Frequently-Asked Questions
  (FAQ)

About this FAQ..("Frequently Asked Questions") This FAQ represents a compilation of wisdom captured from the old Catalina maillist, as well as original contributions to this website.  Future FAQs will be added from the message board and from original contributions to the Tech Wiki. If you've something to add, please contribute!  Any questions contact the webmaster.  These FAQs and the balance of this website are fully searchable.

Note: This FAQ Page is no longer being updated, and is now part of our archives.
These projects have all been moved to the Tech Wiki . The Tech Wiki is frequently
updated and contains these projects and many more.

• FAQs added August - Summer 2005
  Gel Coat Patch Paste - Ron's recommendation for gel coat patching.
  Shoal Draft Polar Diagrams - Ken provided us with these handy diagrams.
   
• FAQs added August - January 2004
  Hot water temperature - How can I control the hot water temperature?
   
• FAQs added August - October 2003
• Transmission Position While Sailing - What Is The Preferred Transmission Position While Sailing?
  Which alternator belt? - What is the part number for the Gates Mfg alternator/water pump belt?
   
• FAQs added August - April 2003
• Rudder Packing Gland - No need to take it apart to know it's workings .... Ron's already done that for us all.
   
• FAQs added August - April 2001
• Marine Sanitation: Fact vs. Folklore - A fascinating and informative articles on marine sanitation, including good advise on keeping your head odor-free.
   
• FAQ's added Jan - April 2001
• "Jib Sheets need Turning Blocks"  - Jib Sheets need Turning Blocks to winches to clear Fiberglass Rubbing?
• "Muffler Replacement or Repair"  - Should I  Replacement or Repair the Muffler?
• "Quickie Lighting Protection"  - Can I use Chain or Cables for Quickie Lighting Protection?
• "Handrail Removal for Refinishing"  - Should I  Remove Handrail for Refinishing?
• "Engine Mounts"  - UPDATED 7/9/01 How do I Change Engine Mounts?
• "Diesel Tank Cleaning"  - How do I Clean Diesel Tank?
• "Substitute Car Diesel for Boat Diesel"  - Can I Substitute Car Diesel for Boat Diesel Fuel?
• Diesel Odor in Cushions & Boat - How do I get rid of it?
• "Bruce Anchor"  - What Size Bruce Anchor for a C34?
   
• FAQ's added JULY - DEC 2000
• Exhaust Pipe Replacement  - How do I Replace the Exhaust Pipe?
• Hump Hose Replacement - How do I Replace the Hump Hose?
• Ideas for a good nights sleep - Any ideas/opinions about the cushions in order to make the berths more comfortable?
• Engine Noise and Vibration - Can I keep the Engine Noise and Vibration down?
• Lifeline & Powercord Cleaning - Any consensus on how to clean lifelines and powercords?
   
• FAQ's added APRIL/MAY 2000
• Water tanks - Commissioning - How do I commission the water tanks?
• Backing a C34 into a slip - How do I  back a C34 into a slip?
• Drain hole for the C34 mark II models by the stuffing box bilge area - Picture from Catalina to show you where to drill!
• Cruising Spinnaker - How Do I Set Up For a Cruising Spinnaker?
• Oil Pan Leak - How I Changed my OIL PAN!
• Mid Ship Cleats - How do I Install a Mid Ship Cleats?
• Dorade Box Cowl Ventilators - Do I paint or replace the Dorade Box Cowl Ventilators?
• Filter Equivalents - M25, 25XP & M35 Engine Filter / Fanbelt / Air Intake Equivalents?
• Engine Air Lock, Engine Heating Problem? - What is causing the engine to overheat after changing the coolant & how do I cure it?
• Rudder Rust Streaks - Why do I Have Rust Streaks Going Down My Rudder?
  How do I repair a water soaked rudder?
   
• FAQ's added March 2000
• Alternator Belt Tension / Pulley Size - How do I Adjust the Alternator Belt Tension?  Do I use one pulley or two?  Do I need different belts for different size alternators?  Do belts put too much side load on the engine pulleys?
• Hints / Ideas from Sailors - Lots of Hints / Ideas from Sailors
• M-25 Alternator Mount Conversion Kit - How do if my Alternator Bracket Needs Replacing?
• Boat Offer forms and Contracts - Where can I get a "Boat Offer" form and/or a "Sales Contract"?
   
• FAQ's added February 2000
• Re-Bed Leaking C34 Beckson Ports - How do I Re-Bed Leaking C34 Beckson Ports?
• Rebedding Chain Plates - How do I Rebed Leaky Chain Plates?
• Cutless Bearing Removal & Installation Methods - Replacing Cutless Bearing - No Pounding Required
• Water in the Boom - How did it get there & how do I get rid of it?
• Stuffing Box Comparision / PSS or Conventional - Do I Stay with the conventional stuffing box or go with a PSS or PYI Seal Installations?
• Stuffing Box, Flax Removing Tools - What is the best tool for removing the Flax from the Stuffing Box?
• Conventional Stuffing Box Packing - How Do I Install the FLAX in the Stuffing Box?
   
