Category Archives: Customizations

2007, Customizations, Mainsheet, Port Lights, Repair/Replace/Maintain

Portlights- Resealing & Reinstalling

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Portlights- Resealing & Reinstalling
Rick Ranno
May, 2007
Hull #: C-380 # 297

After a few years with my C380 [#297], the portlights developed some water leaks. Most were not obvious as to cause. So, after deciding to “dig in”, the first thing I did was to determine that the portlight was leaking and that a dirty or bad window gasket was not the cause. To do this, I removed the plastic trim rings with a screwdriver and applied some powder around the suspected areas. After several days including some rain, drip lines in the powder made it obvious that most leaks were entering via the window-tohull seal or, in this case, lack of seal. The best, long-term way to beat this one is complete portlight removal and re-installation.

First, with the trim ring removed, remove the 10/32 Philips mounting screws. Use a heat gun to help loosen the seal

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2007, Customizations, Mainsheet, Port Lights, Repair/Replace/Maintain

Portlight Replacement

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Port light Replacement
Don and Linda Rooker
May, 2007
Hull #: C380 #157

Don and Linda Rooker, who sail “Jolly Mon”, in the Pickwick Lake/ Tennessee River region of North East Mississippi, felt that the crazing on their original portlghts was too much and decided to go for stainless-steel framed units. So, thought I’d insert their photo here, as a different approach [See Photo]. As their new portlights, made by New Found Metal [.com], have tempered glass, no more crazing. Most of the fleet, including Admiral Jeanne and I, continue to shy away from glass on board. Perhaps a few have wine glasses carefully stowed?? But tempered glass is pretty strong.

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2007, Customizations, Electronics, Mainsheet, Repair/Replace/Maintain

Inexpensive SSB Antenna

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Inexpensive SSB Antenna
Bob Bierly
August, 2007
Hull #: C380 #255

“I constructed a separate insulated antenna that runs from one of my my davit arms to the mast head using a spare halyard. I made this antenna from number 10 steel wire (from West ) and 2 porcelain insulators from a ham radio store. That proprietor recommended the longest possible wire as an antenna, which I have. I also avoided cutting the backstay and the expensive insulators for that purpose. Once the metal long wire is up you merely attach the insulated antenna lead  from the antenna tuner directly to the steel wire with a hose clamp or a copper u-bolt ( which I found in Home Depot). My total cost is maybe 20 bucks.” –Bob Bierly, C380 #255, “C’Mon Wind”

Bob’s antenna is certainly simple, and should perform well at least in some circumstances. However, as much of

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2007, Customizations, Electric Winch, Mainsheet, Repair/Replace/Maintain, Winches

Electric Halyard Winch Conversion [C 387]

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Electric Halyard Winch Conversion [C 387]
Dale Hartwig
August, 2007
Hull #: C387 #85

 Powering Up Footloose

Regardless of where we sail, how we sail, and with whom we choose to share our sailing, I suspect most of us spend time evaluating options to make our experiences easier, simpler, and safer. Bottom line for me is: anything I can do to increase my time on the water is a primary consideration – physical effort included. When we moved from our C320 to our C387, we chose the Forespar LeisureFurl mainsail boom furler option. This article is not about our “learning” experiences with the boom furler but about our decision to replace the standard manual halyard winch with a powered winch. In discussions with Forespar, while “Footloose” was in production, we understood a powered winch was recommended, to make raising the big main a snap. However, we had missed the opportunity

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2006, Customizations, Fridge, Fridge, Mainsheet, Repair/Replace/Maintain

Refrigerator Upgrade

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Refrigerator Upgrade
Bob Swanson

March, 2006 Hull #: 349

Bob and Janet Swanson onboard English Rose, C 380 #349, came up with a simple solution to an irksome problem. The refrigerator on most of our boats have a removable shelf near the bottom [unlike my older horizontal freezer version], with space for sodas, etc. underneath. Below-shelf access is troublesome at best, requiring removal of just about everything sitting on top of it.

Their solution, as shown in the photo: cut off the front part of the shelf [about 1/3], and reinstall it as a two-piece shelf. Removing only the front part of the shelf [requiring removing much less of the items stored above] allows reasonable access to all items below.

