Category Archives: Customizations

Shower Shelves

Shower Shelves
Bob Bierly

11/21/2001
Hull #: 255

Within the shower there is a hanging locker, ostensibly for hanging slickers and such. We concluded we needed a linen closet a lot more than a place to allow slickers to get moldy (no air circulation in that locker.) Consequently, I built two shelves into that locker giving us three levels of storage for towels, linens etc. The shelves are secured to cleats on each end and have finished wooden fiddles along the edge at the opening. Really gives us some storage space.

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Adding Insulation to Older C380 Refrigerators

Adding Insulation to Older C380 Refrigerators
Catalina Factory

August 29, 1997 Hull #: n/a

Procedure for Installing Additional Insulation to EARLY Refrigerators:

Some early Catalina 380’s may have void areas between the hull and the back of the refrigerators present insulation. Voids area will be found on both side as well as the frontal areas. Additional foam must be added to the bottom area, some sort of temporary cofferdam will be required in this area.

The following procedure will increase the “R” value of the refrigerator.

Please Take Note:

This procedure will require great care in the drilling and injecting of the foam. Caution will be required when drilling thru the refrigerator outboard face to the void area. Drilling too deep will contact the hull or hull liner. Use caution when injecting this foam. It can become very messy stuff. Clean with lacquer thinner or acetone immediately. All drilled holes

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Lewmar Electric Halyard Winch Upgrade

Lewmar Electric Halyard Winch Upgrade
Scott Brear

5/1/2000
Hull #: 44

I have been considering an electric halyard winch ever since I had a ride on a Catalina 470 a year ago. Not only does it make sail handling much easier, but it can act as a valuable safety aid (if rigged properly) in being able to hoist crew out of the water! In the Bay’s cold waters, timing can be critical.

Gerry (ANTSY #13) was kind enough to share his experiences in installing the Harken equivalent winch on a couple of boats, so I thought I would offer my version with Lewmar. The #40 EST is a new, geared, winch that replaces the much less capable OP1 but now discontinued. As the #40 EST is horizontal mounted below decks, the installation is very similar to the Harken. I selected the Lewmar because it matched the other winches and has

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Harken Electric Halyard Winch Installation

Harken Electric Halyard Winch Installation
Don Rooker
5/1/2000
Hull #: 44

For all of you 380 drivers, who are lazy like me, I have installed an electric winch in place of the two speed manual winch on the starboard side of the coachroof. It was really quite easy, but it did take a couple of days to complete.

I chose the Harken electric winch because it featured 2 speeds for both manual and electrical operation. The alternative from Lewmar, the OP1, that was used on Catalina 470, was only single speed for both mechanical and electrical, and it hung vertically rather than the tidy horizontal configuration of the Harken. The Harken kit part number is BK402STEC12.

EDITOR’S note: Lewmar has since discontinued the OP1. For a review of the new Lewmar alternative, the 40EST, see Scott’s article.

You should start the installation by removing the existing Lewmar 40.

Thoroughly clean

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Night Light

Night Light
Scott Brear
2/17/1999
Hull #: 0

As nice as it is to have dome lights that can be switched to red for improved night vision, the present system could be improved for serious cruisers. How many times have you or crew accidentally switched a light to the white side? I took a page out of the Catalina 42 book by adding a 42-style red cabin sole-level light to the starboard side of the galley cabinet. This provides an excellent way to always be ensured of shining red light onto the companion way and the immediate area, essential for proper nighttime safety. Dave Peffer, hull #20, Spindrift, has also added a night light just above and next to the commode, on the side of the sink cabinet.

This permits crew to go below and take care of business without turning on any lights, at all. These lights can be

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Cabin Galley Pole

Cabin Galley Pole
Scott Brear
2/17/1999
Hull #: 0

One of the problems with large volume cabins is that they can be somewhat awkward in a seaway. What do you hold onto? We have added several teak handles throughout the cabin to match what Catalina had originally installed. This included an additional handle at the companionway port side and at the main cabin-forward cabin door.

A bigger issue is helping people pass between the saloon and the companionway in a wild seaway. We installed a stainless 1-inch diameter pole between the coachroof and the galley countertop. This gives the crew an obvious place to grab when “falling down” the companionway in a blow.

Without it, they may go rolling through the cabin! Of course, they should always go up and down this ladder facing aft, but…

In order to remain clear of the companionway slide above the galley, the pole

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Niffty “Starboard” Projects

Niffty “Starboard” Projects
Forrest & Suzie Lott

2/1/1999
Hull #: 90

We have all seen this white plastic material being used throughout the marine industry. It forms the aft perch seats of our own 380’s. Forrest and Susie Lott have put the material to excellent use in several projects on their Andiamo. Forrest mentioned that the material is very easy to work with using normal woodworking tools. He discovered that it does not glue well, so he made up all joints with countersunk screws.

First, they increased galley surface space immensely by adding stove and sink covers. The sink board has been built in two pieces so that they can work on one part and still access the sink.

Their next project was a motor mount for the outboard. It needed to be tall enough to keep the foot of the motor from striking the deck when hung on the

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Anchor Locker Lock

Anchor Locker Lock
Scott Brear
2/1/1999
Hull #: 0

Keeping the anchor locker closed, whether to prevent it from opening in a heavy sea or to keep thieves out of it, requires some kind of lock. One solution is a lockable hasp on deck, but a lock can be cut and it is a toe-banger. Some of us have taken an inside approach. It is quite practical to attach a ¼ inch line to the inside of the hatch (where the holding open cable is mounted) and run the line to a cleat in the v-berth. The photo shows the internal installation, using a stainless jam cleat. It is important that the hole be positioned just under its attachment to the locker lid where the line can be pulled the tightest. There must be no slack. I used a surface-mounted turning block in the locker at the exiting hole to

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Filter Pressure Drop Gauge

Filter Pressure Drop Gauge
From January 99 Mainsheet
2/1/1999

This might be a good time to bring up the issue of fuel filters. Either we clean them regularly (and most of us probably do not) or they slowly clog up and interfere with proper flow to the engine, maybe when the engine is most needed! It would take only one bad batch of fuel to clog the filter.

Consider adding a fuel suction meter in the line between tank and fuel pump. This meter will give you an absolute indication of the pump suction required to bring fuel from the tank. Mark the pressure with a clean filter and, when it increases, check the filter. The cost of installation and parts was about $120.00. It can be tee’d into the fuel line anywhere and does not require fuel system bleeding. Not too bad for peace of mind whilst at sea.

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Cabin Fans

Cabin Fans
Dave Peffer
10/18/1998
Hull #: 20

You will want cabin fans in many places, and the Hella turbo-fans draw so little power that it is reasonable to do this. The fan(s) in the v-berth should be installed as far forward as possible blowing aft, promoting airflow through the boat. One excellent spot in the main saloon is just forward of the chart table, where it can blow across the head and shoulders of the navigator, then across to the galley, where it blows heat from the stove away from the cook. Other locations will suggest themselves. We have three fans in the aft cabin. On our boat there was a free ‘Cabin Fans’ switch on the panel.

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