Glen-L.com

Everything you ever wanted to know about solar power (and some opinions you can probably live without) can be found on "Handybob's" blog. His posts are geared toward RVs and Off-Grid home systems but much of the information can be applied equally well to marine use. https://handybobsolar.wordpress.c...

GALLEY PUMP UPGRADE I couldn't find a new hand pump that would both fit under the cockpit bench when in the stowed position, that would also fit underneath the countertop (tank is in the way). The old hand pump works but is difficult to pump. So I decided to rig up an electric pump and push the wat...

More photos. I wish I could attach more than three per post. IMG_0867.JPG IMG_0869.JPG These four little 5/16 bolts hold everything in place. Kinda wish they were more robust. IMG_0874.JPG Eventually I'm going to have to inspect the lift cable too but I haven't figured out how to do that yet, since ...

I lowered the keel to inspect the bronze pin, and sent some photos to Catalina technical support for an opinion on whether anything needs replacing. I hope not because the pin wouldn't budge when I tapped the end with a hammer. The keel itself is pretty corroded but everything else looks okay. I whi...

My nice, crispy new mainsail arrived today.

Thanks for everyone's comments. I've found retrieving at the ramp to be troublesome because the boat has to be floated onto the bunks and the retracted keel has to at the same time be aligned with a groove for it in the trailer's cradle. Positioning the trailer deep enough to float the boat onto the...

Also installed compass and GPS. For the GPS I needed a swing-arm mount. These are quite expensive to buy, so I went down to Everett Steel and picked up $6.00 worth of scrap steel, went to Dunn Lumber for some fittings and fasteners, and for a total of about $15 fabricated a mount myself. IMG_0799.JP...

The varnished boards and frames, installed. They're not quite finished...they need a few more coats of varnish. I used Pettit Z-Spar Captain's 1015 varnish. IMG_0808.JPG IMG_0809.JPG IMG_0810.JPG Some of the other upgrades I've made so far: --Rewired mast. --LED lighting, except nav and steaming lig...

Now for the companionway boards. The original boards and frames were in pretty bad condition: IMG_0807.JPG The teak replacements are obscenely expensive. The white ones are affordable but lack character. So I decided to custom build them myself. With teak as expensive as it is (if you can even find ...

Next up, the galley. Here's how it was as purchased: IMG_0775.JPG The pressurized alcohol stove does not work. So I removed it and installed a wooden cutting board. And it neatly fits two of these little butane stoves. (The double burner stoves are too long.) But for safety I'll have to turn one bac...

As promised, here are photos of my repairs and upgrades (so far). First up, the mast. Because I got impatient and tried to raise the mast in my yard without checking the owner's manual, without mechanical leverage and without consulting You Tube, I ended up damaging the step end where the pin goes t...

Thanks for your responses DrBryan and Billy. Good idea on the 2-part varnish, but I'm trying to save money on this repair. The cheapest 2-part marine varnish I saw online in a quick search is over 80 bucks a quart. So I think I'll use the varnish I have on hand and if peeling or bubbling become an i...

I'm making some upgrades and repairs to my Catalina 22. Right now I'm replacing the companionway framing and crib boards, which are the original teak, 42 years old and in bad shape. Teak is very expensive and to buy the ready-made ones from Catalina Direct are about $600.00. So I'm making them mysel...

I recommend getting something like an Engel and enough solar panels and batteries to support it instead. Aside from the leveling issue, since the RV units run on propane, you'd have the potential for a quite literally explosive situation on your hands. Propane is heavier than air so there's no where...

I built the Skipjack myself from plans. I even gave the agent a link to my build thread so they could verify the $9000.00+ cost of materials.