Bartlett Landing Cruise April 22-23
Enjoying the views from Government Island's East Dock
By Dale Mack, Crocus, #8244

Fleet 20 will be rendezvousing with the Catalina Owners Association at Bartlett Landing on the Columbia River the weekend of April 22-23.  We will be sharing the facility with the Hunter Sailing Association of Oregon (HSAO).  The Hunter club and the Catalina club have several joint potlucks and activities planned over the two days.

Bring your out of date flares to the cruise. HSAO has arranged with the USCG for a flare shoot off. This is also an opportunity to get your annual Vessel Safety Check decal.

The itinerary for the weekend looks like this:

Saturday, April 22

• Before 3:00 pm
  Vessel Safety Check (VCS),
  Vessel Flare Shoot (arranged by HSAO with the USCG),
  Socializing with friends and making new ones
• 3:00 - 5:00 pm Potluck Appetizers
• 7:00 - 8:00 pm Potluck Deserts

Sunday, April 23

• 9:00 - 11:00 am Potluck Breakfast on the dock

Bartlett Landing

Located 9.1 nautical miles upstream from the Interstate Bridge (I-5), Bartlett Landing is situated on the north side of Government Island.  From the I-5 bridge you can reach Bartlett Landing in about two hours under power.

The sail to and from Bartlett Landing is excellent.  Even if you decide to motor there to beat the current, definitely hoist the sails for the return trip.

Famous for its endless sandy beaches, dappled sunlight through the tall shade trees, and fine picnic and camping sites, Bartlett Landing offers sailors an oasis because Government Island isn't accessible by car.

A pair of parallel concrete docks accommodate an amazing number of boats. The outer dock is twelve feet wide, and the inner dock nearest the shore is ten feet wide. The docks have been located far enough from the shore to keep the landing popular even during periods of low water.

Government Island is also famous for its cows that graze the island's inner grasslands.  Although a fence separates Bartlett Landing from the rest of the island, the cows learned long ago how to get down to the beach and walk around the fence.

Two composting toilets located at the landing set the standard by which similar facilities should be judged. They are well lit by way of translucent roof panels, and usually very clean.  Although trash cans are available, the Parks Department encourages all boaters to carry out what they bring in.

This is one of the area's favorite weekend boating destinations.  Like most docks near Portland it's very popular, but that doesn't mean you can't find space to tie up.

Notes:

• 9.1 nm upstream from the Interstate Bridge (I-5).
• The channel side of the outer dock can be bumpy during the day with wakes.  The shore side of the inner dock is the most peaceful.
• The river's typical two knot current runs parallel to the docks.  Most folks tie up with their bows pointing upstream.
• Accessible all year.
• Water depth is good on both sides of the docks.
• No reservations and no fee to use
• Shore side facilities include campsites, fire pits, barbeques, picnic tables, grass, trash cans (during the season), and a covered picnic structure.
• No running water

Racing is Underway
Learning new things one race at a time
By Dale Mack, C22, Crocus

April 13th marked the first Thursday evening race of the SYSCO Spring Series.  My crew Dan Dugan (Harmony, #14286) and Tim Taylor (#5727) joined me at 5:30 pm, and by ten to six we were motoring out of Tomahawk Bay Moorage.  Rain was forecasted for the evening and winds were predicted to be 8-10 knots.

This would be our first sail together for the season and our first attempt at racing a Catalina 22 with a spinnaker.  I was hoping for light air so we'd have an opportunity to fly the spinnaker while enjoying the more forgiving environment of getting to do everything in slow motion.

The race committee set a two lap windward/leeward course for us, but it was obvious from before the start that the course would be shortened so we could all get back to the dock before dark.  The wind was oscillating between SSW and SW.  We were the third start out of four, so we motored upriver away from the starting line to prepare for our start.

We started clean but very late due to my conservatism regarding the two plus knot current.  The wind dropped to 6-8 knots, so I decided to split from the fleet and sail a more southerly course directly across the river which, with the current's help, meant we'd arrive at the downstream windward mark without ever having to make a single tack.  Essentially the rest of the fleet was pointing at the mark while I was  pointing upstream of the mark and allowing the current to vector Crocus to the mark.  As predicted the rest of the fleet found themselves downstream of the mark when they arrived.

