ColumbiaRiverCatalina.org		May 2009

Spring Sailing Season is here!

And  we're all working on our boats!!!

Commodore
By Jim Turner, C380, "Makana Kai"

Rhonda and I are back from our wonderful Hawaiian Islands vacation, and back to work. After vacationing in glorious sunshine, warm waters and cooling trade winds; gray, cold, rainy Pacific NW days suck! There I said it! And you know what? I don't feel any better! I'm not looking for, nor expecting any sympathy, but it's sure a tough transition!

I wistfully suggested, "That anything is possible", to Rhonda on finding a Newport, CA, Catalina 380 in the Honokohau small boat harbor in Kailua-Kona, Hawaii.  She maintains that while anything possible, it's unlikely that our 380 will ever make the transit to Hawaii, at least not with her on board!

With the weather slowly improving, we begin to ramp up our efforts to get our boats ready for the cruising season.  I'm motivated, as long as it's warm and sunny! But then again, when it's warm and sunny, there is also a compelling temptation to cast off the lines and hoist the sails!

My attempt to crown our bimini top frame, and re-use it, didn't work out so well. The frame needed to be bowed so that the top drains properly to prevent sitting water from rotting the fabric.  The bowed frame in the picture ended up about two feet narrower and one foot taller after crowning. While you can bend out the bow legs and cut them shorter to make them work for the bimini top, it totally messes up where the full enclosure panels fall on the boat.  Geez! Makana Kai will probably look naked on the May cruise without much of her canvas, with having to bend a new frame that is suitable for a full enclosure.

I read a good article in the March 2009 issue of Cruising World, titled "Bashing North from Baja", written by Herb McCormick. It contains some sage advice on strategies to head north up the pacific coast by a vastly- experienced and highly-respected delivery captain, Jon Shampain.

Shampain hammers one point: When you race south, you want to stay well offshore, some 25 to 30 miles. On the other hand when cruising north, stick close to the beach to avoid the worst winds and seas. The sailing conditions inside are generally lousy, but if you're motor-sailing, or just under auxiliary power in delivery mode, calms are your friend.

The author of the article, Herb McCormick, details his subsequent trip North from Baja. With "light, variable" conditions forecast, he chose to sail a direct, rhumb-line course, well off-shore to shave some miles off the distance to be traveled. Needless to say, they quickly found themselves in heavy winds and seas, and regretted not following Jon Shampain's advice, to stay near the beach.

I too learned, the value of this advice last summer bringing our Catalina 380 up from San Francisco, also the hard way. After sailing upwards of 40 miles off-shore, banging into rough seas and heavy winds, we limped into Ft. Bragg with the assistance of the U.S. Coast Guard. There the local fishermen, blue water sailors, and coast guard staff that I met, all questioned the wisdom of our sailing so far off-shore, in rougher seas, heavier winds, and far from rescue. They all advised that we stick closer to the beach next time, sheltered from the wind and seas by the Pacific Coast line that angles to the west. On our second trip North, we took their advice, staying anywhere from 3 - 7 miles from the beach, and it worked out well.

Yet, haven't we sailor's, learned to fear being too close to the shoreline? How many dark tales have we read about storms, loss of propulsion, or simply being off-course causing boats to be driven onto the shore or jagged rocks? For many of us sailing is an avocation, or passion that we are drawn to, and are only able to support after becoming successful in our vocation or careers. Often only realizing our dream of owning a cruising sailboat, following years reading and studying in pursuit of our passion. Yet aren't we still really relative neophytes, with much to learn? Could it be that much of what we have to learn is nuance, like where general rules or practices aren't applicable, or potentially counter-productive? Could it be that Bashing North up the Pacific Coast is one of these nuanced cases?

While I've been told that sailing on the Columbia River, with it's strong current, is outstanding experience - experience that should help prepare us to sail just about anywhere, one things certain, you can't sail on the river without sailing near the beach!

Smooth Sailing! -Jim 

Vice Commodore
By Jess Schefstrom, C42, Kira Lynn

Our cruise to East Dock for the weekend of April 18-19 was delightful. Catching a break with a string of beautiful weather days we shared the docks with our friends from the Hunter Sailing group. Mt. Hood was especially impressive in the warm afternoon sun. 

On Saturday several of our group took a walk down to the “new” moorage called “Sandy Beach”. The moorage is completely finished and, to say the least, impressive.

It is essentially a double L, much like East Dock. The key differences include an angled head walk to facilitate sloughing off debris that makes it through a strong looking wing dam.

 The big difference is that this new moorage is huge. The outer moorage dock is 600 feet long! The inner moorage dock is about 150 feet long. This place is going to be able to hold many more boats than any current free moorage on the river. The last notable difference is that there is rub rail installed on all moorage areas that will be kind to your gel coat. On shore there is a new solar toilet, much like East Dock, and a paved (!) walkway to it that will help keep some of the sand off your decks. All in all, I was very impressed with our new cruising opportunity.

