Recent content by Leon Sheean

Rebeding Look through this site and several of the Catalina forums and search Gray Butyl Tape. I'm about to use this stuff rebeding my cleats so I have no personal experience (yet) but the reviews and how-to's are quite good.

Renetrating Oils Has there been a comparative oxidation-busting excercise on aluminum? There are several bolts frozen on my bimini that I'm reluctant to put too much stress on. WD, buster, and Coke have failed. Any suggestions would be appreciated. Thanks,

Surviving the storm Congratulations on survival. It would be infomative for me (at least!) to know how you set up the anchor line to prevent chaffing for the duration and intensity of Sandy. Thanks.

Would someone please explain (in simple language!) why my stock battery set up is works like this: Perco batt switch " 1 - both - 2 " implys that the 12 volt system can (and does) run off the Number 1 battery, Both batteries, or the Number 2 Batt. But if for some reason either batt is...

In my spring cleaning I discovered a set of wires installed by the factory in the storage locker above the stove. Two gray and one black. They are not related to the 110v duplex nearby. What would these normally be use for? Thanks

Fixed Port Repairs Has anyone photographed the sequential disassembly of these units? Even an exploded array of components would be helpful to those of us looking forward (!) to this repair.

CNG source Check out cngprices.com. Their map indicates sources that may help. I will be looking for next season so please post your results.

Jack Stands for a 32-200 I've attached a photo of the arrangement that I use here in Ohio. Six tall five foot stands and one short one under the bow with a padded "V". My 32 has the fin keel which should be similar to your 34 so the height of the stands should be comparable.

I don't recall if this has been a recent note, but owners upgrading boat models from outboard power to inboard engines may be surprised to find a hose clamp on their prop shaft. This is not a place where the P.O. decided to keep a spare! It serves as very cheap insurance in case the shaft...

Lewmar Hatch Gasket Replacement I did contact Select Plastics and they will sell gasket material and adheasive compound to repair my 1988 hatch. On their web site they state "A pain in the neck to install, but you asked and we will sell it to you. Don't call and say you can't put it in. I...

The engine compartment of my 32-200 is quite limited and I've found it important that the belt of choice be of the "no stretch" variety, so length may not be the only concern.

To prevent using a long metal bar to apply leverage against the alternator housing in order to tension the v-belt, I have sucesfully used the spreading device pictured below. It's fabricated from a couple of two-inch thick wooden blocks with a cut out matching the outer edge of the crank shaft...

After replacing the "O" rings on the hatch 'dogs' the smaller (13 x 17 inch) forward hatch is still leaking. The leak seems to be coming around the gasket between the metal frame and the (intaact/non-cracked) gasket. Is it possible to [I]carefully[I] remove the gasket from the acrylic lens...

Does anyone know of a source for 1/2 plastic "teak" t-molding?

Paint Shadows As noted above, the age of the lettering has an impact on your ability to get it all off. I pulled previous lettering off my hull after it was on for only three seasons with one of the generic oven cleaners. It worked reasonably well with several applications but if left on too...