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    M25XPB Water pump replacement – Sherwood vs Oberdorfer

    By
    Ludovic Francois
    -
    1
    Catalina 36 - M25XPB with Oberdorfer N202M-908
    Catalina 36 - M25XPB with Oberdorfer N202M-908

    Since day 1 we own the boat, the sherwood water pump was leaking a bit, it was never the top issue but always something bothering me. In this article we are going to go through:

    1. Replacing the water pump
    2. Replacing one of the old cooling hose
    3. Touch up painting of the engine oil crankcase

    It took few hours to go through this work, but everything was pretty straight forward.

    Original state of Hotel Catalina

    Here couple of pictures from June 2016, 2 weeks after we took delivery of Hotel Catalina.

    First engine picture June 2016
    First engine picture June 2016
    First engine picture June 2016
    First engine picture June 2016

    Based on this pictures we can saw this leak has been there for a while by the rust we can see on the engine.

    Time to fix this leak and give some love to the engine!

    It has been now over 1 year we own the boat and it’s time to tackle this pump leaking and clean the rust on the engine block.

    Here are few of the options to complete this task:

    • get a rebuilt kit and fixing it (tried it, it was worse!)
    • new sherwood pump (very expensive and not so much good feedback on the different forums)
    • migrate (upgrade?) to Oberdorfer
      • Replacing with an Oberdorfer pump that has the base that goes on with the same clip system as your Sherwood pump (more expensive, but more straight forward replacement)
      • If you aren’t scared of, rework the base of the Oberdorfer bolt on pump so it bolts into the pump land on the engine (way cheaper, but a bit too involved in my mind)

    After looking online I found a very good deal on the N202M-908 at pump and parts online. Let’s go with this solution!

    Oberdorfer N202M-908
    Oberdorfer N202M-908

    Here is the invoice for the pump:

    Replacing the elbow water pump hose

    This step is unrelated to the water pump, but it was way easier to complete since the water pump was not in the way anymore.

    Old sherwood pump, old hose and old clamp. Everything will be soon replaced.

    Tried to clean and fix the sherwood water pump, but the leak was always there.
    Tried to clean and fix the sherwood water pump, but the leak was always there.

    New hose installed!

    Now time to fill the radiator with new coolant! Last time was replaced was last year during the heat exchanger failure.

    Now the hose has been replaced, let’s replace the water pump!

    The service from https://www.pumpsandpartsonline.com/about-us was very good! Few days after the order I received the part as expected.

    I was not sure about the purpose of this hole, and asked online I realized it was to make sure in case of leak of the pump, the raw water has a way to exit somewhere else than in the engine.
    I was not sure about the purpose of this hole, and asked online I realized it was to make sure in case of leak of the pump, the raw water has a way to exit somewhere else than in the engine.

    Now it’s time for some painting touch up

    It’s the first time I try that, I decided to pick white to be able to see if any leak happens in the future. The result is pretty good looking. Next time I have a chance to remove the belt, I will definitely do more painting.

    Pump installed and running!

     

     

    Temperature is good!

    Impeller replacement for my spare kit

    https://www.ebay.com/itm/112455220825

    Oberdorfer replacement impeller
    Oberdorfer replacement impeller

     

    new anchor rocna 15 and bow roller upgrade

    By
    Ludovic Francois
    -
    0
    rocna 15 anchor
    rocna 15 anchor

    Our Catalina 36 came with a very rusty danforth anchor. So it’s time to upgrade to a rocna 15 bought on defender.

    As soon as the rocna 15 showed up, it was my surprise to realize how big it is. After a lot of research let’s upgrade the bow roller!

    Rocna 15
    Rocna 15

    Hardware requirement

    Equipment requirements

    I decided to get the bow roller from catalina direct few other options who could have been a good fit:

    Tools requirements

    • Grinder: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00U24VG0W ($99)
    • Sawzaw: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00ODN1CP2 ($85)
    • 15mm wrenches (x2)

    Remove legacy bow roller starboard bolt

    Not easy to remove (suprised? :)), it looks it has been there for a very long time. Used 2 x 15mm wrenches to get through it.

