Posted: April 17 2012 at 11:32 | IP Logged

Capt H...Cape Coral homes rent pretty cheap....a ton more space than a hotel for less $$.  The 4bed, 3 bath waterfront pool home in season averages $200 a night, in July we are getting it for $100 a night.  Perfect for a family of 5.

Berg, My FD was there too but I couldnt respond as I was in FL...wish I could have been there to help.  Which FD lost their brush truck?

Posted: April 17 2012 at 16:03 | IP Logged

As a former OTR driver, delivering refrigerated food, I was not in that postion to be tipped by the customer.

However, take in consideration that NO DAMAGE ENROUTE to you; distance (MILES) the driver drove to deliver, and TIMELYNESS of his arrival, and the fact he delivered YOUR personal property, a tip, would be greatly appreciated by the driver!!  The amount of tip, depends on your pocket-book, and the above considerations, and the degree of driver inter-action helpfulness, while dealing with you, should be evaluated. 

In the end, I KNOW the driver will appreciate your thoughtfulness.  A meal (Buffet) will cost nearly $20.00 at ALL truck-Stops.   But something MORE than a $20 dollar bill, WILL get his attention!!Just sayin, my Friend!!   

Dan    (Fly Bridge)    (danbushey@msn.com)

Posted: April 19 2012 at 13:22 | IP Logged

Berg, that fire looked pretty serious.  Glad no one hurt.  The rest can be replaced.  Look forward to repower pics.

Capt Mark, amazing early launch - hope the summer is as nice as spring has been although is suposed to snow 3" here tonight.  Next time my wide load signs go on will be in next week or two to move smile to my garage up north for storage.  Just not in the cards to launch tihs year until my wife gets better.

Nauti, if you have any links for rental info you can post please do so.

Brad

Posted: April 20 2012 at 10:15 | IP Logged

Discount on dockage would be nice. 

At WM...Port Supply is a good discount, employee discount is amazing.  For example, my dad uses inline filters on the holding tank vents and retail is $105, port suply is $80 and employee is $32.  Not everyting is that percentage but anything WM brand is usually 50-75% off.

Now if I only had a boat

Posted: April 27 2012 at 10:11 | IP Logged

Saw your post Boatman, it also prompted me to login using my BoatUS membership. 

If the others are not members and we loose captians from this forum, we always have http://www.chriscraftcatalinaclub.com/ started by one of the captains on here (Capt. Rick or Mark?  I cant remember).

I like the BoatUS fourm but if like you said Boatman, no one can write in it's going to be awful lonely.

In the mean time...I am just working and savin' for the next boat!

Posted: April 27 2012 at 12:37 | IP Logged

Pete...this any better? 

http://www.chriscraftcatalinaclub.com/content.php

Posted: April 28 2012 at 10:46 | IP Logged

JIM IN FLA NICE COMMENT ABOUT THE "NEW"FORMAT THINK THEY WILL RESPOND??GO TO MESSAGE BOARDS AND CLIK CATALINAS AND SEE THAT MESSAGE LINK TO TERRY PARROW SHE IS THE HEAD HANCHO FOR BOAT US

Posted: April 28 2012 at 18:48 | IP Logged

wow Boat US members only????? As a boat us memeber I do enjoy their service. The few times I needed them they were great. How ever I never met a group of better captins and friends. What can we do to fix this problem...... I do know there is differnt packages you can get from boats us????? I hope we dont lose anyone . please let me know if there is anything I can do to help.

 I have not been around the last few weekes due to my wife's pregnancy . But I am so happy to let you know we are the pround parents of a beautful  baby girl . Ali Marie Kathleen Guarino. Ali was born on Thursday.

Posted: April 30 2012 at 08:40 | IP Logged

Congratulations Jim!!!

Posted: May 03 2012 at 15:13 | IP Logged

Hey Guys been a while since I have been on. work has had me just beat down but a guy has to make a living to support his addictions right.

so I am having a starter issue. I had the starter rebuilt last year and I didn't have any problems with it when I used it last fall however something over the winter has gone bad. when I turn the Key I can hear the selonoid click but there is nothing to the starter. so I did alot of testing with my multimeter and found that I get power to the selonoid and I get bower to the white wire that comes off the selonoid but the starter will still not turn I am actually kind of worried it may be the starter again but I just had this one rebuilt in july last year and feel it shouldn't be the problem. any advice on this would be much appreciated.

Posted: May 03 2012 at 19:47 | IP Logged

Hi Salmonpro,

Good news! This may be easier than you think.

1) Be sure the battery switch is On. when on shorepower, Cats have a rectifier (breaker on the main panel) that when on, delivers 12vdc to all dc systems aboard, including the starter cercuit.  In this configuration, (battery off) and you try to start the engine, you will just get just a clicking from the solonoid. The rectifier does not generate enough current (Amps) to actually turn the starter.