Our cruise this month is scheduled to this new moorage, so plan on taking part. The “Kira Lynn” will arrive Friday by around 1:30 pm and will monitor our cell phone and channel 68 to assist boaters arriving later in the afternoon. Doug and JoNell have a neat plan in place, so we are definitely stocking up on tequila and Pacifico’s. We hope to see you there.

A Typical DIY Tale

Remember me remarking back in February how I purchased a new Xantrex 1800 watt inverter at the Portland Boat Show?  Well the following story is, for me at least, quite typical of how a “non-professional” deals with an install of a electronic device that can, if installed incorrectly, burn your boat to the waterline.

My research into inverters warned me that improperly installed, these devices can potentially start fires that could destroy a boat. With that “worry” in the back of my brain, I began to investigate the ins and outs of installing this inverter in the Kira Lynn. With the Xantrex manual in hand I began to gather the tools and parts needed to begin the install. As with many boat projects, it is very possible to spend almost as much money on the install as the initial cost of the device itself. I discovered I needed the following:

• 250 amp fuse with holder (Blue Seas)

• Battery cutoff switch (Marinco)

• 12 feet of heavy duty red/black battery cable sized 2/0 (this was $15 a foot at West Marine) I got it much cheaper on the internet.

• 50 feet of 8 gauge green stranded wire (for ground)

• 50 feet of 12 gauge AC triplex stranded wire

• 50 feet of standard phone cable for the remote panel

• 8 heavy duty lugs for the battery cables

• Various other connectors

• Heat shrink tubing

Jim Turner graciously loaned me a crimper and cutter for the heavy-duty cables, as well as the heat shrink tubing. After gathering all my “pieces”, Jim came over to my boat and we “talked” about the install I had planned. He had several good suggestions (read corrections) that steered me towards a successful install. The DC side of the install seemed straight forward. It was the AC side that I wanted “hardwired” into the boat’s AC outlets that most concerned me. Remember electrical systems aboard can be dangerous, so I was properly cautious.

And so over a couple of cold, rainy days in April I began the install.

1.  Fishing wires through tight places, tedious, but no problem.

2. Wiring the AC side and installing the inverter upside down in the port closet small problems, but with Mary’s help we got it done.

3. Installing the fuse holder with fuse, no problem.

4. Installing the battery switch after the fuse, no major problem.

5. Installing the remote at navigation desk in the salon, no major problems.

6. Making battery cables to go between the inverter, the various parts and the house battery bank, no problem.

7. Hard wiring the inverter AC side into the boat’s AC wiring, worrisome(is the shore power really disconnected? Check and double check), but I got it done.

8. Carefully hooking up all the DC cabling and tightening all nuts properly, no problem.

Now comes the time to put the unit to the test. Shore power AC is reactivated and all seems well. AC devices and outlets all work fine. Cool.

Okay, now to test the real reason for the inverter. Will it “invert” 12 volts DC to 110 volts AC?  Shore power is disconnected, battery disconnect switch is turned on. Inverter remote switch is turned on. Almost immediately the remote panel shows an error code “02” and begins to beep. The Xantrex manual says error code “02” means the battery DC volts input is too low. Sure enough the panel display shows 10.8 volts. Now begins the amateur hour. My Catalina has a factory-installed voltmeter on the distribution panel, and I have added a Xantrex Link 20 battery monitor to enhance my awareness of the house bank state of charge. Both of those say the house bank has 13.1 volts, theoretically, more than enough to power the inverter. Hmmmmm…..how can the inverter remote panel show 10.8 and the boat’s other monitors show 13.1? Right away I begin to think the install is somehow incorrect. But when I begin to think more clearly, I realize it can’t be wrong. The AC side works fine. The DC side is too simple to get wrong. Hmmmmm…..great, the inverter is defective……………. or the remote is defective or…………???? See what I mean about the “Amateur Hour”?

So I go home and begin to deconstruct the install and my problem over and over in my mind. Of course, this has all occurred over the space of about four days, and now we are getting ready for our cruise up to Portland and East Dock.

Well at East Dock with Doug McClary and my trusty multimeter, we discover that indeed one battery in the two battery house bank reads 10.8 volts (effectively dead), and that is the battery that the inverter is “reading”. So now I need new batteries. Wet cells don’t last forever and it appears one has bit the dust. Since you shouldn’t replace just one battery in a bank, I begin to contemplate the expense of new house batteries. A chandlery on Hayden Island gives me a quote of $550 per battery for the latest technology of AGM batteries. Reeling from $550 x 3 (number of batteries I need) I reconsider my options. Jim Elieff has a friend, “Robert”, who has helped him many times in the past with boat problems including new batteries. I give Robert a call and he tells me the “old technology” of wet cell deep cycle batteries are still the “best bang for the buck” around. He quotes me $162 per battery and on Monday at Sal Par Bay Marina we install the new batteries.

Okay, with new batteries installed, it is time to “test” the inverter, the cause of this “fine pleasant misery” I have been involved with for the past two weeks. Shore power off. Inverter battery switch on.  Remote panel switch on. Viola! Inverter works perfectly.  LCD TV, blender, coffee grinder, the possibilities are endless………….

