[C38] Best upgrades

[Max Soto]

Ok, I use Estancia for coastal cruising and ocacional non official races, so
the most important apgrades that I have done to Estancia, a 1982 C38 from
her original condition are:

1- Headsail furler: Estancia came with hank on sails.
2- Leading all the halyards aft to the cockpit by installing mast collar and
turning blocks, clutches and winches
3- The work I have done to the electrical panel. For me, this was the
weakeast link on a Catalina 38. Check the pics on my blog
www.svestancia.blogspot.com
4- Replaced the 1/4" headstay chainplate for a 1/2" chainplate. It  had lots
of cracks. Now I have peace of mind!
5- Installing oil pressure meter, high coolant temperature and dc generation
alarm
6- Stern shower
7- bimini (in Costa Rica is a must have!)
8- Solar panels
9- Inverter for microwave and tv!
10- I have a 45lbs CQR anchor, so an electric windlass will be next on my
list!
11- Estancia came without the spinnaker package, but at least, the track and
ring were installed onthe front of the mast, so I had to buy the spinnaker,
the pole, lines and need to install the lewmar 30's for the spinnaker.
12- GET FOOT BLOCKS!!!! last weekend I was using a snatch block instead and
they exploded....weren't made for this purpose...
13- Cockpit table
14- lazy jack or stack pack for the mainsail.
15- full batten mainsail made a huge difference from the original sail.....

If I come with anything else, I'll let you know...

Regards,

max


2011/4/13 Chuck Finn <charles at finn.ws>

> This has really got me thinking.  Both about all I have done and what
> remains on the list!
>
> I think the best upgrades over the years have been:
> 1. Headsail furler.  I have never had a problem with my Profurl system and
> sailing single/short handed makes this a must.
> 2. Chart Plotter.  What did I do without this?  I still love my charts and
> am pretty good about using both.  But I have a LOT of peace of mind with
> this on board! Especially while night sailing.
> 3. Cut-out in port lazzerette.   Access to critical components was not
> possible (I am way too big and creaky).
> 4. Marriage Savers!  (hands free headset radios)
>
> I think my wife would say:
> 1. New boat cushions.  She could not stand the musty fuel smell that would
> not go away.
> 2. Propane stove and cabin heater.  It was very hard to get CNG and we
> always seemed to run out at the worst times!  I used to carry a two-burner
> portable propane stove that we seemed to use too much due to the CNG issues.
>  The heater really extends our cruising time in the fall when we love to see
> the leaves change.
> 3. Headsail furler.
> 4. The "Marriage Savers."  I think perhaps the issue that is most likely to
> lead to divorce on our boat is anchoring!  While we practiced many hand
> signals and tried our best.... things almost always devolved to "one signal"
> that involves the middle finger....  The only thing I now worry about when
> anchoring is if the 9 volt batteries of the marriage saver have died (I keep
> 4 batteries in reserve as a double backup).
>
> Chuck Finn
> Mighty Quinn,  #114
> Great Lakes
>
> On 4/13/2011 10:39 AM, Don Strong wrote:
>
>> Upgrades? To a previously owned sailboat with an Atomic 4 that we called
>> "The Antichrist," the key upgrade would have been an upgrade to diesel.
>>  That engine failed regularly, especially in narrow Florida inlets with
>> running tides. It caught fire off and on. We sold the boat. The PO of our
>> C38, Discreet Charm installed a Yanmar 3GM, which has worked flawlessly for
>> the 9 years of our ownership.  The rest of the PO's upgrades are nice too:
>> dodger, standing rigging, wiring, cushions, mattress, etc. The Yanmar is my
>> favorite, however.
>> D
>>
>> On 4/13/11 7:28 AM, Larry Malmberg wrote:
>>
>>> Well a couple of years ago I would have said it was the new engine we put
>>> in
>>> but now I'm thinking it's the Nexus Instruments.  As we "play" with them
>>> and
>>> they are integrated with our polars I'm thinking it's the Nexus
>>> Instruments.
>>> Much better than the Raymarine that were on it when I bought her.
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> Best regards,
>>>
>>> Larry Malmberg
>>> Team Hassle
>>>
>>>
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>>>
>>
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>
>
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>



-- 
Max Soto
C38 #198 ESTANCIA
Puntarenas, Costa Rica
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