• FAQ's added January 2000
• Aluminum Boom Refinishing - How do I Refinish My Aluminum Boom?
• Varnish over Oiled Interior Teak - How do I varnish over oiled interior teak?
• Strut Mounting Question - How do I Tighten the Strut Bolts?
• Winterizing my Water Heater - How do I winterize my water heater?
• Companionway Sliding Hatch Squeal - How do I Keep my Sliding Hatch from Squealing?

• FAQ's added December 1999
• Bomar Hatch Lens Replacement - How do I Replace the Lens in My Bomar Hatch?
• Stainless Steel and/or Aluminum Drilling - How do I Drill holes in Stainless Steel and or Aluminum?
• Backstay Tensioner - How do I install a backstay tensioner? & May be too short on the 1996's (updated)
  
• FAQ's added November 1999
• C34 Polar Diagram - Where can I get the C34 Polar Diagram?
• Thru-hull Replacement - Can I replace my thru-hull fittings like a professional?
• Fin vs. Wing Keel - What's the best choice, the fin keel or the wing keel?
  If you could buy a new boat, which would you buy?
• Overheating with 2" Heat Exchanger - Can I install a 3 inch instead?
• Plexiglas, Black Tinted Cabin Windows, Replacing or Fixing - Can I replace or fix the  Plexiglas, Black Tinted Cabin Windows?
• Raw Water Pump Priming - Why do I Loose Priming in my Engine Raw water pump?
   
• FAQ's added October 1999
• Winter Covers - Should I get a full-length custom-made cover?
• "FUTURE" - "Future" (a household floor treatment) on the none skid portions of your deck?
• Wacky Autohelms - Why autohelms don't like following or quartering seas, plus fluxgate compass location advice.
• Nav Lights and Switch - Where to look if the nav lights come on dimly with the cabin lights, tips on troubleshooting.
• Cabin Lights - Where to look if they don't work, tips on troubleshooting.
• Racor Fuel/Water Separator - How can I tell whether there's water in my fuel?
• Contaminated Fuel - Has anyone successfully rid their fuel system of algae? What is the best method?
   
• FAQ's added September 1999
• Tensioning the Rig - How much tension should I put on the Rig?
• Teak Plug Removal - How do I Remove the Teak Plugs from my Teak Trim to Facilitate Trim Removal for Easier Refinishing?
• Rebedding Exterior Teak Trim - Should I rebed Exterior Teak trim when I replace it?
• Cabin-Breeze Inside - How can I get fresh air inside
   
• FAQ's added August 1999
• Companionway Boards -- Where do I store them?
• Fuel gauge -- Why did it stop working?
• Fuel pump -- Why does it click so loudly?
• Lewmar portlights - How do I fix a leak?
• Stuffing Box - How do I stop it from leaking?
• Water heater - Why won't the water heat when my boat is under power?
• Head - Why does it stink?

• FAQ's added Before July 1999
• Adler-Barbour Refrigeration - Can I run my refrigerator on batteries, away from shore?
• Anchors - What's the best anchor for my C34?
• Autopilots - How do I install an autopilot?
• Autohelm instruments - Can I add other manufacturer's products?
• Beckson ports - How do I fix leaks?
• Elliptical rudder - What's this? Should I get it? How much does it cost?
• Engine harness upgrade - What's wrong with my boat's electrical system?
• Heat exchanger - Does this thing require maintenance?
• Heat exchanger zinc - What's this? How do I change it?
• Hood roller furling - What's wrong with my Hood LD roller furling?
• Hot water temperature - How can I control the hot water temperature?
• Hull Identification Numbers (HIN) - How can I tell what my hull number is?
• Mail order - Can I get boat stuff by mail?
• Mast pumping -- Is there a cure? YES!
• Offshore performance of C34s - Has anyone taken a C34 offshore? What happened?
• Plastic sliding doors (early C34s) - Oooh, they're ugly? What to do?
• Port side list -- Help! I think my C34 lists slightly to port! What gives?
• Prop, three-bladed - Can you improve performance with a three-bladed prop?
• Prop walk - How can I cope with that darned prop walk in reverse?
• Rebedding stanchions - There's a right away, and a wrong way!
• Refrigeration - Can I run the refrigerator without running down the batteries?
• Sails - Are the stock C34 sails any good?
• Seaworthiness -- How does the C34 come off in quantitative measurements of seaworthiness?
• Shaft Diameter - What's the diameter of the drive shaft?
• Tachometer - My tachometer just died. What should I do?
• Transmission oil - How do I change the transmission oil?
• Water in fuel - How is water getting into my fuel?
• Water in bilge - How come there's so much water in my bilge?
• Wind generators - Anyone add a wind generator to their C34?
• Winterization - How should I winterize my c34?