Category Archives: Mainsheet

Mainsheet Articles

2009, Customizations, Mainsheet

C380 Helmseat Alternative

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By Bob Bierly

Mainsheet, November 2009

Many of us have struggled with what to do with the stock C380 helm seat insert.  It is too low to sit on while steering the boat, the rubber hasps do not hold the insert securely enough (just step on the rear lip to see what I mean), and it is cumbersome to handle when you want to access the stern step.  Several skippers have considered the “Helmseat” advertised in Mainsheet.  Bob Bierly, our Association Secretary/Treasurer and who skippers C’mon Wind, shares his solution:

Attached are a couple photos of my helm chair.  Photo 1 – “The Chair” shows my complete seat assembly in place.   Photo 2 – “Chairbase” shows the wooden box (or bridge) I built to replace the factory provided fiberglass seat insert behind the helm, to which is mounted a simple fishing seat. The bridge also allows fore and aft

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2009, Mainsheet

The New Technical Editor’s Note – Mainsheet, August 2009

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Mainsheet, August 2009

I am very pleased to be taking over as Technical Editor for the C380/387/390 Association.  I had considered taking the similar position back when I owned my C34, but work and other commitments prevented doing so.  Being “semi” retired now allows time to take on other interests.  I’ve done a lot of “hands on” work on my Catalina 22, 34 and 380 over the last 25 years (with an unmentionable “H” boat in there too).  Plus I have read, and maintain a file of, countless technical articles from various sailing and boating magazines over the years.  So I hope I can bring my knowledge to bear on your problems.

Warren has been doing a wonderful job as Technical Editor and I thank him for his service to the Association.  Even though he is “retiring” as Technical Editor, he remains active in the Yahoo list so we will

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2009, Mainsheet

A Good Run – A Farewell Note from Warren Elliott – August 2009

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Mainsheet, August 2009

Sometime in 2000 or 2001, the Catalina 380 Mainsheet Tech Editor did the unthinkable: he purchased a different boat!!  This apparently shocked me into raising my hand when the Commodore asked for a replacement editor. And so began my tenure, starting with one big article on our through-hull valves – this in the August 2001 issue.

Since then, I’ve been amply rewarded with plenty of help including all sorts of articles about upgrading our boats.  Most of this came through our very active email chat group, formerly on Sailnet, now sponsored by Yahoo. There have also been many more technical articles – a few of these affecting boat – and also personal safety.  I’d like to emphasize the safety aspect, encouraging all of you unhesitatingly bring up any related situation or aspect of our boats.

But it’s time to give another the opportunity, as Admiral Jeanne has

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2009, Customizations, Electronics, Mainsheet, Repair/Replace/Maintain, Water

Improving Dockside Utilities

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Mainsheet, August 2009 

These are a couple ideas from Bob Bierly who captains CMON WIND, C380 #255 out of Reedville, VA.

Forward Shore Power Inlet

All C380’s came with a 120 volt shore power inlet, usually mounted on the transom on the starboard side. This is not a convenient place to run dock power to when traveling, particularly if you prefer to dock bow first into a slip. To simplify this, I installed a 30 amp shore power inlet in the anchor locker facing forward in the vertical fiberglass face under the windlass controls. Photo #1 shows the location.

Running the #10 by 3-wire 120v cable back to the electrical panel was simple because that area behind the wooden panel at the forward end of the vee berth is directly open to the molded chase along both sides of the boat. Just run the new cable along the starboard

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2009, Mainsheet, Repair/Replace/Maintain

Cockpit Table Leaf Support Bracket

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Repair of the C-380 Cockpit Table Leaf Support Bracket

by Steve Riddle

Mainsheet, August 200-9

The cockpit table leaf support on the C-380 will eventually separate due to chafing of the internal cord that connects the two support tubes.  The cord is also spring loaded: (1) to make it easy to snap the two support pieces together one handed and (2) to keep the two support pieces snugly together if someone bumps the underside of the table leaf.  Because the male and female tips are crimped into the body of the support tubes, replacing a broken cord is not normally possible since the cord ends are located several inches down inside the support tubes.  Thus, the only apparent option when the cord chafes through has been to buy a replacement support from Catalina.

