Category Archives: 2011

2011, Mainsheet

Note from the Editor – February 2011

3 Comments

Steve Riddle, Blue Heron, C380, #194

Well, old man winter is rearing his ugly head again – at least for those of us in the northern climates.  I finally broke down today and winterized Blue Heron.  And she put up a good fight as I found a couple maintenance items that needed attention.  So it was a long day.

This winter’s project list isn’t too long.  Primary focus will be on solving the engine raw water pump seal leakage.  This is the second year in a row that the pump started leaking after a rebuild with a new shaft, bearing and seals ($$).  So that will require some discussions with Westerbeke.   Then I have decided to go for a Stack-Pac mainsail cover.  I got a very good price through Sail Care of Ford City, PA for the Doyle version.  I will also get the main cleaned and re-coated while

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2011, Customizations, Mainsheet

Anchor Washdown Pump – C-387

4 Comments

John Welch, Dragon’s Lair Hull #7, League City, Texas

My wife and I are preparing our boat for cruising once we retire.  One of the modifications we felt we needed was a wash down pump which, when we have chartered, we have found a useful tool.

I purchased a Jabsco Washdown Par Max 4.0 Washdown kit model 32900-0092 from West Marine.  The current price at West Marine is $199.  The pump produces 4.0 GPM.   When I purchased the boat, I had a ¾” bronze full flow safety seacock/thru-hull installed just forward of the keel which provided a water source for the system.  If hauling the boat to install a thru-hull is not an option, another approach would be to place a “T” and a shutoff valve in the water intake for the AC unit.  You will need hose, stainless steel nuts, washers and bolts, clamps, sealant, and electrical wire to

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2011, Anchor and Windlass, Boom, Customizations, Electronics, Fridge, Propellers, Rig, Storage, Water, Winches

Owner Improvements

2 Comments

The list below provides links to owner websites and their descriptions of improvements they have made to various aspects of the Catalina 380 series. I include them in this post so that they will be available to the search routines of this site.

RIGGING

Spinnaker Rig Details – Som Sikdar
Whisker Pole – Paul McManus
In Boom Furler – Kevin Murray
Back Stay Adjuster – Kevin Murray
Double Footblock – Som Sikdar
Boom Brake – Kevin Murray
Preventer – Som Sikdar
Power Primary Winch – Kevin Murray
Mainsheet Cam Cleat – Kevin Murray
Jib Furler Line Clutch – Kevin Murray
Go Fast Rigging – Steve Dublin
Bobstay – Kevin Murray

STAINLESS
Stern Handrails -John Estes
Stainless Projects – Scott Brear

CREATURE COMFORT
Drop Leaf Salon Table– Jim Jaeschke
Table Tray – Robert Taylor
Sink Boards – Kevin Murray
Stove Cover Board – Robert Taylor
Cabin Storage – Som Sikdar

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2011, Mainsheet

A Note from the Editor – February 2011

4 Comments

Well, we are starting to see some signs of spring in the boat yard.  You know, the sounds of sanding, scraping and polishing!  I normally like to be ready to sail by around April 1 here in Virginia, even though nice warm sailing days still are still elusive early in the month.  So I need to get started myself.

This quarter we have an article on replacing the bearings in the Shaeffer furlers that were standard on many of our boats.  Second, I will share my findings and a response I received from Westerbeke on my raw water pump seal failure.  Lastly, I also will provide the quarterly summary of Yahoo discussions that I started in last quarter’s edition.

I hope that you have a great sailing season in 2011 and I look forward to receiving many future helpful and informative technical articles to publish here in Mainsheet.

—

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2011, Customizations, Tables

Cockpit Table Extension

1 Comment

Thomas Brantigan
C387 #96

Recent discussions on the C380 forum have discussed actually removing the cockpit table but here is a project that goes in just the opposite direction – it makes it bigger!

Cockpit Table Extension

My wife and daughter and I often sail with our friends, the Corey’s, who own a C34 they purchased new over 20 years ago.  When we throw the hook, we have happy hour and then dinner on one boat or the other.  The cockpit table in the 387 seats four people comfortably but we typically have at least 5 – thus the project to add a portable extension to the table.

The project is fairly simple but has some interesting aspects that are worth discussing.

The first thing I did was to create a template of the shape I needed to butt against the existing cockpit table.  One could just use a straight

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2011, Mainsheet, Repair/Replace/Maintain

Rudder Reinstallation C387

5 Comments

Thomas Brantigan
C387 #96  Toccata in Sea

Mainsheet 2011

Boat repairs are like war; the plan only lasts until the first battle starts!

It all started when the boat was pulled at the end of last season.  I noticed that the lower rudder bearing was loose – something new since the boat was last pulled.  From there, I noticed a crack in the forward portion of the rudder so drilled a small hole in the bottom of the rudder and found that a small amount of water drained out.  As with many projects, had I known at the beginning what I knew in the end, I would have done a different project.  It was just one of those things that kept getting bigger as you went along.

