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    Galley and Head LED lights update

    By
    Ludovic Francois
    -
    0

    After couple of fluorescent tube decided to stop working, we decided to upgrade the couple fixture with modern looking one.

    Cabin teak floor varnishing

    By
    Ludovic Francois
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    0

    The 2 cabin boards near the engine came with the boat in a pretty bad shape, they were in need of some love. I decided the risk was very low to exercise my varnishing skills on these boards. The result happened to be way better than I expected.

    Update March 2019. After this rainy winter and couple of leaks, it’s time to do the forward cabin floor board.

    Tools & Chemicals

    Preparation

    • Pour the stripper on to the wood in a puddle
    • Spread it initially with a brush
    • Allow the stripper to “work” for 10-15 minutes
    • Start to scrape with a 3″ flat putty knife
    • Pile up the stripper/old varnish in the middle of the board
    • Use a couple larger putty knives to remove the stripper/old Varnish
    • Dispose of it in a shoebox with a plastic bag liner.
    • Repeat the entire process anywhere from 3 to 5 more times.
    • Once all or most of the varnish was removed clean the wood with acetone
    • Allow to dry overnight and clean the wood with acetone again
    • After completely drying lightly sand the wood with 220 grit paper
    • Wipe it down with acetone again
    • At this point it is ready for epoxy / varnish

    Update March 2019. I replaced CitriStrip with Klean Strip for the forward board, way easier to apply.

    Epoxy / Varnishing

    Start with 4 coats of clear coat of epoxy. I usually apply the 4 coats of epoxy in less of 48 hours.

    Continue with 4 coats of undiluted Epifanes Varnish.

    Update March 2019. 2 years later the Epifanes Varnish was still ok, but added a bit of mineral spirit before to apply it.

    AC circuit corroded bus bar replacement

    By
    Ludovic Francois
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    0

    One of the item to tackle from our purchase survey! The original bus bar for the AC circuit was corroded. It was a straight forward maintenance.

    Less of $20 bus bar from blue sea and some jumpers.

    Seakamp 200420 zinc replacement

    By
    Ludovic Francois
    -
    0

    Any idea what is the zinc matching the Seakamp 200420 heat exchanger?

    Seakamp just replied to me ​”¼  npt thread zinc is 1.7 inch”

    Checking on the catalina36.org association, I got recommended size E0 from this site.

    They also have a page for the kind you screw into the brass cap – but you may have to cut that to length.

    Anyway I had to cut to the length even the E0, as soon as it was inserted the water was not able to go through anymore.

     

    Transmission stiff shifting and control cable replacement

    By
    Ludovic Francois
    -
    0
    Over the week-end, we had an issue with the transmission where it was not possible to shift to forward gear anymore.
    Few minutes later and too much play with the gear control, I managed to shear the screw in the shift lever, as you can see in the picture below.

    sheared screw in my catalina 36 shift lever
    sheared screw in my catalina 36 shift lever

    After a safe back-up to the dock, thanks a lot to the help of Philippe Guillaud and his family!
    It’s now time to fix Hotel Catalina (again)!

    Plan!

    This issue looks to be current with Edson Pedestal (as all other issues before :)), according to multiple comments online:

    So the plan will be to:

    1. Remove the sheared screw from the lever
      1. How? Still need to figure it out
    2. Replace this screw:
      1. https://www.amazon.com/Button-Socket-Screws-Stainless-Quantity/dp/B00YSS9ZAG/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1488176791&sr=8-2&keywords=1%2F4-28+x+3%2F4+stainless+steel+screw
    3. Check that the transmission shifts easily by itself to make sure the problem is coming from the control cable and not the transmission itself
    4. Figure out what size of control cables needs to be ordered:
      1. 14′ cable (transmission): http://www.catalinadirect.com/index.cfm/product/1544_841/engine-control-cable-14br-c-270-c-28-c-310-c-320-c-36.cfm
      2. 15′ cable (throttle): http://www.catalinadirect.com/index.cfm/product/1545_841/engine-control-cable-15brc-34-c-36.cfm
    5. Replace the old control cables with a coupling nut (10-32) connecting the old and new one:
      1. http://www.ebay.com/itm/1JA51-Rod-Coupling-Nut-Grade2-10-32-Pk10-/381002901460
    6. Give some love to the engine parts who need a bit of painting:
      1. metal treatment: https://www.amazon.com/Ospho-605-Metal-Treatment/dp/B000C02CDG
      2. paint: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B002JG01VQ/ref=ox_huc_add_on_msg_title_1?m=ATVPDKIKX0DER
      3. Protect the fuel line from chafing, not sure how I missed them during my last chafing protection mission.

    Picture from the control cable to replace
    Picture from the control cable to replace

    New priority project on Hotel Catalina! Let’s see how many week-end will I need to get it fixed 🙂

    Helm tear down and fixing

    Most of this section is coming from this document from Edson Marine. Edson Marine has been very helpful to answer my questions about the different part numbers I was not able to find around.
    http://www.edsonmarine.com/support/PDFs/installation/EB396EngineControlInstr.PDF

    Edson Pedestal
    Edson Pedestal

    Remove the broken screw in the 960-A-938 lever assembly

    During the issue the screw broke and the gear handle got free:
    Easier than expected! I was able to get it out pretty easily with an easy out screw extractor after I drilled a small hole in it with a 1/16″ cobalt drill bit.

    1/16" cobalt drill bit hole
    1/16″ cobalt drill bit hole

    Remove the compass

    The 3 first ¼”-20 x 3 ½” ¼”-20 x 4” stainless machine screw came out very easily and of course as usual one didn’t come at all after a lot of drilling and one drill bit broken I succeeded to get the compass out with only one screw to replace!

    compass broken screw
    compass broken screw

    Remove housing

    Remove broken ¼”-20 x 3 ½” ¼”-20 x 4” stainless machine screw

    At the beginning based on documentation and online information I ordered by mistake 3 ½” machine screws where needed 4″ long screws.
     

    broken screw removing method
    broken screw removing method

    Lost lever assembly to control housing screw

    Lost lever assembly to control housing screw
    Lost lever assembly to control housing screw

    I just had to send a quick email to edson to be able to order the needed screw on boltdepot.com.

    Those screws are 8-32 pan head machine screws 3/8” long.

    Remove screw holding the cable holder

    I was doubtful about this part since it looks tedious to get it back there. But it was not as bad as it looked.

    screw holding the cable holder
    screw holding the cable holder

     

    Engine room side work

     
     Now I am done on removing the different pieces on the pedestal side, I need to see how it looks on the transmission side.

    Transmission control cable holder

    Transmission control cable holder
    Transmission control cable holder

    Pretty rusty but not too difficult to remove.

    Pretty rusty but not too difficult to remove.
    Pretty rusty but not too difficult to remove.

    Transmission control cable is now free

    Transmission control cable before cleaning

     
     
     

    Transmission arm removal 

    Removed from the transmission but impossible to disconnect the cable from the arm 

     
     
     
     

     After some efforts the transmission cable is totally free!

    Cables pulling

    Time to put a coupling nut (10-32) and send the new control cables

    Old cables removed

    New screws from boltdepot.com arrived

    Cables replaced. Time to put everything back together at the pedestal

    Now at the engine

    Bracket cleaned and painted

     

    Cables in place

    Machines Screw too small for the housing!

    First I went back with the old one before to replace them later on.

    Compas LED crimping for easier removal next time

    Everything is now back to normal!

    This project took me 2 week-ends, and some painting at home. When it happens I thought it will take a lot longer, but it got fixed pretty fast.

    More information about this process

    Here more good information about this issue:

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