Posted: April 25 2008 at 10:28 | IP Logged

Dewy, beautiful craft! took a vacation last sep to norfolk, williamsberg,va beach. big dream to cruise the bay. going again this sep. looked everywhere last sep for a private small craft tour of the aera, everyone looked at me like i was crazy. any suggestions for when im back up there?

floater.

Posted: April 25 2008 at 12:53 | IP Logged

Somethhing around our size. i stopped bu 3 marinas and asked the office if anyone would take me and my wife around for a couple of hours for 3 to 400 dollars.thay all said we would have to charter a fishing trip, a dinner cruise or a big boat sight seeing tour. i was just looking for a privete owner who was interested in a tank of gas and a couple of hours of cruising. something for ya'll around the bay to think about.

floater

Posted: April 25 2008 at 13:43 | IP Logged

Gents,

There are many remifications to private tours for renumeration. Not the least of which is legel stuff. Lots of unkowns make this sort of thing in the good 'ol US of A  a risky proposition.

Suggestion: Do some advance research.  contact/visit a lacal yacht club during a club dinner, monthly meeting etc...make personal contact.... holding out the carrot of an outing so one might admire the beauty and function of a proud owner's vessel out without suggestion of fuel, food, or drink. Perhaps to contribute after the fact? Generous human nature being what it is, chances are something might be arranged. 

Roy

Posted: April 25 2008 at 14:25 | IP Logged

OOOOOHHHHHHHHHH, I SEE! sounds to much like work. So, standing on a dock waving a bottle of 100 year grand marnier wont work? really, i will take your advise and try to rub elbows.

floater.

Posted: April 26 2008 at 23:28 | IP Logged

nauti cat, i wish you were here tonite...

ok, went out for an evening cruise and when i got back to the marina, i almost puked...next to my slip was a small house boat with a large group of people admiring the floater (remember my docking abilities). i pulled up, slip to the port side and stopped. like master yoda talking to luke skywalker, i remembered these encouraging words "turn hard port with short bursts in reverse" well. the back end spun around right into the slip, first try! i looked like ive done it 1000 times! THANK YOU for the lessons! going again sunday to do it again!

thanks again, floater.

Posted: April 27 2008 at 21:32 | IP Logged

Hi Floater, glad to hear the docking worked out.  Since I got my Catalina at the end of last season I have not had a chance to try docking.  I was going to put her in the wahter this weekend but the wind was pretty strong (20-25 mph) and I did not want to take any chances as me and my "crew" (wife and kids) as we are not yet familiar with this boat much less docking a single screw inboard.  Besides....I am not finished prepping her so I decided to hold off the launch.

I'll let you know my experience and I am glad it worked out well for you!

Tom

In over my head?!?!

Posted: April 27 2008 at 21:36 | IP Logged

Hi Floater, glad to hear the docking worked out.  Since I got my Catalina at the end of last season I have not had a chance to try docking.  I was going to put her in the water this weekend but the wind was pretty strong (20-25 mph) and I did not want to take any chances as me and my "crew" (wife and kids) are not yet familiar with this boat much less docking an almost 30' single screw inboard (yes, I have liability insurance).  Besides....I am not finished prepping her so I decided to hold off the launch.

I'll let you know my experience and I am glad it worked out well for you!

Tom

Posted: April 27 2008 at 21:55 | IP Logged

Hi everyone,

Just a quick update on the work...

The marina finished the engine work, along with the normal tune up and maintenance, she needed a new intake manifold.  Turns out the automotive performance engine shop that built the really cool almost 300hp 5.7L used a few non-marine parts including the intake manifold.  Since the boat does not have a closed cooling system, I learned that salt water, electrolisys and aluminum engine parts don't get along.  Well...$900 later she's running great with her new marine parts.  The bottom's painted, new zincs, and all maintenance completed.

I got the replacement seawater strainer cover from Chris Parts but it did not fit, was about 1/8" too big.  I had a local marine plastics guy make me one out of 3/4" thick polycarbonate and it worked like a charm.  He even trimmed the cover from Chris Parts for me and now I have a spare. 

I had the isenglass in the side curtains replaced and the canvas looks great.

New anchor installed on the pulpit and new rode through the windlass.  I went with 150' of 1/2" twisted.  I probably could have fit another 50' in the standard locker but I like the way the 150 falls in from the windlass.

I still have to replace the freshwater pressure pump and other assorted plumbing items.