Important to this discussion is that I have a C387 and not a C380.  Evidently the length of the rudder post is different

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2011, Asymmetrical Sails, Customizations, Mainsheet

“Bobstay” Strap for Asymmetrical

2 Comments

Reinforcing the Anchor Roller for a Spinnaker Tack Point;
Spinnaker Running Gear Ideas


By Tim Porter, C380 #199 Serendipity
Mainsheet, December 2011

The forward end of the C380 anchor roller is 20 inches ahead of the forestay attach plate, 10 inches ahead and clear of the bow pulpit, and on Serendipity was just begging to be used as the tack point for an asymmetrical spinnaker! The only issue was the upward load put on the anchor roller attachment in anything more than a light breeze. I solved this problem by having a “bobstay strap” made which attaches to the bottom of the anchor roller and the existing chainplate for the forestay located on the stem (photo 1). The strap has the additional benefit of strengthening the anchor roller in the downward direction, making it less likely you’ll damage it with excessive loading while weighing anchor (stuck anchor, pulling up a

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2011, Mainsheet

December – Note from the Editor

4 Comments

Note from the Editor,

Hard to believe that summer is almost over. Hopefully you had a good sailing season. Mine was limited due to travel, hot weather, and no wind. Next we had the Virginia earthquake – didn’t impact sailing but my dockmates said the docks and pilings were shaking. And finally in came Hurricane Irene. So far I have only received one report of damage to boats in our fleet. That was the result of an anchored Peterson 42 dragging down on the C380 Oceania. It appears that the C380 won that battle with the Peterson being “T-boned” by Oceania. Oceania suffered some bow damage, but the Peterson was worse off. It is interesting that marinas on the Chesapeake generally allowed boats to stay at their slips, while Northeastern marinas seemed to require boats to vacate. Oceania was damaged as a result of that policy. On the other hand,

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2011, Customizations, Electric Winch, Reviews, Sailing

Winch Rite – Review

4 Comments

Posted by: “Joseph A. Revak, DMD, MAS” joenopain1@verizon.net joenopain1
Thu Aug 11, 2011 5:01 am (PDT)

Steve,
I do have the Winch Rite. I only use it for raising the main. It would be to bulky for jib sheeting. I like it for the main. I also have the Tides Marine Strong track system. When I first got the Winch Rite I used the slow speed to raise the Main, now I use the higher speed and it does just fine. A LOT less work for my back. It is usually Diane and I on the boat so, as someone said with the Strong system I could raise the main at the mast easily, but we always raise the Main from the cockpit and there is the additional resistance from the blocks.

Where I really like it is at the beginning of the season while I feed the jib into the furling slot, Diane can raise the jib’s halyard, which she had difficulties doing with a winch. I have not seen the electric winch handle on the bikini model. Warren I have seen some REALLY great premolars and molars lately though!
I hope every one is out on the water,
Joe Revak, C-387 # 74

2011, Mainsheet

Note from the Editor — December 2011

2 Comments

Note from the Editor:

Unfortunately this will be my last Mainsheet article. After much soul searching, we have decided to sell our C380, Blue Heron. We have enjoyed our nearly eight years with her and I still remember how impressed we were with the size, comfort, sailing qualities – you name it – versus our old C34. However, she is a lot of boat for the limited amount day sailing we have ended up doing of late. You are supposed to have lots of free time in retirement, but it seems like there is always something else going on that makes it hard to block out the time for sailing. My calendar is much fuller than when I was working – go figure! She passed survey today so it looks like the deal we have to sell will go through. So, what is next? Hard to say. Probably something much smaller. However, I’ll wait a while to make a decision.

I’ve enjoyed my short tenure as the Technical Editor. We have a lot of high caliber technical minds in the Association and I am sure my replacement will serve the Membership well.

In this issue we have a couple of interesting articles for C380’s. First is an article by skipper Tim Porter on replacing the C380 engine control pod with the newer Seaward pod that angles the instruments upward for better viewing while underway. No more crawling on the cockpit floor to see the gauges! The second, related article by skipper Bill Ahillen is on replacing the standard 1-inch diameter cockpit pedestal guard with a 1-1/4 inch diameter guard to allow more room for electronic cables in the tubes. Something needed in today’s digital age with chart plotters, radar, AIS, etc. This article was actually a Yahoo post that I have edited for inclusion in Mainsheet. And finally, I will continue my regular listing of posts in the Yahoo list for the last quarter.

Again, I have enjoyed my tenure as your Technical Editor and I wish all of you “Fair Winds and Following Seas”.

— Steve

YAHOO TOPICS

September 2011

Lewmar Portlight Seals
Raymarine ST50 Speed Transducer Cable Splicing
Mast Rake Settings
LED’s for Cabin Lighting
Prop Shaft Anti-fouling Paint
C380 Pricing
Westerbeke 42B Running Hot
Folding vs. Feathering Props (also see Oct)
Close-hauled Mainsail Twist
Cunningham Setup
Mounting Plate for Cabin-top Clutches
Cabin Window Shades
PSS Shaft Seal Issues
Adding a Third Dutchman Line
New Sink and Stovetop Cleaner

October 2011

Galley Sole Alternatives
Holding Tank and Vent Issues
Rigging Setup
Lewmar Winch Maintenance
Gybe Preventer (Boom Brake)
Replacing Crazed Hatches and Ports
Yanmar Exhaust Elbow Corrosion
Steering Wheel Nut
Bilge Issues
Asymmetrical Spinnaker Size
Cockpit Table Support Replacement