portawattz 1000" which I want to replace even though it works after getting soaked.  There are small areas of rust around the edges on the outside so I can imagine what the inside looks like, but it was obviously fairly durable.

Hi Ron,
No, I missed that discussion.  Can you provide a link to it, or who the author was?

Personally I think Catalina's response is a very poor one.  I got the same response, or no response.  They said they will sell a complete set of cushions only.  All I want is the berth cushion covers fore and aft.  I also got no response from the other Catalina forum to see if anyone knew who manufactures the material.  You would think Catalina would want the boats to have a consistent look and use original looking replacements.  But they seem to take this all or nothing to the extreme.  Shame on Catalina!