[C320-list] Boom birds

[ART HARDEN via C320-list]

As we were getting ready to leave the marina today, my neighbor mentioned that he had seen sparrows entering the end of the boom. When I took a good look at it there is a hole at the end, which is about 2 x 3 and ideal for birds to go in and out of. Before I left the marina, I put a piece of duct tape over it. It did look like there may have been some evidence of birds in the boom. I will have to investigate if there are any critters in the boom.

When I had my Capri 26 I found that the anchor locker opening was an ideal Invitation for birds. More than once did I find a bird nest in the anchor locker.

This year, a friend of ours with a Catalina 380 encountered a raccoon in his anchor locker, while still on the hard. He left the top open and the guy finally vacated.

Critter stories anyone?

Sent from my iPhone

Art Harden
Catalina 320 "Tortuga" 243
E-42
937.885.9380 (o)
937.477.5544 (m)

[Jack Brennan via C320-list]

More than 40 years ago, a buddy of mine and I took my Compac 19 to Biscayne Bay and the Upper Keys. We caught an unforecast tropical wave in the bay and ducked in at Elliott Key to wait it out.

Being young, dumb and single men, our provisions consisted of a five-gallon jug of water, a long load of bread, big jars of peanut better and jelly, and several cases of beer.

There was a small dock, so we tied up and went exploring. While we were gone, a raccoon climbed on board. He ate and shredded the bread, tore open the water, then opened the peanut butter (raccoons have thumbs) and was prancing around the cockpit with the jar stuck on his head as he ate away.

We chased him away. But we were stuck as the storm lingered. We found a German-born guy with his son, also at the dock, who had plenty of food but no beer. A deal was struck. He cooked, and we furnished the liquid refreshments. All were satisfied.

Jack Brennan
Sonas, 1998 Catalina 320
Tierra Verde, Fl.


________________________________
From: C320-list <c320-lis...@lists.catalina320.com> on behalf of ART HARDEN via C320-list <c320...@lists.catalina320.com>
Sent: Sunday, June 15, 2025 8:32 PM
To: Catalina 320 List <C320...@Catalina320.com>
Cc: ART HARDEN <arts...@aol.com>
Subject: [C320-list] Boom birds

[SARA SCHROEDER via C320-list]

This is hilarious!

Sara
Wandering Star
Seattle
#707/2000

[ART HARDEN via C320-list]

Great story.

Sent from my iPhone

Art Harden
Catalina 320 "Tortuga" 243
E-42
937.885.9380 (o)
937.477.5544 (m)

> On Jun 16, 2025, at 4:30 AM, Jack Brennan via C320-list <c320...@lists.catalina320.com> wrote:
>
> More than 40 years ago, a buddy of mine and I took my Compac 19 to Biscayne Bay and the Upper Keys. We caught an unforecast tropical wave in the bay and ducked in at Elliott Key to wait it out.

[David Nolte via C320-list]

The boom is a popular place for birds to nest. Some years back someone actually created and marketed a rubber fitting/plug that you could put in the hole at the end of the boom. Made specifically for the 320. Somewhere along the line I lost mine and now just cover the hole with a piece of duct tape.

Speaking of raccoons, when I went down to my boat recently there was a pile of poop on the plexiglass above the companionway that was about the size of those from my 27 pound dog...

David Nolte
Beach House 0004

David Nolte

[Louis Friedman via C320-list]

We were readying the boat for our first launch last spring and suddenly
heard a thud - baby bird fell on deck. I though maybe some predator bird
dropped by mistake but turns out we had a nest in our boom.
Since then I keep a rag stuffed in the end of the boom.

Lou Friedman
#623
Miss Adventure

--
Louis Friedman, DO, FACP
Woodbridge Medical Associates
www.woodbridgemed.com
732-634-0036

[Jerry Sheets via C320-list]

A few years ago we arrived at our boat for a sail after being away a while. There was a lot of bird droppings in the cockpit and chirping noise coming from the boom. My daughter would not sail fearing the babies would be hurt. I called a friend who ran a wildlife center in Va asking what we could do. He suggested blocking the hole so they wouldn’t fall out and limit the amount of boom movement if possible.

All went well for the sail and momma was back to tending to her babies after we returned and reopened the hole. 😄

I cleaned out the nest on my next trip and have kept a balled up plastic bag in the hole ever since.


Jerry
JellyRoll

> On Jun 16, 2025, at 9:43 AM, Louis Friedman via C320-list <c320...@lists.catalina320.com> wrote:
>
> We were readying the boat for our first launch last spring and suddenly

[surprise thompson87.com via C320-list]

On one of our first cruises when we purchased our boat I had trouble raising the mainsail because the aft reef line had no slack and seemed hung up inside the boom. When I investigated there was a bird's nest in there. I used a straightened out coat hanger to start pulling out all of the junk. There was an amazing amount of it, and about half way through out came some very young baby birds, so young they had no feathers. They became fish food. Since then checking the duct tape at the end of the boom is an annual thing. And I try to flush out the inside of the boom with a hose whenever I remove the old tape.
It's a good idea to leave a very small gap below the duct tape so that water can drain.

The other critter problem I've had is with ospreys. They like to sit on top of the mast and mess with the VHF antenna and Windex. And I've had issues with them depositing sticks on top of my solar panels, presumably in an ill fated attempt to start a nest.

T. Scott Thompson
Catalina 320 "Surprise," #653 (1999)
surp...@thompson87.com

[John Frost via C320-list]

I stuff a plastic bag in the opener by and replace it every couple of years. I would use aluminum foil but I don’t want to risk dissimilar metals
Sent from my iPhone
John Frost

> On Jun 16, 2025, at 3:15 PM, surprise thompson87.com via C320-list <c320...@lists.catalina320.com> wrote:
>
> On one of our first cruises when we purchased our boat I had trouble raising the mainsail because the aft reef line had no slack and seemed hung up inside the boom. When I investigated there was a bird's nest in there. I used a straightened out coat hanger to start pulling out all of the junk. There was an amazing amount of it, and about half way through out came some very young baby birds, so young they had no feathers. They became fish food. Since then checking the duct tape at the end of the boom is an annual thing. And I try to flush out the inside of the boom with a hose whenever I remove the old tape.

[John Bennett via C320-list]

Hello, all. I'm new to the list.

I purchased a 1998 C320 last fall. Hull 486, newly named Brandywine
(previously Cassandra).

The previous owner didn't use the reefing line and apparently rarely
adjusted the outhaul. Before replacing those lines, I pulled the blocks to
the back of the boom to investigate. I got them out - along with about a
cubic foot of bird's nest! Fortunately no birds, living or otherwise...

I have already benefited greatly from lurking here for the past 6 months.
Thank you all! I hope I can begin to contribute as I get more time sailing
and working on Brandywine.

-JB

[KEN GEIGER via C320-list]

I fashioned a piece of soft aluminum sheet that clips on one side and is held by a single screw on the other side, to block the boom end hole.
Ken Geiger#765 Northern Dream


Sent from AOL on Android

On Mon, Jun 16, 2025 at 10:11 p.m., Louis Friedman via C320-list<c320...@lists.catalina320.com> wrote: We were readying the boat for our first launch last spring and suddenly