I'm a keelboat newb and out of the hundreds of videos of "influencers" Ive seen begging for cash and exploring exotic locales, this video was the best. You hung tough, admitting ignorance but not defeat. Great video for me to see. It reminds me of Lewis and Clark's 1st night of the expedition. They departed Independence, MO and camped for one night for the "show" and make sure they didnt forget anything. They did. Had to send someone back to town. Sub'd.
Marine mechanic here who also owns a Catalina 30 with a Universal engine. Don't forget to order yourself some secondary (engine mounted) fuel filters as well. The Racor is a fuel/water seperator so that clear bowl is to check water so you can drain it. If you are seeing sediment (which is algae) you need to polish your tank. Put a biocide in the tank every time you fill it to keep algae at bay and to avoid serious fuel system issues that can destroy the injection pump and injectors.
Good for you for hanging in there. Bert Ankrom's comment below about about sharing experience and workshops in a Cat 30 community sounds like a great opportunity. Thanks for sharing your fun!
Your vid showed up on my feed so your doing something right. I have an old Cat 30 too. There is nothing wrong with reefing lines at the mast. I do clip on with my safety harness when going forward to reef. Fuel troubles never go away. I put a round inspection port in my tank so I can clean it out. A vacuum gauge on the filter tells you at a glance if the line is blocked. Sometimes you have to take off the fuel line from the filter and blow the crud back into the tank if that is blocked. Keep the furling line under tension while rolling out the head sail even while it's out. Nice winches but you don't need the extra blocks, they only add drag. A dodger is a must for cruising. Sailrite sells a nice kit. Dana point is a nice hop for you and you can anchor for free. What else? I hoist up the inflatable with the spin halyard and lash in down on the fore deck, deflated for long trips or heavy weather. I glue a Scotch Brite pad from West M. to a block of wood with a handle on it so it floats and hold my breath, no weights. 45 minutes and I'm done. A tea pot full of hotish water pored over your head is wonderful in this cold water! Wally Erickson Little Hope Sandy Eggo
Thanks for all the tips! I have someone building a heavy duty dodger for me right now. Definitely alot more expensive than sailrites but it’s ridged and beautiful. I’d like to start anchoring in places like Dana Point but my ground tackle isn’t ready yet. I barely have any chain along with a 20lb delta anchor. The next big project is figuring out the best way to get a good system in place for the windlass and chain locker. Was thinking about modifying the chain locker and making it deeper since there is barely room for anything on the Cat30s. Was also thinking about mounting the windows on top of the chain locker. It will sit on a stainless steel plate right below the hatch for the chain locker. The hatch would have a hole cut in it so it could close it over the windlass, and the windlass would stick out through the hatch on deck. Saw someone do this setup online somewhere.
I noticed the racks that you have for your dinghy. Can you tell me where I can find them or who makes them. I also have a Catalina 30 and have enjoyed watching your videos. Thanks.
@@dbruner6255 trust me, you don’t want those racks. I went through two dinghy’s before realizing the racks caused the seams to tear apart. The dinghy does not like to naturally hang like that. Seam failure is almost impossible to repair.
@@dbruner6255 trust me, you don’t want those racks. I went through two dinghy’s before realizing it was the racks causing the seams to tear apart. The dinghy does not like to naturally hang like that. Seam failure is almost impossible to repair.
Great you made it. Lovely boat by the way. You are right. You need to be able to do basic troubleshooting while at sea and the ability to fix things like fuel filters, glogged fuel lines, oil leaks, and check all these before every sail. I would suggest you go on a course for Boat Mechanics. In the UK, the RYA (Royal Yachting Association) has just that vey course. Don't know in the US though. On our RYA dayskipper courses you are taught quite a lot of this and taught that you should not sail unless you have the right skills, spare parts and tools onboard to get you out of the commonly occurring faults. 9 times out of 10 it is something to do with your fuel system or a loose ground wire, if you have your engine serviced regularly. Best of luck and get yourself on a course. Well worth the time and money. It will give you the confidence that you can fix things yourself, rather than relying on others.
Great video. Consider a racor type fuel filter/water separator. I have the 500 series, and I can change filters in just a few minutes. And, water can be drained from the bottom, and there is a nice clear bowl where I can see what is going on. The best part is that after changing the filter, I just top it off with fuel, and then no bleeding is necessary.
This was the most exciting episode so far! Engine failure at sea in the middle of the busy shipping channel. But Fujin's captain kept his calm, and the tow line didn't snap on the way back in. One question: were the aerial shots leaving the harbor done with a drone?
