On the 8m Catalac, The lockers where the steering arm connects, which is behind the rear bulkhead and in front of the Transom, has what is supposed to be a self draining system thro a hole behind the rudder stock ! However I think in most cases water can ingress to beneath the floor and can start to rot both floor and bulkhead. I myself have put a dinghy type round locker lid in each to allow me access to drain at various times through the season. However this year I am hoping to put a drain line in to the sump pump, and seal up the drain hole in the transoms to make the job easier, pumping out each time I am on the boat, has any one else come across this problem, comments please. & A Happy Christmas to all...Bob & Ann
Bob, interesting post, I'm not sure I understand about where you have put the "dinghy type round locker lid"? On Scubacat we have large standard locker lids on both sides accessing the "self draining" locker. Its where the previous owner kept a keep net for fishing.
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Hi Dagnal, sorry no photo's at the moment, will try and take some next time down the boat, but the lid is actually In the floor of that locker, water seeps in under this floor and has no where to go. Originally I had water seepage Down under the water tanks and into the cockpit lockers. I mentioned it to John Lack and he suggested drilling a hole in the floor to investigate, in this case both spaces under the floor were full of water ! ....Bob
I see what you mean! On Scubacat, the lockers effectively go straight down to the hull, no false floor! It does mean easy access, but also wet 'feet' for anything kept there.
Discussing this after the Agm yesterday it seems that what I see at the bottom of my locker is indeed the floor, and not the hull as I had thought! It's just I do not have an inspection hatch. Cheers!
This winter I drilled a 25mm hole at the base of the rear bulkheads, I cut down 2 Hull fittings so as to insert them with sealant. There is also an inner support strut, which I believe was used for lifting the moulds during manufacture, just at the bottom of the lockers, this also need a hole drilled through its base and sealed. I drilled 25mm holes through the inner hulls, fitting and sealing two through hull fittings, connecting it all up to the manual sump pumps, I also made 2 fibreglass cover type scoops to go over the outlets. It's all working very well and saving a lot of mopping out !
I've been looking through some old (2002) CCA files and found these interesting pictures and some notes about a modified roof on ECHO, a Catalac 9m.
"We brought Echo in Cyprus and sailed her back home via the Grau du-Roi, Canal du Rhone a Sete and the Canal du Midi, we can recommend the Grau du-Roi in the Med, with mast-stepping at Aigues-Mortes.
Our original engines were single cylinder Renault diesels rated at 7.5hp, they were reliable but very noisy and under powered at 4.5 knots flat out in calm water. Raw water cooled, I believe they were designed for cement mixers and were certainly miserly on fuel at 0.51 per hour apiece.
"ECHO" is now fitted with a pair of Beta 13.5hp diesel engines and with folding Propellers. These have transformed the performance both under power and sail. 6.1 knots from a single engine at 3000rpm driving a 2:1 reduction and a 14in diameter two bladed propeller. Under sail I reckon we are at least half a knot faster over the previous fixed pitch screws.
An added advantage is that with the engines diminutive size, with its shallow sump it gained us nearly 6 inches vertical height space over the Renaults, we have been able to re- install the cosy port quarter berth cabin. So quiet are the Betas that we are not bothering with sound proofing now. The flexible feet and shaft coupling, included in the price, probably contribute to the sewing machine sound characteristics that we now have.
On deck we have been able to improve the appearance of the deck house by taking the roof outboard by five inches and aft by three feet. Stainless steel legs support the trailing edges which follow the gentle curve built into the original structure. The forward edge projects eight inches in a slight curve forming an 'eyebrow' with radius sed comers. A stainless steel pillar abaft the steering position makes a very useful hand hold and permits a 15 stone crewman to walk on the rooftop, an opening hatch also allows the helmsman to sit on the roof and steer with his feet! There is also ample space here for life-raft stowage and solar panels. The plan now is to fit roll up awnings along the under side edges of this deck so that the cockpit can be completely enclosed."