Yes, if your cord has broken, you can continue to use the support, albeit with some difficultly

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2009, Mainsheet, Repair/Replace/Maintain, Rig

Rig Safety

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By Warren Elliott

Mainsheet, August 2009 

Last November’s Mainsheet lead article opened this subject, an important one affecting all of our boats.  At the time, a C380 captain had reported on our Yahoo chat list a complete disconnection of the forestay from the stem fitting during brisk sailing conditions.  Luckily, he was sailing downwind, so there was little adverse pressure on the rig.  He was able to get the genny down, lash down the flailing forestay, and tie-in a couple of halyards to secure the mast.  The captain noted that the 5/8″ clevis pin was gone.  The pin normally secures the forestay to the stem fitting, and is held in place by a cotter pin.  He also mentioned that he had noted that all was secure, including the cotter pin, a few weeks earlier.

 

I checked my rig and noted that the clevis (or “toggle”) had wandered a bit

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2008, Mainsheet, Repair/Replace/Maintain, Water

More on Anti-Siphon Valves

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More on Anti-Siphon Valves
Warren Elliott

February, 2008 Hull #: C380 #44

Although there is more than one of these devices on our boats, the anti-siphon valve for our engine is very important, as discussed in the previous few Mainsheet issues. If it fails in the closed position, water is likely to back up into the exhaust manifold and damage the engine. At least one of our C380s engines was badly damaged this way, and more engines out there may be in trouble.

In case some of you are not aware of this device, it’s mounted on the forward side of the bulkhead just above the engine. See our section of the May 2007 Mainsheet for the original article on this subject, including photos.

 

In the previous [November] issue, it was concluded that the best way to monitor the valve’s operation [engine off] was by inserting a small screwdriver,

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2008, Mainsheet, Repair/Replace/Maintain

Eliminating Bilge Odor

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Eliminating Bilge Odor
Richard Herbst
February, 2008
Hull #: C380 #93

My Catalina 380 had excess water collecting in the aft bilge area which resulted in unpleasant odors. This bilge is adjacent to the galley counter and its door/trash bin, and includes one keel bolt. Removing the floorboard that wraps around the galley island is the only access to this area. [Ed note: this is the third bilge section; the first section is immediately aft of the compression post and contains the bilge pump and/or pick-up for the pump; a small hatch provides easy access. The second section is immediately aft of the first, and also has easy hatch access on boats newer than about 1998 (older boats have no access hatch)– Warren].

Adding a small a bilge pump in this section is possibly the easy way out but would not get rid of all water; due to the

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2008, Customizations, Mainsheet, Repair/Replace/Maintain

Electric Head Upgrade for C380

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Electric Head Upgrade for C380
Steve Riddle
May, 2008
Hull #: C-380 (#194)

You know the drill. The pump on the old manual head starts working hard. So you pour in a little head lube and hope to get by for a few more weeks, months, or even years. Finally, the inevitable rebuild can not be put off any longer. Then you are off to the trusty marine store only to find the rebuild kit costs almost as much as a new head! I never did care for the manual head but it was ok for occasional use. We also had one for many years on our previous C-34, but the units are small and not intuitively obvious for your guests to operate. Plus the rotten egg smell from stagnant sea water after it sits idle for a summer week is awful.

The advantages of a nice, big, fresh-water electric

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2008, Air Conditioning, Customizations, Mainsheet, Repair/Replace/Maintain

Easy Air Conditioning

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Easy Air Conditioning
Warren Elliott

May, 2008 Hull #: C380 #44

 A fair number of our C380/387/390 boats have air conditioning which was installed either as an option by Catalina, or by the Catalina dealer who was the commissioning agent. And, per our lively Sailnet email chat group , some Captains have put in A/C themselves. Of course, most of these boats are located in the south and southwest, where summer heat can be oppressive, requiring some form of relief.

On the other hand, those of us in northern climes have more of a choi ce: we could do nothing, possibly suffering a bit for those few really hot days, or we might go “full up” with an A/C system [usually two unit totaling over 20,000 BTU], perhaps suffering only pocketbook distress. Besides requiring at least a few “big bo at-bucks”, these units take considerable space which might otherwise be

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