Re: [C320-list] C320-list Digest, Vol 4923, Issue 1

[Jeffrey Kapec via C320-list]

Hello Ferris:

Yes, I know that experience first hand. I could smell the diesel as I was
walking on the dock approaching my boat.....6 boats away. At that time the
tank on my 2000 year /320 was only eight years old. I was able to talk to
Frank Butler at the time, he had an interest, he surmised it was due to
electrolysis slowly working on the weld lines. The tank is fabricated
from flat sheets welded together. When I pulled the tank following detailed
advice from Frank I was able to see the compromised bottom weld line which
may have suffered some MINOR exposure to salt water. Knowing this, I
purchased a heavy duty, 1 inch thick polymer, perforated shop floor mat
from Home Depot. I cut it to a size slightly larger than the tank
footprint and placed that under the new tank separating (thick insulator
material, non conductive) the hull interior from the aluminium tank
bottom. It has been fine since then.

By the way, on another topic, I just changed the tank sender unit which
was performing weirdly and unaccountable for reality. Thank you for your
advice. My hands are all cut up from removing the screws on the tank top.
The fiberglass edge is unfinished.

Jeff
Petite Suite 718

On Wed, Sep 17, 2025 at 4:09 PM <c320-lis...@lists.catalina320.com>
wrote:

