[C320-list] New skipper seeks advice on battery issues

[Warren Updike]

It is always helpful if posters would include their hull year and number in
post. So many changes have been made over the years that it's useful in
giving advice to know what hull vintage you are talking about.
In the earlier hulls, the deck penetrations were prepared differently.
First know that the deck is a layered construction: on top a resin base, in
the middle a balsa core, on the bottom some sort of liner material often
quite thin.  On earlier models, the factory just drilled through the deck as
described and bedded the hardware.  On later models, they made the locations
on the deck where hardware was to be mounted, solid resin with no balsa
core.  The problem is that if the bedding fails, on the older hulls the
balsa core would get wet.  Moisture intrusion on a cored deck is not a good
thing.  The models with solid resin could sustain bedding failure with
little problems.
I have rebidded all chain plates and most of the stanchions.  When doing
this, I drill out the hole to twice the original diameter, remove any wet
core, dry the core, fill the hole with filled epoxy, then re-drill the hole
the correct size.  This leaves the balsa core protected from future bedding
failures.  Otherwise, I only re-bed a fitting when I see signs of leaking.
As for replacing the standing rigging, I've heard suggestions that this be
considered every 10 yrs or so.  However, usage and local are key
considerations.  Salt water is bad, racing is hard on rigs and such rigs
will wear faster than fresh water boats that are not raced.  Annual
inspections, assuming you know what to look for, are key to avoiding
catastrophic failures that usually occur when under stress. Our 1994, #62,
has only been used on the Chesapeake and not raced so my inspection has not
yet exposed any rigging problems.  I suppose I'm due for a professional
inspection.
I guess bottom line is don't have a cow, have fun on your boat.  Learn what
to look for and what are the most important parts to keep an eye on; and, do
what needs to be done. 

Warren & Pattie Updike
1994 C320 #62 "Warr De Mar"

-----Original Message-----
From: Dennis Harris [mailto:dharris02 at suddenlink.net] 
Sent: Thursday, January 10, 2013 8:42 AM
To: C320-List at Catalina320.com
Subject: Re: [C320-list] New skipper seeks advice on battery issues

Just asking.....has anyone really rebedded all hardware deck
penetrations....all of them: pulpit, push pit, all stanchions, shroud/stay
chain plates where they go through deck, anchor roller, winches, cleats,
traveler system, all opening and fixed hatches/ports, vent tube fittings,
handrails, genoa tracks, standing blocks, etc.  I see these recommendations
or similar often wherein every 5-10 yrs. (you pick the number) everything is
supposed to be remounted, and shrouds/stays replaced at 10+ years.  In
actuality, I have never seen this done on relatively new boats (<20 yrs.). 
And when I do see occasional attempts on much older boats, I can't help but
feel sorry for the poor guy attempting this, often the job drags out for
months, or in some cases, never gets completed because the guy gets
discouraged and abandons the project.  Now, fixing a known leak or something
that is broken is another matter.



-----Original Message-----
From: Pat Ireland
Sent: Wednesday, January 09, 2013 11:27 PM
To: C320-List at catalina320.com
Subject: Re: [C320-list] New skipper seeks advice on battery issues

Welcome to 320 ownership.  You are on the right track.  The changes you
suggest to the charging and electrical storage system are standards.  The
wet battery replacement is a good starting point.  You
can always upgrade as you need more amp hours.   The original charger
is considered junk and should be replaced if you are not committed to very
limited charging parameters.  From there you may want to check under water
zincs quarterly, upgrade the packing in the prop shaft gland, add a backup
bilge pump, replace the float switchs with electronic sensors, re-route the
propane locker drain tube so there is no P-trap to block the flow of fumes,
add a CO monitor, add a smoke detector, retrofit the furler hub if bearings
are damaged, add an extra jib/spinaker halyard, rebed of all hardware deck
penetrations, ground 12V buss to 120V buss, replace the mixing elbow on the
engine, add a hump hose to isolate the muffler from engine vibration,
upgrade the head, replace the waste hoses, and fresh water flushing, add a
pair of locks to the holding tank locker cover ..... and .........
Again, welcome!  The 320 site has info on the known issues and many
upgrades.  The forum has discussions on most issues and someone usually gets
you information on a questions reasonably quickly.  There
is a forum search link on the 320 site helps.   Call Catalina in
Florida for info - don't e-mail.  Fair Winds  -     Pat, Cherie #801.

