Posted: November 12 2009 at 10:03 | IP Logged

Berg,

I installed the Perko flush valve between the seawater strainer and raw water pump.  I too have concerns about the use of plastic in this application and I am considering this device to be a maintainence item - meaning it will be replaced periodcically, I've used it now for one full season, I installed it October of 2008.  I will inspect it once the boat is hauled and determine if it needs to be replaced.  It also needs to be protected from freezing - remove the water and fill with the pink antifreeze.  I like being able to easily flush the motor (I have an open/salt water cooling system) after each run.

Tom

Posted: November 12 2009 at 10:11 | IP Logged

Berg,

regarding running antifreeze through the system through the hose off the strainer, in the past the boat yard would pour the antifreeze directly into the hose but they also pull the engine plugs to drain the block.  I wonder if you could make a y-valve with the correct diameter fittings out of brass/bronze and manually switch them from strainer/intake to a hose-bib fitting/valve.  Westmarine sells a 5 gallon tank with hose for use with flushing antifreeze, I have one I used when I had an outboard, I could use that now with the Perko flush valve...but the boat yard does the winterization.

Tom

Posted: November 12 2009 at 23:45 | IP Logged

You guys are still in the water?? Is it worth it?

I bought the coolest bow light off ebay.. it has a blue lens instead of green. Illegal I just found out, correct?

Posted: November 13 2009 at 08:52 | IP Logged

Ray, I am.  town slip available until 11/15 so this Sunday I will be moving her to the boat yard's marina until they are ready to haul and winterize, so I may get another week or two.  With the full enclosure we can still boat comfortably.  I would like to head over to Fire Island for a couple hours, enjoy the beach with no one around, This is a great time of year to be on the bay.  There are only 8 boats left in my marina (out of about 60).

Last time I went out was on the 7th, 7AM, 31 degrees and flat calm.  Went over to Brown's River to pump, flush and winterize the head and holding tank.

Not sure about the color of the nav light, but makes sense that there would be a rule regarding it.

Tom

Posted: November 13 2009 at 09:57 | IP Logged

Boatman,

My bow lights are the separate Perko red and green top-mount style (pulpit and windlass in center of bow), I would like to find an LED direct replacement that looks the same, same mounting holes, etc...but they do not make it in LED.

current style

New LED style

 What did you do with converting yours?

Tom

Posted: November 13 2009 at 17:44 | IP Logged

Pop: That link mentioned installation and visibility but not blue. I read somewhere else that blue is reserved for Police only. Anyway.. my 6 yr old suggested I put yellow cellophane (that she was using for a school project..) in it and the yellow and blue would make green.. it worked! I just have to figure out a more permanent fix along those lines. I also need a re-chrome recommendation..!

Got this light for 20 bucks plus shipping. Mine was a crummy plastic perko.

That LED link has it ALL. I'm going to swap all my running lights but I don't know if I like LED's below decks. They have a unigue 'Vibe' if you know what I mean. I have to experiment.

Nauti: Berg: Just came back form Moses 5.. theres a 5' cliff with water pounding away at it instead of a beach. Its Howling out there.

Heres the Teak Wheel.. also off ebay. I LOVE the feel of this thing.

Posted: November 15 2009 at 20:17 | IP Logged

Hi All,

Sorry been off the site for awhile.work has been crazy,before and after the big Nor'Beaster that hit Hampton Roads.The Chrissy rode out the storm great, We had 7.78 feet rise with NE winds 40-65 sustaine for 2 days ,heavy flooding throughout.Great for my bussiness ,I;ll be overworked for the month drying out what I can,demo the rest.Hope ya'll in and around me didn't get hit 2 bad.I lost power for 2 days and took on water in the basement losing los of power tool.Will oil them and put them in a heat chamber at work and dry them out , hope to save at least some.

Well got to go,take care all

Posted: November 16 2009 at 10:08 | IP Logged

Hi everyone...

