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Volume
28,
Number 3, August
2010
(This
is only a fraction of the Technical content found in each issue of mainsheet.
To read it all, subscribe to Catalina Mainsheet.)
Catalina
470 Technical Editor Jim Wohlleber
Drivebelts and Oil Seals
The drive belt on our Yanmar engined C470s is a simple device: it loops
around the main pulley attached to the crankshaft behind the balancer
wheel then moves vertically to the water pump then horizontally to the
engine-driven generator. Simple enough!!! Where (or if) the drive belt
starts is a matter for philosophers. Most of us stock a replacement drive
belt, or two or three, in our spares inventory as a hedge against the
day when we spot some minor cracks in it during our routine pre-departure
engine inspections. Oil level, coolant level (properly checked by removing
the coolant cap on the engine), RACOR fuel filter bowls, transmission
oil level, and the tightness (1/4" to 1/2"max flex) of the
drive belt are routine inspection points easily accomplished. A part
of the drivebelt is also easily visible and, during the flashlight-aided
engine bilge inspection from above the engine, we always check the drivebelt
for cracks, nicks, shards of belt coming off and general condition. Almost
always all these items are in seaworthy condition and the engine and
accessories are in good-to-go status. And go we do!!! Off the dock and,
as Captain Ron said “out there”...
(To
read more Catalina 470 Technical Notes, subscribe to Catalina Mainsheet.)
CM400
Association Editor Brian Mistrot
Adding
a Parallel Primary Fuel Filter
Like many boaters with diesel engines, I have found preventing
bio-growth in the fuel tank difficult. Additives, fuel polishing
and cleaning the inside of the tank have helped, but tank cleaning
is limited due to baffles inside the tank. Short of removing the
tank, adding another inspection port at one end, and flushing it
out, I have relied on additives and striving for clean fuel.
The result is that periodically I have to change the filter element
in the primary fuel filter (a Racor®), especially if I have
been sailing in choppy seas that stirred-up the “gunk” in
the tank. I have never had the engine die for lack of fuel, but
when it slows a couple hundred RPM’s and speeds back up a
few times, I know that it is getting time to change the filter
element. A couple of times, I did this while underway – fortunately
in calm waters. So, I decided to add a parallel primary filter,
which would enable switching from one filter to another and allow
changing the dirty filter element, without shutting down the engine.
While there are systems like this available on the market, I did
not want to spend the big bucks asked for these units. Additionally,
fitting a preassembled duel filter system into the engine compartment
of the Catalina 400 (or most any sailboat) would be virtually impossible.
So, I decided on a DYI project...
(To
read more Catalina 470 Technical Notes, subscribe to Catalina Mainsheet.)
Catalina
42 Technical Editor Garry Willis
Yes, Lead Batteries are Heavy
Garry,
My wife and I bought C42 hull #807 new in 2002, and have kept it on Lake
Lanier, northeast of Atlanta, for these years. The factory batteries
have lasted all this time but now need replacing. It appears that they
are Group 904D, weight about 100 lbs each, and cost about $325 each to
replace, as best I can read the West Marine catalog. I have two questions:
1. While it looks feasible for two strong men to remove the Starting/Windlass
battery #3 from the dining area, I do not see how to lift the House Bank
#1 and #2 batteries out of their aft compartment. How is this done?
2. If the boat gets only light-duty use on a lake, can I replace these
batteries with something lighter and/or less expensive?...
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Catalina
380/397/390 Technical Editor Steve Riddle
Sealing Leaks in Lewmar “Old
Standard” Portlights
If you have an older Catalina, your Lewmar portlights are likely what
are known as the “Old Standard” portlight. (note: these are
NOT the overhead hatches, which are “Ocean” series hatches)
These portlights can be identified by the split in the upper and lower
frames on each side. If you have these portlights, you have probably
been battling hard-to-find leaks. [My 1999 vintage C380, #194 still has
the “Old Standard” ports. –Steve]
Most of these leaks are not from the seal or the latches, but rather
from those splits in the frame I noted above. The frame itself is a hollow
extrusion and the two halves are joined with a plastic insert that is
pressed into them which is then staked into place by dimpling the backside
of the frame. Over time, the sun and age takes its toll on this plastic
piece and it no longer keeps a seal between the frames. Eventually, water
will seep into the hollow of the extrusion and run down inside the frame.
This water will seep out of the screw holes for the inner frame and latches,
or come out any unused hole drilled in the bottom frame. Many times it
appears to be the seal leaking, or the hole for the latch (it has an
o-ring that rarely leaks) because the leak appears near the latch since
that’s where the holes in the frame are...
