Category Archives: 2003

Radar Pole Configurations

Radar Pole Configurations
Warren Elliott, Paul McManus, Bob Sapita,Bob Brown
5/14/2003 

Recently, there was considerable interest on this subject on our Sailnet email discussion group, so it seems that many are considering adding radar–a very worthwhile investment. To help with your design, here are three setups, sent to me by their captains after my Sailnet request. I’ll add photos of my radar pole configuration when I can convince my admiral to spend the $ on a decent digital camera. [I must confess, I’ve spent plenty on boat upgrades!].

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Photos 1 & 2 are shots of Paul McManus’s setup on his C-380 #185, “”Sea Sea Rider””. The pole and supports are standard Edson items. The pole’s weight is supported on the clevis- type bracket mounted just above the port side swim-platform storage “”box””. Upper support is provided by two rail brackets. Paul has a dink motor lift utilizing a pulley

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Fuel Gauge Calibration

Fuel Gauge Calibration
Warren Elliott
2/1/2003
Hull #: 44

There have been a number of discussions on this topic on our Sailnet email discussion group. Most of you probably realize that our fuel tank is not a simple rectangular shape, especially in the vertical plane, and so the fuel gauge does not read accurately [our sender–the sensor in the tank–is a typical swinging-arm-with-float-type which is calibrated for a rectangular tank]. Rather it is tapered, from a depth of 11-1/2″ forward to an average of about 5″ aft. [It’s actually tapered in three directions].

In order to estimate what corrections to apply to our fuel gauge, I phoned our tank manufacturer [Ezell Industries], who supplied a dimensioned drawing [rather than measure my tank, a bit uncomfortable to do with our present winter set-up]. From this I was able to calculate- actually estimate- volume versus depth. To keep it relatively simple, I

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Installing A Second Anchor Roller

Installing A Second Anchor Roller
Johnny Smith
2/1/2003
Hull #: 240

When I decided to install a second anchor roller on Shearwater, my 2000 model 380, I first looked in the local West Marine and BOAT/US stores. I then looked in my Garhauer catalog and found one I liked. I wanted one that is shorter than the one that came with the boat to make mounting the second anchor easier. I ordered the model AR-30, which is 24″ LOA with an ID of 2-1/2 inches and weighs 8 lbs. The price in the catalog is $93.50. Their phone number if you don’t have it is (909) 985-9993. I chose a Garhauer unit because our boats are loaded with Garhauer equipment (vang, traveler, adjustable genoa leads, etc.) and I’ve been pleased with their service and appearance so far. Secondly, none of the models I saw in the marine stores were pre-drilled

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Ram Mic P/T Problems

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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Nav Station Mods

Nav Station Mods
Earl Poe
2/1/2003
Hull #: 140

Here is one captain’s solution for space for electronics–we all seem to want more and more toys. But it’s nice to know what’s going on in and around our boat!

With the proliferation of gadgets for “Angel’s Wings,” I needed to re-design the nav station. The logical choice was to use the shelf above the breaker panel. It was easy to duplicate the wood frame of the door and I used a 1/4-inch thick white melamine panel (available from cabinet shops) for the actual panel. 1 x 1-inch stops around the opening, a piano hinge, and a cabinet lock completed the job. The only thing requiring time was fitting the door since the two existing vertical panels are not square (is anything on a boat?). I now have my VHF, stereo, recording barometer, Autohelm repeater, GPS, Radar/chartplotter, tank monitor & Heart

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Westerbeke 42 B Engine Wiring Diagram

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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More on 2nd Bow Rollers

More on 2nd Bow Rollers
Bob Bierly
2/1/2003
Hull #: 255

That Second Anchor Roller That You Always Wanted-

I was the owner who tried to get Catalina and Garhauer to develop and manufacture a heavy-duty double bow roller in the winter of 2000. Simply put, Catalina decided- for undisclosed reasons- not to provide Garhauer a sketch of such a roller incorporating the geometry of the forward part of the C380 that would insure the proper fit and function. Instead, in September 2001, Frank Butler recommended that I add a second roller, similar to the original, on the starboard side of the fore stay. Since we were preparing for a seven-month trip down the eastern coast of the US, I had already done so when the recommendation was received.

I bought a stock 24-inch long roller from Garhauer (AR-30), cut off about 6 inches with a hacksaw and ground the

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Refrigerator and Batteries

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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Aft Cabin Seat Storage

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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Eliminating Head Odors

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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