We're neighbors at Cabrillo. I bought my Catalina 30 a year ago. Had the same fuel filter issue about a month ago. I'm setting up two primary filters with fuel line valve to be able to switch on the fly if necessary. Going through my 12 volt system now and going to haul out for bottom paint on 4/3... Keep up the videos there's another dude in Long Beach that got Cat 30 and has been putting out content too and there's a sailing meetup at Cabrillo that has some helpful workshops... My goal is to make it to Catalina for the first in a couple of months....mainly I sail between Pedro, Long Beach or Alamitos.
thanks for watching! I'm actually tracing out my whole 12v system today. It would be cool to come check out your setup some time. If you have an insta account hit me up on there @sailingfujin, or just email me at twebster7676@gmail.com.
Thanks for the video. You made it 👏 These things happen. Got a suggestion for you; you got the outboard on you so if you install a bracket for it it can be your backup in case all else fails...just an thought. Take care.
Thought about lashing up the dingy to the boat and pushing it to Avalon lol. Pretty sure I would have ran out of fuel long before getting there haha. Thanks for watching!
Thanks for watching! DO NOT GET THOSE DINGY RACKS. They have wrecked two of my dingys now. The weight of the dingy hanging on the hooks eventually pulls the seems apart. Right now I just tow the dingy and put it up on the bow for now.
I have a universal engine in my boat, I put a raycor filter on as well. Very easy to clean and has a visible bowl to drain water or debris. Can’t hurt with an extra filter.
Bought my old Catalina 27 in San Diego. I rigged up a temporary clean fuel tank in order to motor to Los Angeles. Several people had warned me about the fuel tank being contaminated.
Get a Racor 500 fuel filter. All you do is unscrew the top, pull the filter out and drop in a fresh one. You wont have to do any bleeding. Takes 30 seconds, no tools needed, and no fuss or mess unlike the kind you currently have. The 500's size is overkill for your size engine but its worth it.
Gotta have the dual filter with live switch over. Those things usually clog right when entering or leaving a crowded harbor….also can use the old filter housing and a cheap pump to polish your own fuel every so often. If you do that, and filter the fuel going in, you won’t have to worry about your fuel system. Cheers.
Thanks for watching! It’s called Autohelm 3000 I believe made by Raymarine. It is about as primitive as it gets. A belt wraps around the wheel and is driven by an electric motor. The motor is connected to a head unit that has a gyro inside it, and it steers by magnetic heading.
@@SOLDOZER The brand name IS Autohelm 3000 and it IS made by Raymarine. CPT is another brand of the same style of autopilot. They both have the same function of steering by an internal gyro compass.
I'm not sure what the exact term is for the hooks, but they are made by Edson Marine. I just scoured their website and couldn't find them or anything else like them on the rest of the internet. They've probably been on this boat for decades. I'm also not sure if the dinghy likes sitting on the cradle like that; it might have been what contributed to the tear in the seams. I'll probably just end up towing the new dinghy most of the time cause I'm scared of wrecking another one haha.
Yeah. Been there done that. Same thing. Fueled up, it stirred up sediment in the tank, engine died. I ended up sailing back to my home port several miles south on the Chesapeake Bay, with a wicked southerly. (Look at a map of the chessie to understand while that is important). 8 hours of 20+ knot winds beating into the wind to get back to home port. Ever since then, I have paid exceptional attention to my fuel system. it has never happened again.
I think your being to hard on yourself - It's not like your the first person to ever call for help ! That's what the service is for . I hope it didn't cost to much!
Without becoming more aware and practical about the systems of your boat don't go far from land until you have gotten a bit more experienced. Take your boat out on a few weekends that aren't nice preferably with a skilled yachtie.
Dude, I was in the Indian Ocean, and I had the same thing happen to me. I just took the old filter out, and washed it out with diesel fuel from my tank, and it lasted all the way through the Suez canal, and I bought a few spares in the Med. Grow a pair.
Mabey you should read your manual. There's a trouble shooting section. Guys have sailed around the world without an engine. Is that a sailboat or a stink pot?
I enjoyed watching your experience. Shit happens and if you don't have the parts you are screwed. If you had the filter though you should at least try. As you learned it is an easy fix. Your diagnostics skills are good for sure! You do not plan to take your Cat 30 to Hawaii do you?
I'm a keelboat newb and out of the hundreds of videos of "influencers" Ive seen begging for cash and exploring exotic locales, this video was the best. You hung tough, admitting ignorance but not defeat. Great video for me to see. It reminds me of Lewis and Clark's 1st night of the expedition. They departed Independence, MO and camped for one night for the "show" and make sure they didnt forget anything. They did. Had to send someone back to town.
Sub'd.
Thank you for saying this. It’s comments like these that make me want to keep making videos!
Marine mechanic here who also owns a Catalina 30 with a Universal engine. Don't forget to order yourself some secondary (engine mounted) fuel filters as well. The Racor is a fuel/water seperator so that clear bowl is to check water so you can drain it. If you are seeing sediment (which is algae) you need to polish your tank. Put a biocide in the tank every time you fill it to keep algae at bay and to avoid serious fuel system issues that can destroy the injection pump and injectors.
Good for you for hanging in there. Bert Ankrom's comment below about about sharing experience and workshops in a Cat 30 community sounds like a great opportunity. Thanks for sharing your fun!
