Catalina 350 International Association

Its hard to winterize the hot water tank as the drain is not at the bottom of the tank. I called both Catalina and the manufacturer of the tank and neither had any empathy for what a pain the … it is to do. Attached is my maintenance checklist. It may help a bit in winterizing.
Jan

You can use the same material that the boat was made with Butyl caulking tape. Available from Defender Marine, part #755908RE2WHI, Lifesafe Butyl Caulking Tape $18. I found it dries out after about 10 years. Have had to replace the caulking in about a third of the windows.
Jan

Ridged Boom Vang On my boat hull number #303 with a furling main the rigid boom vang is a giant turnbuckle. There is a philips screw and a set screw at each end of the vang. The screw holds the black plastic in place and the set screw stops the rotation. So to adjust the height of the boom vang, loo...

Here is another diagram which is easier to understand from another catalina site.

Hi,
See Engine Alarm / Buzzer
http://catalina350.com/phpBB3/viewtopic ... zzer#p3504

There are no nuts or washers on the bottom of my mainsheet winch starboard side. Did they forget to install them or is there a hidden backplate in the fibreglass? I just noticed this while cleaning the locker. #303 Jan

Make sure you check the fuel vent/air intake.
Jan #303

Same thing happened to me except ours was only held on with glue. Glued it back on years ago, still holding. Attached is my email from Catalina - Jan #303 Jan, The ladder tread can be reattached with 3M 5200, clean and sand both surfaces and clamp the tread in place for 48 hours before using. Cordia...

Hi,
I would check for a leak at the bow. If you look under the forward mattress, right at the bow there is a storage compartment and you can see traces of a leak from the bow at the bottom of this compartment.
Jan #303

Oil has been dripping slowly from the cover under the windlass for a few years. Ordered 010207 Maxwell Windlass Replacement Seal Kit from Defender. Came with 4 seals, 2 orings and new site glass. Disassembled the Windlass from the top, as per the instructions above starting by removing the black cap...

I watched it happen. The head had water in it. It spun for a few seconds and ceased. The spinning of the impeller drys it in a second or so with centrifugal force. So don't wipe the back of the impeller unless you have something that will stop it from locking up, water will not do it. Very surprisin...

I put new seals and cleaned the impeller on the head, but I cleaned it too well and later on when the motor ran the impeller melted to the back plate jamming the motor. It took me three times taking the toilet apart to discover that by cleaning it too well I caused the plastic to melt. Finally put s...

Hi,
The pump is made by Whale. I think its called a Version 3 pump. Easy to find parts to replace on the inside at West Marine.
Jan
#303

Our engine sounded particularly rough this season so Damper Plate replacement seemed in order. It was 10 years old. Had ordered PYI damper plate RD22-A-4 two years ago just in case. Took 5 hours to do. No need to remove the heat exchanger, I started to and it was hard to get the bolts back in as the...

The gasket I got came from Lewmar USA directly. Lewmar, 351 New Whitfield Street, Guilford, CT 06437 phone 203 458-6200.
Jan #303

It sounds like things are working perfectly, the charge rate will reduce once the batteries are at the alternator voltage maximum set point. I think you are not used to seeing what has been happening in your electrical system before. The maximum charge rate for most batteries is 1/10th of the Ah cap...

Hi, I had a leak in my Lewmar port above the stove. I ordered replacement seal from Catalina Direct part number Z2944 for the 7RE port. It was too large and I could not shut the hatch as the seal blocked the latches. Returned this part. It took about a year to get what looks like the correct part. S...

Hi, I am an electrical engineer who works in the solar industry. You can get solar chargers which charge both battery banks and keeps them electrically isolated. Don't tie all three together. You keep one separate so you can use it as a starting battery if you accidentally drain the other battery ba...

Hi,
Hook the third battery in parallel with either battery 1 or battery 2. The two batteries which are in parallel should preferably be of a similar age, type and size.
Jan #303

Hi, I have not tried it, but I am going to consider Natures Head composting toilet. I saw some good reviews by RV folks and it looks like it would save a lot of pump outs. I find my electric one confusing for people and loud in the night, you have to use the shower head to flush it otherwise people ...