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

[David Nolte]

Hi Warren,

Great to hear from you. I cleaned my wheel yesterday, it didn't work  
anyway.

My wind instrument crapped out this season, I do miss it, but it's not  
essential. So the depth finder is really the only gauge on the top of  
the binnacle working, thank God for that one.

I agree with your assessments and sentiments re: the Bay.

David Nolte
Beach House #4



On Aug 23, 2009, at 10:48 AM, Warren Updike wrote:

> 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