On 1/9/13, amshd2 at aol.com <amshd2 at aol.com> wrote:
>
> Mike
>
> Welcome aboard.
>
> Where are you keeping her in Annapolis.  I am at Bert Jabins on Back 
> Creek.
>
> I have Hull # 30 a 94.  I did the Battery Upgrade when I bought the 
> boat and
> put in all new batteries last year.   I am currently looking at replacing 
> my
> battery charger / Inverter.   My electronics guy recommend Master Volt as
> well. He seems to really like them.
>
>  I have done a number of the upgrades to my 320.  The association web 
> sit is really a great wealth of knowledge and the support from the 
> other owners has been great.
>
> The 320 is a great boat I am sure you will love her as mush as the 
> rest of us do.
>
> If you want we could meet up at my boat and you can see where my 
> batteries are located and the lay out of the battery Charger.
>
> Contact me off line at amshd2 at aol.com.
>
>
> Tony
>
>
>
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Michael Shirley <jmshirley1 at gmail.com>
> To: C320-list <C320-list at catalina320.com>
> Sent: Mon, Jan 7, 2013 8:15 pm
> Subject: [C320-list] New skipper seeks advice on battery issues
>
>
> Hello. I am new to the Catalina 320 Association, and this is my first 
> ost. It's a long post, and I appreciate your patience. In October I 
> cquired a 2000 Catalina 320 after selling my Beneteau. Really like he 
> Catalina! The boat has been stored on land for 2-3 years and eglected. 
> Needless to say, there are issues I must address that have esulted 
> from lack of use and inattention to routine maintenance, and  seek 
> your advice about how I might prioritize what needs to be done 
> actoring in cost and how I plan to use the boat. Except for the nitial 
> sail from the Patapsco River down to my slip in Annapolis, I aven't 
> used the boat. The upcoming sailing season will be an xtensive 
> shakedown to determine what needs to be replaced and what dded as an 
> upgrade. I will be spending some weekends at anchor and here will be 
> the occasional 3-4 day trip. In May I hope to take a eek-long cruise. 
> Ultimately I plan to go down the ICW to the Keys and ver to the 
> Bahamas, but I'm still a coastal cruiser. Here is my first ilemma. The 
> 4D batteries are not holding a charge, so they must be eplaced soon 
> with new 4D deep cycle. I do not believe any changes ave been made to 
> the original set-up to the batteries and charging ystem. My 
> electronics guy believes I also need a 40 amp battery harger 
> (Mastervolt Power Charger) at a minimum, an external regulator n the 
> stock 55 amp alternator, and a separate Group 27 engine start attery.  
> He proposes to relocate the battery charger out of the port ockpit 
> locker to be nearer the batteries and locate the new start attery in 
> front of the house bank.The biggest load is refrigeration.
>  will be adding a stereo system soon (high priority as I must have my 
> unes and Orioles baseball while at anchor). I will be replacing all 
> abin light bulbs with LEDs. I have the standard Raymarine electronics 
> ncluding autopilot but no chartplotter. I agree with his 
> ecommendations but I need you to help me prioritize. The new atteries 
> right off the bat seem a no-brainer, but what else, the attery charger 
> or the external regulator on the alternator? Does the attery charger 
> really need to be relocated? The engine start battery an wait, I 
> think. Following all I have read here about installing an ngine start 
> battery, I think I can do that myself. I also believe I an install a 
> new battery charger, just changing out the old charger plug and play, 
> I hope). I'm hesitant to do too much immediately aving not yet spent 
> time on the water with this boat. Any thoughts ou have to share and 
> guidance to offer would be greatly appreciated.
> Mike
> Further"
> nnapolis
>
>