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> Today's Topics:
>
> 1. Re: Windlass Circuit Breaker (Troy Dunn)
> 2. Re: Windlass Circuit Breaker (Troy Dunn)
> 3. Fuel tank replacement, just do it! (Ferris Wills)
>
>
> ----------------------------------------------------------------------
>
> Message: 1
> Date: Tue, 16 Sep 2025 21:31:04 -0400
> From: Troy Dunn <troutw...@gmail.com>
> To: C320...@catalina320.com
> Cc: Dan Petticord <petti...@gmail.com>, Rick Smith
> <Rick...@rmsmithinc.com>, "c320...@lists.catalina320.com"
> <c320...@lists.catalina320.com>
> Subject: Re: [C320-list] Windlass Circuit Breaker
> Message-ID:
> <CA+rGV8bnG=rO=PXE=
> oS1ijYbphxyEiKcM...@mail.gmail.com>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="UTF-8"
>
> Over current protection (fuses and breakers) is there to protect the wire.
> Check your wiring to ensure the gauge and rating is sufficient to meet
> those standards before swapping out the breaker for a larger one. I think
> the wiring for the windlass on most early hulls was AWG 4 and 105?C
> insulation. You need to check that to be sure. If it is that size and
> rating then you probably could go with a larger breaker according to the
> rules but I think 135A might be at the hairy edge. If someone ran that
> wire bundled with other wires then 135A is insufficient protection
> according to the standard.
>
> Make sure you check both the positive AND negative cables as well as ensure
> that there isn?t a smaller wire coming off the windlass.
>
> Good luck
>
> Troy Dunn
> Hull #514
>
> On Tue, Sep 16, 2025 at 7:30?PM Dan Petticord via C320-list <
> c320...@lists.catalina320.com> wrote:
>
> > We ran in to the same problem. Ended up mounting the new breaker on the
> > bulkhead behind the electrical panel. Not ideal, since I have to pen the
> > panel to get to the breaker, but it works.
> >
> > Dan Petticord
> >
> >
> > On Tue, Sep 16, 2025 at 6:37?PM Dave Hupe via C320-list <
> > c320...@lists.catalina320.com> wrote:
> >
> > > I can't guarantee but think it might be fine to use the higher amp
> > > breaker and wonder if installation might take only drilling a larger
> > > diameter mount hole in the panel?
> > > Dave Hupe
> > > 1994 C320 #32
> > >
> > > Yahoo Mail: Search, Organize, Conquer
> > >
> > > On Tue, Sep 16, 2025 at 5:50 PM, Rick Smith via C320-list<
> > > c320...@lists.catalina320.com> wrote: The Windlass Circuit Breaker
> > on
> > > my Layla #136 (1994 model) died and I'm having trouble finding a
> > > replacement. The original was made by ETA. AC115V, DC 28V, 80
> > amp...and,
> > > what holds it in place is the push-button switch.
> > >
> > > Catalina Direct says no longer available except in 135 amp...so they
> > offer
> > > a breaker with toggle switch which means having to change out the panel
> > > (which, of course, they are happy to sell).
> > >
> > > Anyone else solved this problem? All hints welcome!
> > >
> > > Thank you,
> > > Rick Smith
> > > Lake Lanier, Georgia
> > >
> > >
> >
>
>
> ------------------------------
>
> Message: 2
> Date: Tue, 16 Sep 2025 21:31:04 -0400
> From: Troy Dunn <troutw...@gmail.com>
> To: C320...@catalina320.com
> Cc: Dan Petticord <petti...@gmail.com>, Rick Smith
> <Rick...@rmsmithinc.com>, "c320...@lists.catalina320.com"
> <c320...@lists.catalina320.com>
> Subject: Re: [C320-list] Windlass Circuit Breaker
> Message-ID:
> <CA+rGV8bnG=rO=PXE=
> oS1ijYbphxyEiKcM...@mail.gmail.com>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="UTF-8"
>
> Over current protection (fuses and breakers) is there to protect the wire.
> Check your wiring to ensure the gauge and rating is sufficient to meet
> those standards before swapping out the breaker for a larger one. I think
> the wiring for the windlass on most early hulls was AWG 4 and 105?C
> insulation. You need to check that to be sure. If it is that size and
> rating then you probably could go with a larger breaker according to the
> rules but I think 135A might be at the hairy edge. If someone ran that
> wire bundled with other wires then 135A is insufficient protection
> according to the standard.
>
> Make sure you check both the positive AND negative cables as well as ensure
> that there isn?t a smaller wire coming off the windlass.
>
> Good luck
>
> Troy Dunn
> Hull #514
>
> On Tue, Sep 16, 2025 at 7:30?PM Dan Petticord via C320-list <
> c320...@lists.catalina320.com> wrote:
>
> > We ran in to the same problem. Ended up mounting the new breaker on the
> > bulkhead behind the electrical panel. Not ideal, since I have to pen the
> > panel to get to the breaker, but it works.
> >
> > Dan Petticord
> >
> >
> > On Tue, Sep 16, 2025 at 6:37?PM Dave Hupe via C320-list <
> > c320...@lists.catalina320.com> wrote:
> >
> > > I can't guarantee but think it might be fine to use the higher amp
> > > breaker and wonder if installation might take only drilling a larger
> > > diameter mount hole in the panel?
> > > Dave Hupe
> > > 1994 C320 #32
> > >
> > > Yahoo Mail: Search, Organize, Conquer
> > >
> > > On Tue, Sep 16, 2025 at 5:50 PM, Rick Smith via C320-list<
> > > c320...@lists.catalina320.com> wrote: The Windlass Circuit Breaker
> > on
> > > my Layla #136 (1994 model) died and I'm having trouble finding a
> > > replacement. The original was made by ETA. AC115V, DC 28V, 80
> > amp...and,
> > > what holds it in place is the push-button switch.
> > >
> > > Catalina Direct says no longer available except in 135 amp...so they
> > offer
> > > a breaker with toggle switch which means having to change out the panel
> > > (which, of course, they are happy to sell).
> > >
> > > Anyone else solved this problem? All hints welcome!
> > >
> > > Thank you,
> > > Rick Smith
> > > Lake Lanier, Georgia
> > >
> > >
> >
>
>
> ------------------------------
>
> Message: 3
> Date: Tue, 16 Sep 2025 21:01:05 -0700
> From: Ferris Wills <ferrisw...@gmail.com>
> To: "C320...@catalina320.com" <C320...@catalina320.com>
> Subject: [C320-list] Fuel tank replacement, just do it!
> Message-ID: <F5DFD6BB-E453-4720...@gmail.com>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=utf-8
>
> Hello All,
>
> I know much has been written about replacing the fuel tank on the C320 and
> I thank all contributors who've previously documented/commented on that
> job. I?m nearly done with the project on Argo (?98 #505) and their guidance
> made it a fairly straightforward task.
>
> However, I foolishly ignored the wisdom of the ancients and waited until
> the OEM tank failed. Big mistake!
>
> Arriving to the boat after a couple of week?s absence, I encountered a
> strong smell of diesel, something that had never occurred previously
> -opened the bilge to find an inch of standing diesel. Wow, what a mess!
> Luckily the bilge pump hadn?t started to push it overboard or I would?ve
> been in big trouble with the marina and SF Bay authorities. The clean up
> effort was horrible, and there?s still a faint whiff of diesel in the cabin
> ???
>
> I highly recommend replacing your tank proactively if it?s more than 20
> years old. The downside of waiting until it fails can be huge.
>
> Thx,
> Ferris
>
> Typos by iPhone
>
> End of C320-list Digest, Vol 4923, Issue 1
> ******************************************
>


--

Jeffrey Kapec

*Tanaka Kapec Design Group*

11 Brookfield St. Norwalk, CT 06851

203.846.3666


www.tkdg.com