|
Cat TalesFebruary 2000 |
Pete Denholm, Commodore
As you all know the winter months are
especially hard on sailors and those recent snowstorms did not help. Those
storms served as a bitter reminder that we live way too far north. Seeing our
boats hard aground or rather on the hard ground is disappointing too. But
spring is right around the corner and it is time to focus on the important
things, like the Flag Raising Brunch on April 2nd and getting our boats back in
the Bay. I am looking forward to seeing everyone at the Flag Raising Brunch to
help celebrate the 20th anniversary of the charter of CCYC. A couple of months
ago I mentioned that I read through the list of past CCYC Commodores and I was
honored to join such an elite list of Catalina sailors. I thought it would be
nice to share this list with rest of you. I am sure that as some of the "old
guard" members read through the list, it will spawn fond memories of the club's
past and old friendships formed. For the newer members please take the time to
read the list. The next time you see or meet someone on the list, then shake
their hand, buy them a beer (or glass of wine), and thank them for their
contribution to the club. (Click on Commodores.)
CCYC has been fortunate enough to make it
through 20 years, while other Catalina fleets have formed and disbanded during
the same time period. Recently, Catalina 30 Fleet 25, known as the Northern
Chesapeake Bay Catalina 30 Sailing Association, made the tough decision to
disband after 16 years. I would like you all to join me in welcoming any of
those members from Fleet 25 that would like to join our Fleet. In fact, Don and
Maryann McBride, Coelumar, have already joined the club, and I had the pleasure
of meeting them at the diesel engine seminar. Welcome aboard!
Ray Nieves, Vice Commodore
The Meeting on the 19th of
March will be at 5pm at Mama Lucia's Restaurant in the Dunkirk Shopping Center.
To get there: Take Rt 4 South from I-495 beltway. After approximately 22 miles
you will see the Dunkirk Fire Station just past the traffic light. Take the
next driveway entrance on the right into the shopping center. Guess what folks
- lots of parking and it is free!!!!!!
The guest speaker is William
(Billy) Ray, the Training Officer from the U.S.N.A Fire Department. He will
speak on boating safety.
Plan on joining us for dinner and staying for
the meeting.
Ray Nieves, Vice Commodore
The location for the April
2nd Flag Raising Brunch is also at Mama Lucia's. I have made arrangements for a
combination breakfast/lunch serving schedule during the meeting as
follows:
When members start arriving a breakfast type menu will be
served - eggs, sausage, rolls , juice, etc. - buffet style. About 11AM, they
will change over to a lunch type menu - lasagna, pasta, chicken marsala, salad,
tea/coffee/soda.
The cost will be $25 a person (there is no cost to the
club for the room...so that is not a bad price).
I would like to have a
head count by the end of the day of the Mar 19th meeting (at least close).
Ray Nieves, Vice Commodore
On February 12th, eighteen
members of CCYC joined the Cat 36 sailing club at the Ram's Head Inn in
Annapolis to learn about Universal diesel engines, some basic electronics and
cooling system maintenance and preventative maintenance. Mr. Harvey Smith of
Annapolis Marine Diesel gave the seminar. While the room was cool, the lunch
was very good and the topics were hot and useful.
The information
presented provided basic fundamentals on how to recognize problems, prevent
unnecessary repairs and what to do if something happens. Mr. Smith offered
ideas on updated or new equipment changes to engines, cooling systems, fuel
systems and electrical components. If you had a question, he had an
answer.
One of the highlighted items for fuel system maintenance is the
Racor 500 fuel filter system. This system offers top-load filter changing with
ease and little chance of the need to bleed the air out of the fuel system
during the filter changing. The Racor system installed in your vessel may give
you additional sailing time and less time at the repair facility.
Mr.
Smith also suggested that diesel engines be run as much as possible and at
least every two weeks when at dock (under load). His comment is "the engine
likes to be worked". He also suggested that it is important to change the
engine oil at least twice a year (once when laying up and once shortly after
the start of the season and more often if you can). Smith also advised that
synthetic oil is best for new engines (keep using the same oil once you start
on synthetic). Whatever you do, make sure to use the proper oil for you
engine!
Smith also is a strong advocate of only using Bicor treatment in
your fuel tank to kill the algae. He said "don't use any other additives,
especially anything with alcohol". And that is his final answer!
If you
have a fuel filter screen in your fuel tank pick-up tube, Harvey suggested that
you remove it. He said that the fuel tank pick up tube screen has a tendency to
cause problems in the long run.
Harvey Smith can be reached at 410
267-9281. He is willing to talk to you about your maintenance problems and he
is willing to work on your problem (of course for a reasonable fee). His
presentation was well worth the price of admission without the very good lunch
we had. For those of you unable to make it, make a point to catch Harvey's
seminar someplace soon....it will be worth it.
I think everyone who
attended had a great time, and I am sure we all learned something very
worthwhile. Thank you for all the interest.
Ray Harris, Aurora
I am reluctantly selling
Aurora to make way for a new C-36 arriving in April. This fast cruiser is an
ideal single-hander with all sail controls, including reefing, led back to the
cockpit. She has150% roller-furling genoa, 4 self-tailing winches, full-batten
main with Dutchman flaking system, cabin-top traveler, and vang. 40-inch Edson
SS wheel. Autohelm speed/wind/depth instruments and ST4000 Autopilot. Raytheon
VHF. Wired for GPS. Stern ladder and swim platform. Sleeps up to 7 in 3 cabins.
Hot/cold pressure water in galley, head, and cockpit. LPG stove with oven,
electric ice box. Large oil lamp in cabin. Electric anchor windlass, Fortress
and Danforth anchors with rodes. AM/FM stereo with cockpit and cabin speakers.
Battery charger. Perkins 29-hp Diesel drives her at hull speed with a 2-bladed
prop and maneuvers like a dream.
32.5' LOA, 11.75' beam, 4.25' draft
wing keel.
If you act fast, you may be able to keep her great slip at
Annapolis City Marina.
Call me at 703-293-9040 (days), 703-893-1633
(evenings) or email at ray@metratek.net.
I'm still looking for pictures of CCYC members, their boats and events they've attended. I will be adding them to a digital photo album on CDROM for CCYC members; also as part of a picture show before the Brunch. My deadline is March 27th. You can either mail them to me or give them to me at the March member meeting. All photos will be returned by the Brunch in April.
The cell phone is now almost as common as VHF radios so the Coast Guard is set up to respond to cell phone calls from boaters. Just punch in *CG and you'll be connected to the nearest Coast Guard response station to the cell you're in. If it's a distress call, you might want to back it up with a VHF call. That way, any boaters near you can lend a hand, possibly before the Coast Guard arrives on station.