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2003, Electronics, Repair/Replace/Maintain

Reverse Polarity Light/ Dock Power

3 Comments

Title:          Reverse Polarity Light/ Dock Power
Author:    Warren Elliott
Date:         8/12/2003
Hull #: 44

A couple months ago, a possible problem with the reverse polarity light came up on our Sailnet email discussion group. It seems that a few captains had noticed a dim glow by that light, rather than the normal full-off condition or a true reverse-polarity situation showing a bright red light. The dim condition will most likely occur with the main circuit breaker on while the reverse polarity situation had better be discovered with the breaker off [and then immediately corrected–disconnect power cord at dock & notify marina]. Never connect to any dock power unless the main breaker [at nav station] is off; after connection and with power on at the dock and aft lazarette breaker on, then make sure that light is not glowing before turning the main breaker on.

[emember_protected]
The reverse-polarity light is connected

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2003, Customizations, Repair/Replace/Maintain

Water in Forward Compartment

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Title:           Water in Forward Compartment
Author:     Warren Elliott
Date:          8/12/2003
Hull #: 44

Quite a few of our Sailnet group, over the last year or two, have reported finding water in the forward compartment, the one accessible through the small hatch under the V-berth. This occurred on my boat also when I found about a gallon there after My Bride II was two or three years old. I also found the very small volume at the bow was full with perhaps another gallon. My trusty wet/dry vacuum cleaned out the water easily. I did a routine check of fittings, and hit the area with fresh water, but nothing obvious turned up. In the next three years, another 1/2 -1 gallon accumulated, so it’s obviously not much of a leak. Recently, I used some “Captain Tolley’s Creeping Crack Cure” around the bow roller and the forward stay chain plate. We’ll see

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2003, Repair/Replace/Maintain, Rudder

Installation of Rudder Roller Bearings

4 Comments

Title:      Installation of Rudder Roller Bearings
Author: Warren Elliott, Rick Ranno
Date:      8/12/2003
Hull #: 297

The previous Mainsheet issue included some relatively simple maintenance/repairs for your rudder system; this was in response to a number of captains noting various “”clunking”” or similar sounds that was traced to lateral [or vertical] movement of the rudder coinciding with rolling and/or pitching of the boat. I had the same problem, which was solved by tightening the packing gland, as recommended by Catalina’s Chief Engineer Gerry Douglas.

For those of you who are starting to notice some similar sounds, I suggest checking the top of your rudder post at the time you notice those sounds, easily accessed by unscrewing your emergency tiller deck plate.

On the other hand, Rick Ranno, captain of “”Sea Flat””, C380 #297 decided to go “”all the way”” and install quality roller bearings, top and bottom. One note of

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2003, Engine, Repair/Replace/Maintain

Transmisssion Shift Lever

4 Comments

Title:         Transmisssion Shift Lever
Author:   Warren Elliott
Date:         11/1/2003
Hull #: 44

 

A few captains have reported failure of their shift lever; apparently none occurred at a critical time, so no damage ensued except perhaps to a few egos. It seems that the lever either became very loose or simply fell off, rendering shifting impossible. Quick crew action, including inventing a new handle in the form of vise-grip pliers, may have saved the day.

On checking my helm station, and receiving email comments from the manufacturer, Edson, I’m beginning to understand how these situations came about.

Here’s two Edson inputs. The first message refers to the particular problem and possible improvement. The second message address my questions: causes for the set screw becoming loose and a related issue: closeness of forward-shifted lever to the helm guard.

From: Edson Customer Service Sent: Tuesday, July 22, 2003 1:54 PM To: Warren

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2003, Customizations

Eliminating Head Odors

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Title:          Head Oders
Author:    Warren Elliott
Date:         11/1/2003
Hull #: 44

Eliminating Head Odors

Several C380 owners, either those on Sailnet, friends, or some that I met at the recent northeast Catalina rendezvous expressed unhappiness with this classic problem. And it occurs both in and around the head compartment itself and outside the boat via the vent line. Here’s what’s kept us “sweet-smelling” for most of the 7 years we’ve owned and sailed “My Bride II”.