With our tactics having closed the gap with the rest of the fleet, we prepared for our first spinnaker hoist.  While the hoist itself was going to be a milestone, the fact that we were doing it amongst other boats rounding the mark and boats stalled waiting for the power from their spinnakers to overcome the river's current made the moment particularly memorable for me.  Dan on the bow and Tim in the cockpit executed flawlessly.  Up went the spinnaker, Tim rotated it to starboard while I reached forward and released the Genoa halyard so Dan could gather in the sail and then move to the cockpit to takeover the port side spinnaker sheet I was handling in addition to steering.

Amazing was the only thought that came to mind when Crocus broke into clear air and surged forward under the spinnaker.  Tim practiced keeping the spinnaker pole perpendicular to the apparent wind, while Dan experimented with the nuances of playing the sheet constantly (easing to a luff on the pole side of the sail and then trimming).  In the light conditions you would not have known we had never flown a spinnaker together before.

Our final leg to the finish was sailed in diminishing winds an yet we kept making progress against the current and passing boats.  Yes passing boat.  Surprised us too.  We crawled passed a 41 footer and fought to get out of his wind shadow, then we crept up on and passed a 30 footer, and finally near the finish we caught up to and passed a brand new Hunter 33.

Learning's:

• All my 2004 & 2005 Catalina 25 spinnaker flying experience as crew translated well to the Catalina 22.  In fact, some of that experience influenced how I rigged Crocus.
• The running gear worked well.  I'll do a future article on how Crocus is setup for a symmetrical spinnaker.
• The Turtle bag used to launch the spinnaker from was designed to be attached to the lifelines which have been removed from Crocus.  I jury-rigged the Turtle to the bow pulpit which worked well but was a little clumsy.  I need to modify the bag if launching from the bow becomes the norm.
• We got lucky with the light air.  If the wind had been stronger we wouldn't have flown the spinnaker.  Spinnaker hoists, jibes, and takedowns is where the Genoa lines and the spinnaker lines can become fouled.  We need to find some non-race time to practice these skills if we ever hope to be able to fly a spinnaker during a race in moderate air.
• And lastly, it was FUN!  I won't be doing anymore Catalina 22 racing on the Columbia River without a spinnaker.  It is an entirely different boat under a spinnaker.

Keel Hanger Replacement
Removing that clunking sound
By Avid Brickman, Jus Fine, #4945

I completed my keel hanger upgrade project recently.  For others considering this project, I thought I'd share my experience.

The hangers you receive from Catalina Direct will probably be larger than the space they're meant to fit into, as Lowell Richardson of Catalina Direct always reminds us, all the boats are a little different.

If you're not mechanically inclined, in good physical shape, and generally a handy and patient person, with a medium to small waistline (one has to be able to fit between the ground and the trailer frame!!!) , you'll probably be better off at the mercy of your local boat yard.  I'm sure it would be a spendy process in their hands, but who knows.

If one wishes to do the installation, you would be well informed that at each stage of the process you will need at least one other healthy strong friend to assist.  You will need a couple of floor jacks, the smaller ones will suffice, and various and sundry 2x4 and 2x6 blocks, the more the better.

This project is targeted at those who have the original narrower keel hangers that left a consider gap between the hangers and the keel.  The gap  allows the keel to lean to one side or the other and slide back and forth contributing to the famous Catalina 22 keel clunk.

Ideally you want your keel as centered as possible on the trailer for installation. If your keel is to one side or the other your new hardware is not going to fit evenly as you install it.  I had to wet my trailer bunks down and rock the boat, with three or four other strong individuals until the boat moved into the position that would line up the keel as close to 90 degrees to the boat as possible.

With one of the floor jacks, I supported the keel under where the hangers are located and then removed the four bolts and gently lowering the keel with the jack.  At this point the hangers slip out.

What no one tells you is that the new hangers are probably larger then the space they're meant to fit into.  In my case I attempted to install the new hangers not knowing this and wasted time trying to line things up!  I eventually gave up and had friend who successfully trimmed them to size on a bandsaw. A machine shop would probably be a good alternative.

Knowing what I know now, I'd suggest you measure the space your going to fill with the hangers and then compare that to the new hangers so you will know how much to trim off.  Another approach would be to butt up the new and old hangers, lining up the bolt holes, and see if any trimming will be necessary. My new hangers needed about an 1/8th to 3/16ths trimmed off the entire width and length. The height seems to fit with no problem.