    Cut off the vertical part of the original anchor roller

    • carbide tipped sawzaw blades (x2):
      • https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01MQWFQBV ($24 for 2 of them, I needed both)
      • I have been using the 6″, but I have the feeling, it would have been better with a 4″ blade, maybe it would have saved me one blade.
    • grinding wheel
      • https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00004RH8I ($7)
      • use to make prettier the rough work generated by the reciprocating saw

    Position the anchor roller to find the good fit

    Drill holes in the deck

    Sealing Deck Penetrations To Prevent Core Rot

    Epoxy the holes

    Cut the backing plate to fit Catalina 36 bow

     

    Bedding

    Fastening

    I had to order longer bolts to match my setup.

     

     

    Install Rocna anchor

     

    close with some monel wire.

    Anchoring!

    I didn’t get a chance yet to anchor since it was installed.

    B&G Triton 2 setup at Helm – NavPod & AngleGuard modifications

    By
    Ludovic Francois
    -
    0

    Time to get some data at the helm!

    So far our helm came with more or less no electronic:

    • signet marine instruments not getting any signals from the senders
    • raymarine st4000+ working pretty well
    • Garmin GPS 182C Display

    As a technophile I dreamed since the day I owned the boat to add some electronic but these days has been pushed away by more critical tasks.

    Now I have some NMEA2000 devices setup on Hotel Catalina and I got an OK deal on a B&G Triton 2, it was time to bring the N2K backbone to the helm!

    Open the NavPod

    This week-end was the second time I get a chance to open it, last time was the day I received the special screwdriver for the NavPod.

    Time to investigate what is inside this NavPod, only the controller for the ST4000+ and one cable to power the Garmin GPS display.

    Make space to get the N2K backbone to the helm

    Time to make a hole in the NavPod to fit the B&G Triton

     

    Done

    Outboard engine mount – stern rail kit

    By
    Ludovic Francois
    -
    0

    Few weeks ago we bought a dinghy and an outboard to explore the marina. Now the question is where do we store our outboard?

    Our outboard engine, a honda 2hp is pretty small and lights, so I thought we could save with the inexpensive rail mount motor bracket from seadog line bought for less of $20 on ebay.

    Seadog rail mount motor bracket

     

    Better bracket from Simple System Marine

    As you saw it, the sea dog looks very unreliable. So I decided to order the “better bracket” from Simple System Marine.

    • https://www.simplesystemmarine.com/

    The Simple System Marine product is 10 times more expensive, but you can see where went the cost, it seems overkill for an outboard we only paid $300. But at least I feel confortable to leave the outboard on the rail and I feel safe about it.

    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.

    Water tank inspection port installation on our Catalina 36

    By
    Ludovic Francois
    -
    0

    In the process to install the TLM 100 inside our aft center water tank (https://www.sailinghotelcatalina.com/water-tank-monitoring-with-maretron-tlm-100/), I dropped a small piece of plastic inside the tank. It’s how I became interested about inspection port.

    My setup was based on this blog article:

    • http://goodoldrvs.ning.com/profiles/blogs/installing-inspection-ports-in-water-tank

    Knowing I am a huge fan of http://www.goodoldboat.com/, this article was perfect for me!

    Right now I have been using the inspection port to check the state of the tank (since the TLM 100 has not been very helpful so far) and also to clean it.

    Requirements

    • Beckson 6″ clear screw out deck plate:
      • $22
      • https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000Y85OZY/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=sailinghotelc-20&camp=1789&creative=9325&linkCode=as2&creativeASIN=B000Y85OZY&linkId=fa2a5bd162a160a65812e0ddc0072c83
    • Sealant:
      • https://www.westmarine.com/buy/west-marine–marine-silicone-sealant–P004_127_001_005

    Step by step

     

     

    Water tank monitoring with Maretron TLM 100

    By
    Ludovic Francois
    -
    0

    After multiple run out of fresh water and no way to check the tank, I checked the options available to monitor our water usage.