2) Replace the battery with a known good battery!

3) check Battery cable for good, clean connections.

I think the starter is fine.

Diver (Roy)

Posted: May 17 2012 at 17:37 | IP Logged

Hi Guys,

Isn't there any members still on this site?  Had to resign in again with Brian Azar's help but it is doable.

Last Saturday, Diver and I moved my boat, CC Rider from the Sacramento Delta to the Oakland Esturary (approx. 75 miles). Took 7 hours.  Ran most of way between 2500 and 2900 rpm, on and off plane.  Had a 5 knot ebb (in our favor) for about a 1/3 of the way.  Crossing SF Bay was a rough trip with steady 24" rollers coming in from the golden gate which we had to take at about 25 to 50 deg. angle.   Lots of rolling and breaking waves over bow for about an hour.  Was really impressed by strength of boat in those conditions!  No creaking or groaning, and no leaks in hull or windshield.  Some leakage from side windows of course.  Engine ran perfect and water temp. never varied.

Denis

Posted: May 17 2012 at 22:28 | IP Logged

Ahoy All,

What can I say, the trip had all the elements: adventure, terror, exileration and that very special sence of accomplishment when we finely tied up. 

Denis toughed it out and now he knows what it's like when stuff hits the fan in a planing hull! Boat was 100%.  There was a bit of a mess in the cabin when we finely hit smooth water.  He and his wonderful wife, Pat sprang for tasty (and strong!) Mai-tai's at The Forbidden Lounge and then a 5 star dinner- doesn't get better than that... 

Thanks my friend, it was memorable!

Roy (Diver)

Posted: June 14 2012 at 12:40 | IP Logged

Hi all. Glad I found you. I have been a long-time lurker in a 281 and a 251 discussion group for a few years. I finally got around to purchasing a 280 last month and I am very happy with the decision. Many questions though, so any help you can give would be great....

I have a rebuilt 305 on the boat. It runs well. The weekend I brought it home, I could get it to turn 4500 rpm for about 17 mph. the next weekend it would only go 38oo rpm. I removed the no-brand fuel filter and installed a Racor water seperating unit. It will now only run about 4100 rpm. What other than the fuel filter could cause this change? What should my speed be in this rpm range?

I was hopping for a 20 mph cruise and 30 mph WOT, but I'm not close. Under Propped? I don't think the trans is slipping.

How do you change the impeller? Could there be 2 of them? (one for raw water, one for closed loop)? There is a cut-out behind the stairs to access the front of the motor, but I would like a little guidance before I start pulling off pieces.

Long term plans are to pull the round tank this fall and replace it with a couple of poly 50's. This will give me a chance to fix the punky stringer under the tank.

I love the boat. I love the lines. I grew up on my dad's CC's  and understand the difference between a 33 year old boat and a bleach bottle.

Thanks all

Posted: June 14 2012 at 20:36 | IP Logged

Hi Beartooth,

Have to say you're spot on about the 251/280's! These boats really have a lot going for them: Quality, lots of space, economy, simplicity and solid design from long production experience.

Your initial RPM and speed sound about right. The 4500 RPM is at the top of the WOT range spec, but with the small block 305 it does give you a bit more torque. This of course can be fine tuned by adjusting the prop pitch. A visit to a good prop shop after running her a bit to see how she feels...then go from there.

I suspect you're onto something where there is debris in the fuel due perhaps to non-use and age. Depanding on the year, Catalinas are fitted with either the earlier galvinized steel cylindendrical shape (yours) or alumimum rectangular fuel tank. Either way, clean gas, a supply of seperator filters, A clean fuel screen (at the carborator) and last but not least, and a clean anti siphon valve located (on alunimum tank) at the fuel valve on the tank...not sure on the older tank, but it's there. Suggect you check the anti siphon out 1st thing. Your tank replacment project might be just the ticket to sort all this out.

For a 280, unless the cabin is stripped down, 20-30 MPH is optimistic. Your original #s sound about right- you might get 20+ mph with some engine/prop tweeking, the boat's lightly loaded. 

Funny you mention the raw water pump.  I'm just putting the finishing touches on a post dealing with a raw water pump servicing and rebuild procrdure. Another week or so and I'll post this. Bottom line- it is impossible to replace the pump's impellor in the boat...sorry. Simple solution: Keep a spare and/or install a rebuilt one. That's why there's that cutaway panel on the engineoom bulkhead... pump access. Somebody cut that out, didn't come from the factory that way- you're in luck!  You can replace just the impellor out of the boat, but it is a bit labor intensive and you will need a service kit. There is one impellor in that raw pump. On our boat, there is both a fresh water pump on the block same as a road engine (unable to service) and the raw water pump and uses a heat exchanger for saltwater cooling. 

Welcome!

Roy (Diver)