First, I installed an in-line treatment called “Earth Safe” [West Marine #568592, $37]. This consists of a plastic container that is plumbed into the toilet’s water intake. The container has a compartment into which a large tablet is placed; this dispenses a blue-colored liquid that both deodorizes and lubricates the pump. I can report that this system woks well in fresh water or saltwater; it worked for us right away [may need a few

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2003, Customizations, Storage

Aft Cabin Seat Storage

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Title:        Aft Cabin Seat Storage
Author:   Earle Ellefsen
Date:        11/1/2003
Hull #: 271

Aft Cabin Seat Storage Some of you will recall our discussion indicating the storage space available beneath the two seats in our master sleeping cabin. Has developing those spaces been on your ” back burner”? Well, now you’ll have one less excuse for not moving on this: you’ll see what they look like! The photos you see here [Insert Photos #1 & #2 w/captions] were taken by Earle Ellefsen [Valkyrie, # 271] with his trusty digital camera [I’ll have my own soon]. These are of the storage spaces on my boat [#44].

Cutting the openings in the top of these seats is a bit of a chore. The material is 7/8″ thick, with half of this fiberglass and half plywood. After drilling a starter hole, I found that a quality medium-tooth jigsaw blade worked, albeit fairly slowly.

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2003, Customizations, Fridge

Refrigerator and Batteries

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Title:       Refrigerator and Batteries
Author:  Jim Seeman
Date:      11/1/2003
Hull #: 123


Refrigerator & Batteries Jim Seeman, “Pipe Dream” #123 sent me the following: “My wife and I returned from a three week cruise in the Bahamas where we enjoyed many pleasant nights at anchor and some excellent sailing and fishing enroute. Here are a couple of items that might be of interest to others contemplating an extended cruise:

My wife found a simple way to prevent water from condensing on the upper access door and the inside roof of our refrigerator. She used an automobile windshield heat reflector (1/8″ foam with a metalized mylar on one side) that was cut to the approximate inside dimensions of the top of the box. The heat shield is placed between the roof of the refrigerator and the freezer coil and on top of any food stored on the upper shelf. Condensation was

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2003, Engine, Repair/Replace/Maintain, Uncategorized

Westerbeke 42 B Engine Wiring Diagram

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Title:Westerbeke 42 B Engine Wiring Diagram
Author:Warren Elliott
Date: 11/1/2003
Hull #: 44

Here is the wiring diagram for the WesterBeke 42B. This engine was also used on the Catalina 400.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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2003, Electronics, Repair/Replace/Maintain

Ram Mic P/T Problems

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Ram Mic P/T Problems 
Warren Elliott
11/1/2003
Hull #: 44

RAM Mic P/T Problem Although not a Catalina [380 or other] issue, I thought it appropriate to bring this to your attention, because it seems so widespread in our area. Agrowing number of sailors have a Standard Horizon VHF radio with an”extension” RAM mic located in the cockpit. In our local all Catalina fleet,I’d guess that half of the boats have the RAM mic; about 3/4 of those weregularly cruise with have one. This is a great mic, offering almost full remote capability, including channel, volume, power level, squelch, etc. selection. No longer do you haveto rely on a hand-held VHF or run down to the cabin to change channels ifyou had a simple extension version [as I did]. However, it does have one fault, in my opinion, which reveals itself in three ways:

when you think you’re transmitting, you’re

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2002, Customizations, Mainsheet, Storage

Aft Cabin Seat Storage

5 Comments

Aft Cabin Seat Storage
Forest Lot
5/1/2002
Hull #: 90

If there’s one thing every cruising sailor looks for, it’s more storage. We seem to have more stuff than places to squirrel it away. The C380 has an opportunity for a couple of large storage lockers than can be accessed very easily. These are located under the port and starboard seats in the aft cabin.

When Susie and I were in the process of buying Andiamo!, we had a marine survey done just to better understand the boat and find those few things we did not know needed fixing. In addition to a few corrections that were made prior to delivery, the surveyor noted the apparently inaccessible areas under these two seats. He said the Coast Guard objects to such spaces and that we might be able to put the space to use.

The amount of space can be guessed

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