[C320-list] First time out and QUESTIONS!

[Ray Durand]

On hull #822 there's a rubber stop attached to the quadrant that limits
wheel rotation.  Before I added a rudder sensor for my autopilot, I was able
to turn my wheel approximately 1 1/2 turns both clockwise and counter
clockwise (approximately 540 degrees total wheel rotation).  When I
installed the rudder sensor a couple of years ago, I had to modify the stop
because the sensor couldn't handle the entire 540 degrees range, so a mod
was required to narrow up the range a little bit. If you have a rudder
sensor installed, maybe that's what the PO did, and restricted rotation too
much?  

Ray Durand

-----Original Message-----
From: c320-list-bounces at lists.catalina320.com
[mailto:c320-list-bounces at lists.catalina320.com] On Behalf Of Jeff Hare
Sent: Friday, July 31, 2009 6:19 AM
To: C320-List at Catalina320.com
Subject: Re: [C320-list] First time out and QUESTIONS!

Brad,  

The snubber didn't come on our #809. 

You should always idle a diesel that has been running hard before shutdown.
When folks say they just come in and shut it off without problems,  what
they mean is that they didn't notice the problem.  The problem is that they
may develop thermal lock until the engine cools down for 10 or 15 min.
depending on the oil/block temp.  What happens is that the block continues
to heat up after shutdown because the cooling water stopped. You may find
that the engine won't turn over (or turns slowly) for a few minutes until it
cools down.  

-Jeff


-----Original Message-----
From: "Brad Kuether" <bkuether at comcast.net>

Date: Fri, 31 Jul 2009 08:12:33 
To: <C320-List at Catalina320.com>
Subject: Re: [C320-list] First time out and QUESTIONS!


Frank,

I will take a picture, best way to explain.  I took it off and brought it 
home.

Its a GREAT idea, I am just wondering if I am loosing some turning ability 
with it on.

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


----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Larry Frank" <WindSwept at stx.rr.com>
To: <C320-List at Catalina320.com>
Sent: Friday, July 31, 2009 8:01 AM
Subject: Re: [C320-list] First time out and QUESTIONS!


> Brad,
>
> It looks like you already have a number of good answers.
>
> What do you mean by a "rubber snubber".  How is it attached?
>
> Larry
> WindSwept C320 #246
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: c320-list-bounces at lists.catalina320.com
> [mailto:c320-list-bounces at lists.catalina320.com] On Behalf Of Brad Kuether
> Sent: Thursday, July 30, 2009 11:20 PM
> To: C320-List at Catalina320.com
> Subject: [C320-list] First time out and QUESTIONS!
>
> We (the family) took Independence out for our first sail.  It was blowing
> like snot, and we kept the genny reefed in around 130.  The boat handled
> exactly how I thought it would, maybe getting overpowered once or twice 
> but
> nothing drastic.
>
> The real adventure began when we tried to put the boat away, going dead
> downwind.   It took us three tries to get it into the slip and it wasn't
> pretty how we did it.
>
> The problem was that boat simply would not turn to port going backwards. 
> I
> knew it wouldn't handle like my C&C did, but I mean it would NOT move at
> all.  And while I was trying I could only get 180 degrees on the wheel. 
> It
> didn't seem right.
>
> So after the wife and kids left, I crawled down into the aft compartment.
> The wire that keeps the radial drive wheel from over turning had a rubber
> snubber on it, that basically took about 2 inches off the length of the
> wire.  I think this is what kept me from being able to steer into the 
> slip.
>
> So based on my first experience here are my questions...
>
>  1.. Is the snubber standard, or was it put on the by the PO?
>  2.. Can it be removed or is 40 degrees really what the turning radius is?
>  3.. Has anyone had problems with the wheel getting loose?  (I tightend 
> the
> piece that hold the wheel on and it just got loose again. )
>  4.. If you plug the boat in will it charge the batteries and does the
> battery switch need to be in the on position for that to happen?.  (I know
> RTFM, but I spent all my time diagnosing the steering!)
>  5.. Is there a temperature where the engine can safely be shutdown?
> (3GM30) I have never had a gage just knew if I let it idle for 5 mins or 
> so
> it would be fine.  ( I know probably another RTFM)
> Thanks and I am sure I will have more questions after we go out more.....
>
> -Brad, Mary, Monica, and Jarod
> "Independence"
> 2004 Catalina 320 Hull 1006
> Middle River, MD
>
>
>