All the batteries on the boat need not be of the same age. I have an isolator between the house and the starting batteries. The 2 6V in series definitely need to be the same, but with the isolator you can have the house and starter separate. I will be replacing my starting battery this year. Its 8 y...

nobody can really afford boats ( a couple on a new Catalina 36 told me that ) you just make it work. Since storage isn't costing you anything why not keep it? Boats don't depreciate much like cars do. I think of it as a way of forced savings - you could sell it now and waste the money away on variou...

lots of people here have opinions and further suggestions. I love it. Of course! I don't need a permanent mount for the inverter. I just need it to run the dvd/tv for the kids and to heat up a bottle of formula every once in a while. Most of the time I'm at a marina with shore power anyway. So I wil...

What is the consensus on installing an inverter near (above) batteries? I have a Catalina 30 (Ok, so I used to be a Mac owner, but I just can't seem to leave this forum!) and I was given an inexpensive 1000W inverter as a gift. The instructions say to keep it away from the batteries due to explosion...

Rich - Going from a 26 to a 36 - wow - quite a jump! Come on up here to rainy Vancouver, and I'll take you out on the Cat 30. I'll show you what is required just to keep it floating. There is so much more involved in the upkeep of a larger boat its almost unbelieveable. I think back to the days of t...

I still follow this board, even though I sold my Mac over a year ago. I have followed it for ages. I'm always interested in whats going on here. I am now sailing a Catalina 30, and I miss my Mac26S a lot.

Hi all, I just wanted to let you guys know that I have an article published in the October issue of Pacific Yachting magazine. It is regarding a simple bike rack that I built for my Mac. Check it out. P.S. After 12 years of sailing my Mac, I have just sold it and bought an older Catalina 30. I have ...

Thanks guys! As it turns out, Harken makes UV resistant ball bearings that are called "Delrin" bearings. I called Steveston Marine and they're trying to get them in by Friday. They are charging only 10 cents CAN each. My local marine store tried to convince me to buy the entire cleat since...

The starboard cam cleat bearings have turned to powder. I would like to just replace the bearings instead of the entire cleat. Can I do that? If so, where could I get the new bearings? (Vancouver, BC area) I need to do it right away (before Friday.) I'm going to the Macgregor Rendevous at Bowen Isla...

... to 29 feet.http://ezrecord.com/yumikomaru/

You need supports for the front and back. Lower the front as low as it will go so the back swings up. Then set up strong sawhorses or make something that can support the weight at the back. Use the trailer jack to jack up the front as high as it will go. Put another brace under the front. Lower the ...

I will be in Ganges harbour (Saltspring Island) on Canada Day. They have fireworks you can watch from your boat.

Parking is the only problem at Sewells in Horseshoe Bay. It is always at a premium there, and I haven't looked at the parking prices, but I bet its huge. I have a parking pass that you could use - except my pass is for vehicles without trailers in the summer (I am a permanent moorage customer there)...

When my kid was a few weeks old this past year we were sailing, no problem because she was in her bucket seat and couldn't crawl yet. Last week we went sailing (she's 10 months now) and we had to keep holding on to her, which was difficult, especially when heeling over and trying to control the line...

I bought a car cd player/stereo with remote. It worked well until I had some water get into it - it was mounted inside above the galley (on a Mac 26S) and a mast bolt leaked and the water dripped into it constantly. It still works but the remote control no longer does. The stereo is cheap - around $...