[C320-list] Securing outboard engine and gasoline

[Rod Boer]

Scott,

There are moorings on the starboard side as you enter the creek but they 
belong to a marina.  The channel is pretty clearly marked but stay in the 
channel until you arrive at the point where you proceed to the right for 
several marinas or bear left. There is sufficient water on the left for lots 
of boats.  On some Saturday evenings when all of the anchor lights are on it 
looks like a city from our marina.  Swan Creek is one of the prettiest 
anchorages on the bay. Hope this helps

Rod
Odyssey, #688

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Scott Thompson" <sthompson at toad.net>
To: "C320-List" <C320-List at catalina320.com>
Sent: Saturday, June 24, 2006 1:34 PM
Subject: Re: [C320-list] Securing outboard engine and gasoline


> Allan:  Doesn't a 43 pound generator in your anchor locker make anchoring 
> rather difficult?  If you put the generator between the aft seats I assume 
> that it doesn't actually fit under the seats.   Is that right?
>
> Regarding the outboard engine mount, which one did you purchase at WM?  Is 
> it the Johnson mount?  Where did you attach it to the rail?
>
> Where do you store your dinghy gas tank while sailing?
>
> Finally, I'd be interested in hearing a report after you visit Swan Creek. 
> That's the closest anchorage to me on the Eastern Shore but I've never 
> been in because the charts make it look shallow and I've heard it's full 
> of moorings.
>
> Scott
>
>
> allan.field at comcast.net wrote:
>> Scott - I'll weigh in on this one from our experience.  We have a Nissan 
>> 5 HP, 4-stroke with an external fuel tank.  I have had 2-strokes in the 
>> past with internal tanks but would not go back to them as the fuel left 
>> in the tank tends to wax the carb if stored for a time.  Plus the 
>> 4-stroke is more environment friendly.
>>
>> We keep the motor on the aft stern rail on a motor mount we got from WM. 
>> The motor weighs about 80 pounds.  We also had Kato Marine in Annapolis 
>> make us a lifting crane with a 4:1 purchase.  With the crane, moving the 
>> engine from rail to digny transom literally is a one-handed job.  The 
>> stern rail is no worse the wear for holding the motor these past 4 years 
>> or so.
>>
>> Our external tank holds 2.5 gallons of gas.  Even after being out for 18 
>> days (as we are now) and all the other times we use the dingy during the 
>> season, we will not empty the tank.  We do add Sta-Bil to the tank. 
>> After each trip, we disconnect the hose from the tank to the motor at the 
>> tank with the motor running so as to exhaust all fuel both in the hose 
>> and in the engine.  We found that leaving fuel in the hose stunk up the 
>> boat and leaving fuel in the motor for an extended period gummed up the 
>> carb. What is really surprising is that once the hose is disconnected 
>> from the tank, it takes a good 15-20 minutes for all the fuel to 
>> burn-off. Little wonder we can't use 2.5 gallons of gas in an entire 
>> season.
>>
>> The final lesson learned is to keep the fuel tank vent slightly cracked 
>> open even when storing the tank.  Otherwise, pressure builds up in the 
>> tank and eventually gas starts to blow past the seals.  The tank 
>> directions also recommend doing this but in our case, Field's Law 
>> prevailed - If Field has a 50/50 chance of doing something right or wrong 
>> the first time, 90% of the time Field will do it wrong the first time...
>>
>> We also purchased a Honda 2000 generator.  It will not start a 12,000 BTU 
>> air conditioner.  However, it will run the microwave, outlets and charger 
>> fine.  We store ours in the anchor well and have the factory cover (extra 
>> cost) in place.  However, we do not carry spare gas cans on board. If we 
>> did, I imagine that I would lash them to a side stanchion somehow but 
>> again, these motors use so little fuel that carrying spare just is not 
>> necessary.
>>
>> We did see another Catalina on this trip with the Honda generator. They 
>> removed the seat between the 2 aft lockers and store their generator in 
>> that space.  The geneator stuck out maybe 6 inches past the seat.  This 
>> may be something we do in the future as since installing the NavPod for 
>> the chartplotter, that seat has become virtually worthless anyway as we 
>> can no longer see forward under the instrument pod.
>>
>> Hope this helps.
>>
>> Allan S. Field
>> Sea Shadow - #808
>> Columbia, MD
>> -------------- Original message -------------- 
>> From: Scott Thompson <sthompson at toad.net>
>>
>>> I'm in the market for an outboard for a dinghy and possibly for one of 
>>> the Honda 2000 generators that Orlando is keen on. Questions: Where do 
>>> others secure their outboards when not on the dinghy? Do the Johnson or 
>>> Edson mounting brackets work well on the stern rail of a 1999 vintage 
>>> 320? What kind of weight limit are we talking about to use these? Also, 
>>> where do others store a spare gas can on board?
>>> Scott Thompson Surprise, 653
>>>
>>>
>
>
>