The keel's 550 lbs of cast iron is not easily maneuvered and it makes the task of lining up the hangers with the bolt weldments challenging.  Floor jacks fore and aft under the keel cause fore and aft movement.  By first raising the front jack a little and than the aft jack, combined will utilizing the keel winch, you gain more maneuvering possibilities.  Pounding a four foot 4x4 by hand from the rear of the keel assisted in inching it forward when needed.  At one point I considered using a come-along to move the keel sideways for alignment by hooking the keel under the bottom and attaching the other end to the trailer frame.

When you finally get the new hangers pretty much lined up with their respective spaces, a little coaxing with a decent size hammer can square them up adequately, and assists in lining up the bolt holes, at that point you should be able to insert the bolts.

Editor's Note:  The bolts are 316 Stainless Steel.  You'll need four bolts (5/16" x 1-1/4" x 18) and four lock washers (5/16).  One method of easing the task of lining up the bolt holes is to cut the heads off of four 5/16" x 4" x 18 bolts and insert them into hanger bolt weldments.  Once the keel and hangers are in place, you remove one four inch alignment bolt at a time and replace it with a stainless steel bolt and lock washer.

You will need a thin-walled 1/2 inch socket.  Regular socket walls are too thick to fit into the recesses of the hangers.  As you can see the hanger butts right against the bottom surface, which is the keel, and the top surface which is the hull.  No more gaping hole between the hanger and the keel!

The hull and the keel have a sort of abstract impressionism feel to them dontcha think!  I trust the salmon and orca's will appreciate the color scheme!!  It'll sail "Jus Fine".

Keel Bolt Torque Values
Opinions vary, in the end you have to decide for yourself
By Dale Mack, Crocus, #8244

For years I've blissfully torqued my keel bolts to 30 ft/lbs secure in the knowledge I was following the advice of Catalina Yachts.  Then in 2006 while monitoring one of the C22 discussion groups I follow, that sense of security evaporated when folks started sharing their opinions on the topic.

First for a little background.  Back in 1996, Lowell Richardson, owner of Catalina Direct (a mail order business Lowell started to augment his Catalina Yachts Dealership) responded online to a new owner's question about "How tight should the keel bolts be?".  Lowell's answer was:

"The torque that Catalina recommends for a Catalina 22 keel bolt is 30 foot/pounds.  Be sure that a torque wrench is used to check the bolts.  Be cautious to not over tighten. Stainless can be sheared off by a surprisingly small amount of torque.  If you check the keel bolts a couple of times a year by simply tightening them a bit each time, you WILL break them off.  Use a torque wrench and tighten to 30 foot pounds only.  Replace the keel bolts every few years... They're cheap!"

The 2006 online discussion of the topic focused on what the torque value tables recommend for 316 stainless steel 5/16" bolts.  All the online references gave the same answer which was that the correct torque value was 138 in./lbs. or 11.5 ft./lbs.  Here are a couple of those references:

http://www.thelenchannel.com/1torque.php

http://www.marfas.com/Ttorque.shtml

I was shocked to find out that I had been applying almost three times the recommended torque value for a 5/16" stainless steel bolt.  Another participant in the discussion pulled up an old email from Skip Meisch up near Seattle replying to the same question.  Skip's comments were:

"The keel bolts have almost an inch of thread engaged in the "weldment" nut. That is a lot of gripping power.  If you use Loctite [blue Loctite 242] or some other similar product, it will help the bolt hold and it will help keep the bolt from "freezing" up in the threads. As I said before, I use 20 foot pounds for my bolts. Others use even less torque. The 30 foot pounds (recommended in one of the old owners manuals) is an incredible amount of torque for a 5/16" stainless bolt. The first time I tried to torque one to 25 ft/lbs it scared me enough that I replaced the bolt and then stopped at 20 ft/lbs."

Skip Meisch out of Everett WA
1977 C22 Slow Flight #6850

So what did I do on Crocus?  I went the 20 ft./lbs route with new bolts and washers backed up with Loctite 242.  I know it's more than the tables recommend, but it less than what I was using.  In the end you have to make your own call on how you want to balance your concern for losing a bolt from having it vibrate itself out against the risk of shearing one off.

Catalina Newsletters of the Northwest
By Dale Mack

Checkout these links to Northwest Catalina newsletters and local racing:

Columbia River All Catalina Association (CRACA) www.ColumbiaRiverCatalina.org Sail Portland www.sailpdx.com Oregon Women's Sailing Association www.owsa.net

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

April

May

• Race, 4:  Spring #4
• Race 18:  Spring #5
• Cruise:  20, Fleet 20 Lemon Island Rendezvous

See the calendar

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The Fleet 20 newsletter is published online once a month.  Articles are the opinions of the
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