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

[Dennis Harris]

Thanks for the reply.  Sorry about leaving off hull number....my boat is a 
2000 model #694.  Does anyone know which fittings have the resin backing vs. 
balsa core in area of fittings on this vintage of boat?  I know it costs 
money, but in the grand scheme of things, the manufacturers could save a lot 
of grief for owners if all deck penetrations had resin, plastic, foam or 
some other permanent sealant to deal with leaks.  The boats flex and 
traditional bedding materials dry out and crack eventually.  As I said, I 
hear about wholesale rebedding, but I haven't seen it on relatively new 
boats, only where there was a known leak...at a particular stanchion, or 
hatch, or at chain plates.  I dread the day that I have to do such repairs. 
At the same time, I am thankful for those areas where I do have the factory 
installed resin.  Meanwhile, I've got to deal with a banjo fitting leak on 
the Yanmar.

Of course, I kind of operate using the technique in Allen's post:  If it 
isn't broke, don't fix it, and on the boat, if it hasn't broken, don't use 
it.  .....especially for stanchions. I try never to pull or push on them, or 
slide them past a piling.

Dennis Harris C320 #694

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Warren Updike" <wupdike at hotmail.com>
To: <C320-List at Catalina320.com>
Sent: Friday, January 11, 2013 5:42 PM
Subject: Re: [C320-list] New skipper seeks advice on battery issues


> 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
>>
>>
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