(To
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Catalina
38 Technical Editor Tom Troncalli
No
column this issue. Comments and/or questions for next issue? Contact
your Tech Editor today.
(To
read more Catalina 38 Technical Notes, subscribe to Catalina Mainsheet.)
Catalina
36/375 Technical Editors
Pre Mk II hulls: Steve Frost
MK II Hulls: Larry Brandt
From Steve
Summer solstice has passed, we are fully into summer and I hope you are
all able to find some time to get out and enjoy your vessels while the
sun is high on the horizon. For the few of you on our mailing list that
are in the southern hemisphere we have included some work projects for
you’re off-season. All the rest of you I suggest you procrastinate
about those maintenance items and go sailing.
My project list always gets longer not shorter, life too is short, I would
like Bristol perfection aboard my boat, but I am not sure I have time for
that and I suspect that when I am laying on my death bed looking back on
life I will be happy with the choice I made the day I said: I can live
with the varnish not glistening, a main sheet that is a bit tattered, lets
go sailing....
(To
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Catalina
350 Technical Editor Tim Ryan
Companionway Steps and Cockpit Table
Drink Holder
The treads of the companion way steps have always presented a problem with
dirt and debris getting into the grooves. Besides the cleaning issue, I
have never been comfortable with the traction that the varnished treads
provided. I decided to solve both problems in one fell swoop.
I approached the tread grooves by making them slightly wider and deeper
by running them through my table saw. I also sawed some additional grooves
to make them appear more uniform. I’m not sure this is absolutely
necessary but I thought that it looked nicer this way. I applied masking
tape on each side of the groove and also at each end. From there, it was
just a matter of filling the grooves with black silicon rubber calk. One
calking gun cartridge was enough to do all the steps...
(To
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Catalina
34 Technical Editor Mike Vaccaro
Crankcase Breathers Routed to
the Air Intake
There have been some posts on the C34 web site, including the projects
page as well as the Tech Notes section of this magazine, that advocate
the installation of a line to route the crankcase vent back into
the engine air intake. We made this modification to our own boat
and published photos of our installation in the August 2008 Mainsheet.
The only benefit of this modification is to eliminate a source of
odor in the cabin area, and it turns out there is a very good technical
reason that it’s not prudent to re-route vent case blow-by
into the intake. An alert reader and C36 owner familiar with industrial
diesel applications pointed out that:...
(To
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Catalina
320 Association Editor Chris Burti
Adding a Dedicated Starting Battery
to the C320
My dedicated starting battery is sitting on a shelf that I added in the
space just forward of the forward 4D in the starboard side settee. As a
slight port list is typical for many C320 owners and the space is ample
for the purpose, this is a favorite location for many later model C320
owners where the batteries are located under the middle of the starboard
settee. This location is also desirable in keeping the new jumper wires
short which reduces resistance and voltage losses...
(To
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Catalina
310 Technical Editor Bill Lewis
Digging a hole to fix a problem
In this periodic column we will see how astute captains have creatively
responded to the subtle or not so subtle orders or the Admiral to fax
something, make something go away, or make something good happen on our
Catalina 310s. Send me your simple solutions to these tough problems
and remember, if the admiral ain’t happy, nobody’s happy.
The Admiral asked why the boat vibrated at various engine speeds last
summer. She further commented that the vibration was getting worse and
that she would like me to do something about it. If you are thinking
cutlass bearing you are correct.
During the replacement process this spring we found that to remove the
prop shaft we needed to drop the rudder to allow the shaft to pull out
past the rudder. It would clear the rudder post but not the rudder itself.
As we dropped the rudder we found that we still could not clear the rudder
and needed to drop the rudder further and probably get the boat yard
to hoist the boat about a foot more off the ground.
The good news is that our boat does not sit on concrete of blacktop so
we were able to simply dig a hole to drop the rudder another foot. –Bob
James, Association Editor
(To
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Tech
Talk with Catalina 30/309 (edited by Max Munger)
Painting
the deck
We bought Sun On the Moon, hull number 1691 in September of 2005. She is
a 1981 Standard Rig with the traditional layout. Standing Nav station to
starboard and heavy dining table secured to the port forward bulkhead.
The boat was very clean, and really looked as though it had little use.
Still after all those years areas on her deck you could see many areas
where the gel coat was wearing through so the big decision was made to
paint the decks.