So what are the lessons to be learned from this long, rambling tale?

1. Do-it-yourself projects are at times challenging but still doable. Don’t be too proud to ask for help. Your fellow boater’s are a great source of knowledge.

2. Borrow or buy the right parts and tools.

3. Research and/or study as much as you can before you begin.

4. Don’t automatically assume you have made a mistake if things don’t work perfectly at first. Walk away and think about it.

5. You can do a good job, but it will take you longer than a pro would to finish your project.

6. You will save money. Typical labor charges are about $70 an hour.

7. You will gain pride and knowledge in doing a job well done.

- Jess

Secretary/Treasurer
By John Kerrigan, C30, Different Perspective

Grrrrr...

I'm deep in the throes of the "pre --season commissioning blues." You know, doing all the petty but necessary tasks involved with getting the boat ready for another season on the Columbia but before the actual enjoyable part, namely sailing, starts. Thus far, this has involved changing filters, installing a new head (I didn't think my hands and arms bent that way!), power washing the bird poop off the deck, finding out after the fact that those dock lines are purchased from Boaters World weren't really that good a deal after all, despite all that going-out-of-business propaganda, and figuring out what the heck is wrong with my jib halyard.

Ah, but the end is in sight, and I might actually get Different Perspective out on the water sometime before July! The cruises with the group were the high point of last year's season and we're looking forward in particular to the downriver cruise to Astoria.

Hope to see you all soon on the water!

- John 

Cruising Chairman
By Doug McClary, C309, Capriccio

Hello Cruisers! Or should I say ¡Hola Cruceros! As you may have guessed, the theme for our next cruise is Belated Cinco de Mayo. Bring your favorite Mexican foods and beverages for a Pot Luck on Saturday evening. We’ll be tied up to the brand new Sandy Beach dock on Government Island, just west of the old West Dock. Your Cruise director had an opportunity to hike over from East Dock and have a look. It’s quite a bit larger than East Dock and sports a new Composting Toilet for those who prefer land based “facilities”. There’s a nice beach (sandy) and trails for hiking around the island.

Here is a follow up to Jim Turner’s comments in last month’s newsletter regarding Gill Nets in the Columbia River: Doug Walker, Executive Vice President of Columbia River Yachting Association (CRYA) posted an email with links to Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife’s Columbia River Action Notices. ODFW controls the Salmon population in various ways, including opening fishing seasons for gill nets and drift nets. These seasons are usually short (from 4 to 10 hours) and begin at specific times of day. Unfortunately, there is no advanced notice other than checking the ODFW website for updates. For example, a drift net season opening on April 14th at 9 AM for four hours was posted by ODFW on April 13th at noon, so there was less than 24 hours notice! That said, it’s up to the boater to watch out for the signs that a gill net may be in your path. Gill nets are usually attached to the boat at one end and to a float at the other end. They can be up to 1000 feet in length and can be set across the navigation channel. Here is a link to ODFW’s Columbia River Action Notices:

http://www.dfw.state.or.us/fish/OSCRP/CRM/action_notes.asp

Check here often to see if there are any upcoming Net Fisheries scheduled before you venture out on the river.

In my roll as delegate to the CRYA organization, I’ve been tasked with selling raffle tickets for the annual fund raiser. They are a dollar each and offer an opportunity to win a Travel Voucher worth $1,500 for first prize and $500 for second prize. It’s for a good cause. The new Sandy Beach dock was partially funded by CRYA along with many other worthwhile projects.

Ray DeBuhr reported at the CRYA meeting that Washington State parks appear to be safe from the budget ax for the now so we may be going to Beacon Rock this summer after all.

Since I was forced to cancel our safety inspection event last month, I will see about getting a Coast Guard auxiliary member to visit us at Sandy Beach during our cruise. Please let me know if you need an inspection and plan to be there so I can make the necessary arrangements.

I’m looking forward to seeing you all at Sandy Beach on May 16th.

- Doug McClary – (503) 997-4915 – doug.mcclary@comcast.net

Rear Commodore
By Alden Andre', C38, Fly Bye

<No Submission>

- Alden Andre

Communications Officer

Open Opportunity for someone wanting to gain experience as a web master!
Vacant

Safety Officer

Open Opportunity!
Vacant

Historian

Open Opportunity for a scrap booker!
Vacant 

Catalina Newsletters of the Northwest

Checkout these links to Northwest Catalina newsletters and local racing:

Catalina 22 Fleet 20 of Portland www.c22pdx.org Sail Portland www.sailpdx.com Oregon Women's Sailing Assoc. www.owsa.net

Catalina Assoc.  of Tacoma and South Sound home.earthlink.net/~catss/CATSS Web Page.htm Catalina Association of Puget Sound capsfleet1.com/News Letters.htm Small Yacht Sailing club of Oregon (SYSCO) www.sailpdx.com/sysco.htm

May

• No General Meeting
• 15th - 17th Cruise: Government Island - West dock/Sandy Beach (New)
• 22th - 25th Cruise: Martin Slough (Memorial Day)

June

See the calendar