I need to look into resealing all of the windows before getting the new headliner installed, see pix of this project below....

Regards,

Tom

In over my head?!?!   Can't stop now!

Posted: April 28 2008 at 07:51 | IP Logged

cat, shes looking great! you know, the couple of times weve been out, we have had some great fun. Awsome people at the marina. a fiew hours of calm away from the craziness of every day. but, as quick as it came, it may be gone. i got a call sunday from one of the workers at the marina. he made me an offer on the floater that is hard to refuse. im going to see him tonite after work to go on a "test drive". so, if he buys, i'll be on the hunt for "FLOATER II". Yes, it will be a chris. well fellas, i'll let ya'll know.

Jim.

Posted: April 28 2008 at 08:17 | IP Logged

Hey poppop,

The guy who is going to do the installation showed me a few samples of this material which I am not sure what it is called...it is a tight weave of nylon with the texture of tweede.  So it is not carpet or shag, more like a berber.  Probably go with a neutral color.  I wanted vinyl however between all the curves and issues with streaching the vinyl around them, and the length and width of the area the seems were going to pose a problem.  A hangng headliner like in all the big yachts would have been nice but the $$$$ was too much.

Hey Floater,

Hope you get you price nd there seems to be a lot of nice Chris' out there.  I hope to upgrade to something in the low to mid 30's in a few years...it will also be another Chris.

Tom

Posted: April 28 2008 at 09:34 | IP Logged

Cat, good move on the headlining. if the floater does not sell today, i think that will be one of my fall projects. it will be a do-it-yourselfer. surfing the internet, i found some people cutting panels out of foam core project board, then covering with 1/4 foam, then rapping with a lightweight vinyl. they used a heavy grade of hook and loop tape to hold the panels up in place. seems like an inexpensive way that can give  a high end look. either way, i would like to get rid of the old teddybear hanging from my roof. lord knows what can be living in that.

capt heav, sounds like an awsome weekend! the all i got to see was the dead crappie floating around the slip. do you have any pix of the catch?

Posted: April 28 2008 at 10:05 | IP Logged

Boatman, Floater, all,

Pulling the old shag down was not that difficult, took me about 3 hours taking my time from pulling all the teak trim that holds the topside handrails, bunk hardware, overhead galley cabinet and all of the panels behind the helm to actually pulling the shag.  I did not have to remove the fake wood trim around the cabin to remove the headliner and in my CC, the trim is in excellent condition.  At first I thought the headliner would be sandwiched in between the hull and topside, but it was not.  The glue was so loose between the shag and the fiberglass, it was like pulling very tight velcro apart. 

Since I do not want any potentially absorbant material in the head, I am going to have 1/4" closed cell foam glued to the fiberglass ceiling to smooth out the edges and then marine grade vinyl.  That sould be easy to clean and keep mold/mildew free.  I will also try to seal with weatherstripping all of the panels that enclose the backside of the helm to keep moisture from the shower fetting in there.

Once the headliner is done, I am going to install laminate/pergo flooring through the middle of the cabin.  I like the look better than carpeting and should be easily replaceable when it wears out in a few years.  Thank goodness everything else in the cabin is in good shape, I am running out of funds.

Finally, when all this work is complete, maybe I will get a decent offer and upgrade to the next project, but not for another couple of years.

Tom

Posted: April 28 2008 at 10:26 | IP Logged

cat, keep the pix coming. i need all the ideas i can get. funds are low here too, the automotive buisness is slow, so, everything done to the boat will be DIY. i havnt messed much with upholstry, but i am handy with the carpentry.

floater

Posted: April 29 2008 at 07:56 | IP Logged

All, the floater did not sell. took the guy and his wife out, he wanted it bad, she wanted something faster. i dont know, but i could not get the floater to plane. i was at 4000 rpm and i bairly got 1/4 hull out of the water. does this seem right? i dont know the prop size/pitch, engine had plenty of power (rpm's jumped right to 4000)

how does the other singles out there do?

floater.

Posted: April 29 2008 at 08:24 | IP Logged

Hi Floater,

My 280 with a single 5.7L Mercruiser did the following at the seatrial with the surveyor, 1/2 fuel (50 gals.) and 4 adults on board:

700 RPM/Idle - 3.8MPH

2800 RPM/Slow Cruise - 13.7MPH

4400 RPM/Wide Open - 29MPH

Unfortunately I do not know the size and pitch of the prop, but these measurements were taken with a clean bottom and running gear.  I dont recall the exact speed/RPM she got on plane but I will let you know once she goes in the water.