    In my quest to get as much as possible on the network through NMEA2000 the kbox and signalk. I looked only to devices with an open API or compatible with NMEA2000. One of the only option available on the market looks to be the Maretron TLM 100.

    The hardware setup is pretty straight forward:

    • cut a hole in your water tank (mesure twice / drill once, hmm not for this time yet :))
    • drill 5 holes
    • plug the TLM 100

    As soon as it was done, I was happy to see the device on my B&G Zeus 2 MFD, through the KBOX in canboat.

    But no way to configure it easily like I was able to do it with some other NMEA2000 devices through the B&G Zeus 2 MFD (Airmar and Navico so far).

    Contacted the maretron support with no success, so far no answer and it looks for now my only options would be to buy a Maretron MFD device or one of their gateway to use their free software, not sure I want to invest in this knowing I am not sure I will add more of their devices in the future…

    So far not very happy with the investment, definitely need more open standards in the marine industry.

    New genoa for our Catalina 36

    By
    Ludovic Francois
    -
    0

    Old sails

    When we bought Hotel Catalina 6 months ago, we realized during the survey our genoa was very tired after discussion with the previous owner he agreed to give us a discount for this and give another used genoa supposed to be in a better shape, so we wanted her and we took our chance on this.

     

    Unfortunately both genoa happened to be very tired.

    Few sails later with both genoa we decided it was time to upgrade.

    After some research, we found http://www.hydesailsdirect.com/. Having a high production boat and a good feeling when I called Judy at Hyde Sail Direct, we decided to go this route and order our new head sail!

    So it was time to order a new sail, it took around 6 weeks between the first conversation and the time the sail showed up.

    Hyde Sails Direct order timing

    • 10/28/2016:
      • 10% Deposit
      • Additional payment of $1373.00 (70%) is due when the order is submitted to production.
      • Final payment of $392.88 is due upon completion.
      • Measurement forms and kit sent.
    • 11/07/2016:
      • completed our home work and uploaded to Hyde Sails Direct dropbox repository
    • 11/08/2016:
      • Finale phone conversation with the team at Hyde Sails Direct and few update to my order
      • Additional payment
    • 11/16/2016:
      • Order has been submitted to production.
      • Estimate ship date is 12/07-12/09
    • 11/23/2016:
      • measuring kit has been returned
    • 12/07/2016:
      • Order is complete and has been shipped. Expected delivery is Friday or Saturday. Please watch your inbox for a tracking email and your Hyde Guide to Sailcare.
      • Paid in Full

    Hyde Sails bill

    Measurement

    Time to test the new sail

     

    Stainless control handle replacement

    By
    Ludovic Francois
    -
    0

    First upgrade on Hotel Catalina!

    After the trip back from Long Beach, another quick trip out in the Santa Monica bay and the situation of our very tiny way to our slip, we realized it was one of the first mandatory upgrade.

    This upgrade was actually planned even before to bring the boat back from Long Beach, my first order ever for Hotel Catalina, and definitely not the last for sure 🙂

    I decided to buy it on Catalina Direct, I realized later it was maybe not the cheaper place to buy the part, but I am very happy to send business their way for what they do.

    Remove the old controls

    Thought it would be an easy job, but not at all! Had a hard time to remove cleanly one of the old handle.

    I started with the throttle handle and it was done in less of 5 minutes! What an easy job 🙂

    Now let’s take care of the clutch handle! What took us over four hours to get it done, with a long list of tools tested against it.

    Finally we had to use the dremel, to get the work done and be able to extract the screw.

    Setup of the new handles

    Now some anti-seize lubricant, and hopefully next time someone will be looking to remove the handles, it will be a bit easier!

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