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2006, Customizations, Mainsheet, Repair/Replace/Maintain, Screens

More on Hatch Screen Hinges

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More on Hatch Screen Hinges
Bob Bierly

February, 2006 Hull #: 255

 Faithful readers of this column will recall the November 2004 issue wherein I extol the virtues of always-installed hatch screens. This marvelous condition excites a euphoric state wherein captain and crew find they no longer need to scrounge precious storage areas for their hatch screens, no more will they suffer skinned knuckles or stubbed toes while trying to unearth the very same screens from their forgotten, illgained resting places. Our boating stalwarts can dismiss ugly memories of installing their screens a thousand times, most requiring some awkward twist or arch of the back, eliciting visions of endless therapy, and they can reject head-gashing reminders when those dastardly items fell, causing untold call-911-type pain together with suspicion of the need for near record stitches administered by Dr. Frankenstein.

No, this is all in the past! Now our heros bask

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2006, Cruising, Customizations, Mainsheet, Sailing, Storage

Long Term Cruising Mods

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Long Term Cruising Mods
Cliff & Deb Mewdell
February, 2006

Hull: 332

 Hello From the Bahamas!

After months of talking and planning, a lot of shopping, fixing and stuffing the boat, plus a couple of months moving down the ICW, we finally made it “across” [the Gulf Stream] to the Bahamas Islands. Admiral Jeanne & I aboard My Bride II, along with buddy-boats Valkyrie, English Rose, and part-timers Albicilla and Watermark I, have done a lot, seen a lot, encountered a lot, and hopefully have learned something!. But all this is, as is said, a story for another day.

However, at least sunrise of that day may have arrived with the printing of Commodore Earle’s [Valkyrie] column herein. So peruse that for all the associations doin’s, possibly including some of its officers adventures.

On to the tech stuff. We first met Canadian cruisers Cliff & Debra Mewdell aboard Watermark I

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2006, Customizations, Mainsheet, Tables

Enlarged Drop Leaf Salon Table

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Enlarged Drop Leaf Salon Table
Paul McManus

November, 2006 Hull #: 185

 Enlarged Salon Table with Drop-Down Leaves

Shortly after we took delivery of “Sea Sea Rider” , we were on our friends’ Catalina 36. They had replaced their salon table with one that had drop-down leaves.

Figure 1

The Admiral immediately put a new salon table on the boat project list, where it remained for a couple of years. Finally, a couple of years ago, the Admiral put her foot down and mandated that no more boat projects could be done until we had a new salon table. Problem for me was that our C36 friend had built his teak salon table himself and had done a beautiful job. I didn’t have the skill or the tools to do that. We had also decided we wanted an extension to expand the table so that we could sit our whole

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2006, Customizations, Heater, Mainsheet

Diesel Fuel Hydronic Heater

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Diesel Fuel Hydronic Heater
Paul McManus

February, 2006 Hull #: 185

The following was submitted by Paul McManus. whose C380 resides in the Seattle area where the often-cool [cold?] weather makes a boat heater a very nice feature. Here’s his description of the installation.

Why a Hydronic Diesel Heater- There was never a question about whether Sea Sea Rider would have a heater. The Admiral does not like to be cold and, since this was our first boat, I wanted to make sure she was comfortable. The decision to put a hydronic diesel heater in was driven by several factors. First, we had spent some time with friends on their C42 which had a hydronic heater and found it very comfortable. Next, I liked the idea of running small [hot-water] hoses instead of the large [hot-air] ducts required by air systems. I also preferred individual thermostats for each cabin, an

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2006, Customizations, Mainsheet, Sailing, Storage

Cruising Made Easier

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Cruising Made Easier
Warren Elliott

November, 2006 Hull #: 44

Recently, the admiral and I were musing about the modifications and “stuff” we’ve added to our C380 [#44], My Bride II. After 10 years, it’s quite a bit and, as you can imagine, there’s always more that can add to our cruising pleasure. So, in case you’ve missed some of these, here’s a list of my favorites, roughly in order of cost; they range from zero cost to some “big boat bucks”. With apologies to racers, these are geared to making cruising easier and/or just more pleasurable. Feel free to let me know your favorite[s] if you don’t see your’s below. Note that we have not installed all of these, but have most. “[Mainsheet]” means there’s an article on the subject which can either be found in earlier issues or on our website at www.catalina380.org. Click on Boat Related, then

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