WE have a modified the dog house to nearly full width it allows for 2 cocpit covers. One splits the cockpit in 2 and is strong enough to use at sea in all weather the other enclosed the whole cockpit but we are going to remake that on as the material is 2 light . The split cove is fitted using aluminium bolt rope fittings and take just a couple of mins to fit or remove . It was originally made as a test using a lorry side panel I had given to us , and has 3 window panels . it is so successful I haven’t got round to replacing with a "pretty" fabric but the current Punch and Judy works so well
I have tried to upload 2 pictures but the left hand insert picture finds the picture but they fail to upload I will try again !
video of the inside on a rainy day .no picture upload yet!
I'm getting a new cockpit tent made for Scubacat, and expect it to be very similar to this one made by the same guys for "Sea Spirit", a Catalac 9m.
Sorry the "upload image" (on the left of the control bar) did not work for you , it uploads the picture and then adds code in the message to display the picture. It seems to works best if the pictures you upload are small. There is also an "insert image" Icon across on the right, but that one does not upload and needs the image to be already on the web.
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In the floor of that locker, water seeps in under this floor and has no where to go. Originally I had water seepage
Down under the water tanks and into the cockpit lockers. I mentioned it to John Lack and he suggested drilling a hole in the floor to investigate, in this case both spaces under the floor were full of water ! ....Bob
It does mean easy access, but also wet 'feet' for anything kept there.
I drilled 25mm holes through the inner hulls, fitting and sealing two through hull fittings, connecting it all up to the manual sump pumps, I also made 2 fibreglass cover type scoops to go over the outlets. It's all working very well and saving a lot of mopping out !
via the Grau du-Roi, Canal du Rhone a Sete and the Canal du Midi, we can
recommend the Grau du-Roi in the Med, with mast-stepping at Aigues-Mortes.
Our original engines were single cylinder Renault
diesels rated at 7.5hp, they were reliable but very noisy and under powered at
4.5 knots flat out in calm water. Raw water cooled, I believe they were
designed for cement mixers and were certainly miserly on fuel at 0.51 per hour
apiece.
"ECHO"
is now fitted with a pair of Beta 13.5hp diesel engines and with folding
Propellers. These have transformed the performance both under power and sail.
6.1 knots from a single engine at 3000rpm driving a 2:1 reduction and a 14in
diameter two bladed propeller. Under sail I reckon we are at least half a knot
faster over the previous fixed pitch screws.
An added advantage is that with the engines
diminutive size, with its shallow sump it gained us nearly 6 inches vertical
height space over the Renaults, we have been able to re- install the cosy port
quarter berth cabin. So quiet are the Betas that we are not bothering with
sound proofing now. The flexible feet and shaft coupling, included in the
price, probably contribute to the sewing machine sound characteristics that we
now have.
On deck we have been able to improve the appearance
of the deck house by taking the roof outboard by five inches and aft by three
feet. Stainless steel legs support the trailing edges which follow the gentle
curve built into the original structure. The forward edge projects eight inches
in a slight curve forming an 'eyebrow' with radius sed comers. A stainless
steel pillar abaft the steering position makes a very useful hand hold and
permits a 15 stone crewman to walk on the rooftop, an opening hatch also allows
the helmsman to sit on the roof and steer with his feet! There is also ample
space here for life-raft stowage and solar panels. The plan now is to fit roll
up awnings along the under side edges of this deck so that the cockpit can be
completely enclosed."
Another winter project maybe, should see me through to 2025!
WE have a modified the dog house to nearly full width it allows for 2
cocpit covers. One splits the cockpit in 2 and is strong enough to use
at sea in all weather the other enclosed the whole cockpit but we are
going to remake that on as the material is 2 light . The split cove is
fitted using aluminium bolt rope fittings and take just a couple of mins
to fit or remove . It was originally made as a test using a lorry side
panel I had given to us , and has 3 window panels . it is so successful I
haven’t got round to replacing with a "pretty" fabric but the current Punch and Judy works so well
I have tried to upload 2 pictures but the left hand insert picture finds the picture but they fail to upload I will try again !
video of the inside on a rainy day .no picture upload yet!
Achillea