In June of 2008 we decided to take the plunge and get the project started.
My knowledge in this area was severely limited, so I dialed in the talents
and experience of a guy I had known for a few years who is very talented
and makes his living working on boats, Tim Haapanen. First thing we had
to do is build a time line and of course weather was a consideration. The
project itself we figured would take at least three weeks to complete...
(To
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Catalina
28 Technical Editor Garry Hebert
A New Barbecue
For many years I used detachable charcoal barbecues on previous boats as
well as on my Catalina 28. Obviously the effort it took to set-up, wait
for the coals to heat up, clean up and put away this unit was much more
time consuming than for permanently mounted propane grills. Although I
believe that food prepared over charcoal tastes better, the time and effort
just wasn’t worth it...
(To
read more Catalina 28 Technical Notes, subscribe to Catalina Mainsheet.)
Catalina
27/270
Technical Editor C27 John Ebell
Technical Editor C270 Phil Agur
Oil pressure gauge
Here’s one you may not have seen before! I was motoring, two miles
from home, over a glassy lake, with the wind at absolute zero. I had
often wondered about the exhaust smell in the cabin under these conditions – was
it “station wagon effect” or was there a leak in my exhaust
system. I reasoned that if I turned on the blower it might help to determine
the cause of the problem. After a few minutes with the blower running
I re-examined my thinking and decided that I was wrong...
(To
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Capri
26 Technical Editor Art Harden
The summer heat is here, but the fall winds
are just around the corner. The days will soon be getting cooler, at least
in the northern areas. For us in the northern states, it is the best part
of the sailing season and the best time for raft-ups and overnighters.
The Capri 26 is an ideal boat for short cruises and nights on the water.
It has all of the amenities of home (including the head), which makes the
female crew very happy. If you do not believe that, just tell your crew
that the head is not working and see if they don’t mutiny.
Not all heads are created equal (not the one you think with - the one on
the boat). I think the majority of the Capri 26’s have a marine head
and holding tank, but there are a few with port-a-pots. There are some
advantages with a port-a-pot. Weight, one less hull penetration, and ease
of controlling odors are all advantages of self-contained units. But with
that there are disadvantages as well. Carrying it on and off the boat and,
of course, dumping it are two unpleasant tasks...
(To
read more Capri 26 Technical Notes, subscribe to Catalina Mainsheet.)
Catalina 25 Technical Editor Paul Zell
Catalina 250 Technical Editor Randy Kold
Fix Worn Poptop Dogs
Here is a way to make the poptop dogs more secure. One of ours had the
screw holes stripped on the slotted piece that connects to the bulkhead.
When the top was dogged down, it lifted up rather than staying put to
haul the top down. We cut a piece of quarter inch thick aluminum bar
to about 8 inches long and centered it on the old screw holes. Then we
drilled and tapped for 10/24 thread machine bolts in the bar, matching
the spacing of the dog fitting. The fitting was attached to the bar.
After checking for alignment with the toggle, the bar was attachec to
the bulkhead with four screws. A section exactly the length of the bar
was removed from the rubber trim there in order to set the bar in as
much as possible. Because the bar is still slightly thicker than the
rubber trim, the toggle fitting may seem slightly canted. However, it
now will snugly pull down the poptop...
(To
read more Catalina 25/250 Technical Notes, subscribe to Catalina Mainsheet.)
Catalina
22 Technical Editor Louis Plaisance
No
column this issue. Comments and/or questions for next issue? Contact
your Tech Editor today.
(To
read more Catalina 22 Technical Notes, subscribe to Catalina Mainsheet.)
Catalina
18 Technical Editor Erik Van Renselaar
No column
this issue. Comments and/or questions for next issue? Contact your
Tech Editor today.
(To
read more Catalina 18 Technical Notes, subscribe to Catalina Mainsheet.)
Catalina
16 Technical Editor Richard Ede
No column
this issue. Comments and/or
questions for next issue? Contact your Tech Editor today.
(To
read more Catalina 16.5 Technical Notes, subscribe to Catalina Mainsheet.)
Catalina
15 Technical Editor Paul Vance
No column
this issue. Comments and/or questions for next issue? Contact your
Tech Editor today.
(To
read more Catalina 16.5 Technical Notes, subscribe to Catalina Mainsheet.)
Capri
14.2 Association Editor Ed Jones
No
column this issue. Comments and/or questions for next issue? Contact your
Tech Editor today.
(To
read more Capri 14.2 Technical Notes, subscribe to Catalina Mainsheet.)
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