Regards,

Tom

Posted: April 29 2008 at 08:40 | IP Logged

Floater,

MMM.. to bad...she wants more speed huh?...she likes playtime!

Your prop is probobly underpitched.  Meaning the angle of the prop blades are not suficient to take full advantage of the engine's horsepower. Have a diver remove the prop and take it to a prop shop. They will determine the  props current pitch angle and make recommendations.  While the diver is down there, have him ID the zincs and make a list of what types are used. Have him replace the worn ones when he returns to install the re-pitched prop. on the 1st dive, ask the diver check how much distance there is between the prop tip and the hull. Greater than about a 2" gap means the prop is undersized. Ask the diver take hold of the drive shaft after the prop is removed. Check for play in the strut pilot bearing and movement in the strut it self. A little movment for the pilot bearing, none for the strut. 

Test drive...should be able to get her up on plane if there is'nt too much stuff aboard ( full fuel tank, full water tank etc).

All the best...

Roy

Posted: April 29 2008 at 09:53 | IP Logged

All, something must be wrong. im going to borrow a friends garmin this weekend to ck my actual speed. i dont think shes well. it feels like im dragging an anchor. rob (past cc owner) will be going out on it this weekend. i wheel see what he says.

floater

Posted: April 29 2008 at 10:14 | IP Logged

Hey, floater. sound more and more like you picked up something on the prop. As far as prop size, the next time you have the boat out of the water, the diameter and pitch SHOULD be stamped on the hub of the prop. It should say something like 14 x 13. the first number is ALWAYS diameter, second number is pitch.

Posted: May 01 2008 at 08:31 | IP Logged

just a thought....

if the secondaries on my carburator are not opening, could i be lacking the power to plane? just thinking of everything to check when i go out saturday.

floater

Posted: May 01 2008 at 08:52 | IP Logged

Hey, floater. If your engine is winding up to 4000 rpm, I would say the carb is o.k. If your boat is proped right, it shoul be up on plane @ 2800 or so.

Well I started a dreaded project I'e been putting off. I had the yard dogs Haul Mystic Diver II out so I could do a bottom job. Have a few gelcoat blisters that need to be fixed. Will repaint the boot stripe, wax the hull and paint the bottom with 2 coats of Pettitt ablative paint and use prop speed on the props. The rudders need to be repacked. now thats a problem. Some brilliant engineer placed the fuel tanks less than 2 feet from the transom. Once I get down there I can't move. Going to enlist the help of one of our mechanics, "little John", he may be able to get down there. Anyway, I'm going to try and get this all done by next thursday. I'm flying in my Mom and brother for mother's day. Would like to take her out on the boat to show her the sights. She's never been to Florida before. Going to be a busy week.

Posted: May 02 2008 at 12:12 | IP Logged

boatman

You say the other one does not leak. Try swiching the dip sticks and see if it leaks on that side. if is does than it is the dip stick.

Posted: May 02 2008 at 13:25 | IP Logged

#%^&*#@ boats. When does the fun start? Got one of our mechanics to repack the rudders on mystic diver II. He's a lot smaller than me and was able to just fit into the lazarett. However, when we found that the rudder plates were corroded beyond repair. And THEN we found that one of the tiller arms were cracked. Only good news is it only cost me 3 cases of beer to repack the rudders. Our machinist welded the crack and welded and redrilled the holes for the clevis pins because they were wallowed out. He also made me new rudder plates out of STAINLESS STEEL. Yahoo! Now I have to try and put it all back together by hanging upsidown. This ought to be fun. good thing I have a good supply of ice cold beer on the boat. TGIF. Capt Heavy

Posted: May 02 2008 at 13:27 | IP Logged

66,

The transmission dipsticks are rubber gasketed ( no o-ring) on the bottom side of the stick cover. Always have the dipsticks twisted tight on the access hole whenever the engine is on. The transmission fluid pump bolted to the front of the gearbox operates at pressure whenever the engine is running. 

Compare the two sticks to check condition of these rubber gaskets. If cracked, torn, flaking...replace. Fabricating a gasket should be a small matter. Pay particular attention to how it's secured. I beleive the stick pertrudes through the gasket, so that will help...

From the pics (excelent you did this!!!), the dipstick looks fine. 

Roy