Finally drying out after a very wet and windy weekend.  Beautiful conditions yesterday, got to go out for a ride to get my Catalina out of the town marina (11/15 was the last day).  The boat yard who takes care of my winter storage let me put her in a slip for another week or two, then she will be hauled and winterized...I'd like to go out for a Thanksgiving Day ride this year, hopefully the weather stays nice.

Have a good day everyone!

Tom

Posted: November 16 2009 at 13:32 | IP Logged

A=1.25" Ribbed from holding tank to buklhead port side
B=.5" Vent overboard port side
C=1.25" from holding to macerator
D=1.25" from Macerator to y valve
E=.5 runner hose from PVC out of holding into a copper pipe
F=1.25" from y valve to bulkhead
G=1.25" from y to pump out
H=.5" Coper pipe going to bulkhead

Help I ahve no idea what A and H are for maybe I dont for sure what any do can anyone make a guess to what these goto?

Posted: November 16 2009 at 14:49 | IP Logged

Blottom,

do you have anything plumbed into the head near the existing porta-potti?

Does "A" go to a fitting in the top of the holdong tank?

Is the PVC fitting that "H" is connected to low on the holding tank?

If these go to the bulkhead, maybe those are the lines that connect to the MSD (toilet).  A is from the MSD to the tank and H is from the holdong tank to the MSD. 

I believe that the recirculating MSD's had a pump that took the treated waste from the holding tank and used it to flush the toilet biut I am not certain.  I can understand that if this was the case why someone would want to convert to something else.

Tom

Posted: November 16 2009 at 17:01 | IP Logged

Does "A" go to a fitting in the top of the holdong tank?

No A runs straigh into the bulkhead below the cabin From there I don't know where it goes since it is on the port side of boat while head is on starboard. B goes from a fitting in top of holding tank to what appears to be side of boat. I originally though F was waste from head since it is on same side as head

Is the PVC fitting that "H" is connected to low on the holding tank?

The PVC from H is halfway from top and bottom angled up

If these go to the bulkhead, maybe those are the lines that connect to the MSD toilet).  A is from the MSD to the tank and H is from the holdong tank to the MSD.

I thought that but A goes into bilkhead on opposite side of galley and head.

I believe that the recirculating MSD's had a pump that took the treated waste from the holding tank and used it to flush the toilet biut I am not certain.  I can understand that if this was the case why someone would want to convert to something else.

Posted: November 16 2009 at 19:53 | IP Logged

Hang in there Blottom, you'll get it figured out.

I am not sure about that type of MSD but did see it once a while ago and was not paying good atention.

Perhaps the plumbing was converted (to the porta potti) and the holding tank became a gray water tank for the galley sink?  Does the galley sing drain overboard?

I am not sure about the copper pipe...maybe a vent???

Posted: November 17 2009 at 10:19 | IP Logged

Blottom,

I checked out similar 33 Catalina Sedans on yachtworld.com ... nice looking boat. is this one similar?:

It seems the engines are straight drive inboards located under the salon floor, correct?  And the galley is a couple steps down from the salon and to starboard with the head just forward the galley? And another sink in the forward cabin?

here are some photos for reference of others...

this one with a manual pump MSD:

this one with a different looking MSD, perhaps teh electric one???:

another exterior shot:

this photo of the salon looking forward:

Blottom, I regularly look at 'for sale' photos of my model Catalina to get ideas about restoration as well as what was original.  Perhaps you can find your some of your catalina's sistership nearby that are for sale to see what they have going on.

Like you said, may be easier to install new then try to figure out what was there.

Tom

Posted: November 17 2009 at 10:34 | IP Logged

Tom

this is hysterical I was ust looking at these pics about an hour ago. This boat is identical to mine except for the sink in the forward cabin. I believe my MSD is/was the electric since i ahve idenrtified and electric line in head.

I think I am gonna approach this as a replacement and not worry about how the system is now set up. I ahve been bouncing all over the interet to try to find similar boats but haven't found any local.

Thanks

Glenn