[C320-list] Knot meter cleaning.... In water?

[Warren Updike]

Welcome to the Chesapeake Bay. After 5 years, this Spring I finally stopped
trying to keep my speed transducer working. Though I cleaned it, replaced
the wheel, and painted it, it only worked for about a week. On the older
boats it's not so easy to pull it as it is inside and under the V-berth
cabinet. Plus, it has no internal valve to slow the water, plus the bilge
fwd of the mast does not drain to the pump. All problems that seem to have
been addressed in later models.  Bummer.

So, with a GPS or chart plotter, why do you need boat speed anyway?  Well,
it's necessary to compute tide direction and speed, and to compute true wind
if you have such an instrument. My wind inst. only works twice a season and
then only for about 5 min.  Who needs tide info on the Chesapeake: it's
always running against you anyway. So, I concluded I don't need the headache
of a speed transducer.

On the matter of what fouls the paddle wheel, it's a mixture of surface crud
and critters. The surface crud is a sad indication of the health of the Bay.
The critters are testimony to the proclivity of life in waters that reach
above 80 deg. in the Summer. The turbidity of the water is such that, at
least above the Bay Bridge, it will no longer pass the tree-step test (how
many steps of the swim ladder can be seen once deployed.) My heart breaks to
realize how bad it has become and how little political will there is to
address the problems; but, I must not turn this into a political drama more
than it already is.

Warren & Pattie Updike
Catalina 320, #62, "Warr De Mar"
Middle River, Chesapeake Bay



-----Original Message-----
From: Brad Kuether [mailto:bkuether at comcast.net] 
Sent: Saturday, August 22, 2009 9:00 PM
To: C320-List at Catalina320.com
Subject: [C320-list] Knot meter cleaning.... In water?

Hello everyone,

Well the Chesapeake has already claimed it first victim on my boat.  The
paddle wheel for the knot meter stopped turning.  I was thinking I could
dive on the boat in shallow water (would have to buy a mask, etc)
OR possibly pulling the knot meter while its in the water....  (of course
plugging the hole for a bit.

Any thoughts on this, besides "be careful not to sink" ?

If its possible and does the water just drain to the bilge?

Thanks for any guidance.....

-Brad, Mary, Monica, and Jarod
"Independence"
2004 Catalina 320 Hull 1006
Middle River, MD