Greatest comeback story😤
If you fill new fuel filter with clean fuel before you install it you probably won’t have to purge the engine.
Good luck
Your vid showed up on my feed so your doing something right. I have an old Cat 30 too. There is nothing wrong with reefing lines at the mast. I do clip on with my safety harness when going forward to reef. Fuel troubles never go away. I put a round inspection port in my tank so I can clean it out. A vacuum gauge on the filter tells you at a glance if the line is blocked. Sometimes you have to take off the fuel line from the filter and blow the crud back into the tank if that is blocked. Keep the furling line under tension while rolling out the head sail even while it's out. Nice winches but you don't need the extra blocks, they only add drag. A dodger is a must for cruising. Sailrite sells a nice kit. Dana point is a nice hop for you and you can anchor for free. What else? I hoist up the inflatable with the spin halyard and lash in down on the fore deck, deflated for long trips or heavy weather. I glue a Scotch Brite pad from West M. to a block of wood with a handle on it so it floats and hold my breath, no weights. 45 minutes and I'm done. A tea pot full of hotish water pored over your head is wonderful in this cold water!
Wally Erickson
Little Hope
Sandy Eggo
Thanks for all the tips! I have someone building a heavy duty dodger for me right now. Definitely alot more expensive than sailrites but it’s ridged and beautiful. I’d like to start anchoring in places like Dana Point but my ground tackle isn’t ready yet. I barely have any chain along with a 20lb delta anchor. The next big project is figuring out the best way to get a good system in place for the windlass and chain locker. Was thinking about modifying the chain locker and making it deeper since there is barely room for anything on the Cat30s. Was also thinking about mounting the windows on top of the chain locker. It will sit on a stainless steel plate right below the hatch for the chain locker. The hatch would have a hole cut in it so it could close it over the windlass, and the windlass would stick out through the hatch on deck. Saw someone do this setup online somewhere.
I noticed the racks that you have for your dinghy. Can you tell me where I can find them or who makes them.
I also have a Catalina 30 and have enjoyed watching your videos. Thanks.
We’re neighbors. My Catalina 30 is across the way at Holiday Harbor Marina.
@@dbruner6255 trust me, you don’t want those racks. I went through two dinghy’s before realizing the racks caused the seams to tear apart. The dinghy does not like to naturally hang like that. Seam failure is almost impossible to repair.
@@dbruner6255 trust me, you don’t want those racks. I went through two dinghy’s before realizing it was the racks causing the seams to tear apart. The dinghy does not like to naturally hang like that. Seam failure is almost impossible to repair.
@@sailingfujin thanks for the warning.
Great you made it. Lovely boat by the way. You are right. You need to be able to do basic troubleshooting while at sea and the ability to fix things like fuel filters, glogged fuel lines, oil leaks, and check all these before every sail. I would suggest you go on a course for Boat Mechanics. In the UK, the RYA (Royal Yachting Association) has just that vey course. Don't know in the US though. On our RYA dayskipper courses you are taught quite a lot of this and taught that you should not sail unless you have the right skills, spare parts and tools onboard to get you out of the commonly occurring faults. 9 times out of 10 it is something to do with your fuel system or a loose ground wire, if you have your engine serviced regularly. Best of luck and get yourself on a course. Well worth the time and money. It will give you the confidence that you can fix things yourself, rather than relying on others.
Great video. Consider a racor type fuel filter/water separator. I have the 500 series, and I can change filters in just a few minutes. And, water can be drained from the bottom, and there is a nice clear bowl where I can see what is going on. The best part is that after changing the filter, I just top it off with fuel, and then no bleeding is necessary.
Thanks for the recommendation! I’ll definitely add it to the list of projects!
Do you have a water separator in your fuel line system?
If so, did you drain it/check it?
We all learn from your experience. Thank you!
Wow Sailor great episode
EXCELLENT EXPERIENCE TREVOR 💖👏👊
This was the most exciting episode so far! Engine failure at sea in the middle of the busy shipping channel. But Fujin's captain kept his calm, and the tow line didn't snap on the way back in. One question: were the aerial shots leaving the harbor done with a drone?
They were actually taken from a friend with an iPhone on a tugboat. So far everyone has thought the same thing though, pretty funny
We're neighbors at Cabrillo. I bought my Catalina 30 a year ago. Had the same fuel filter issue about a month ago. I'm setting up two primary filters with fuel line valve to be able to switch on the fly if necessary. Going through my 12 volt system now and going to haul out for bottom paint on 4/3... Keep up the videos there's another dude in Long Beach that got Cat 30 and has been putting out content too and there's a sailing meetup at Cabrillo that has some helpful workshops... My goal is to make it to Catalina for the first in a couple of months....mainly I sail between Pedro, Long Beach or Alamitos.
thanks for watching! I'm actually tracing out my whole 12v system today. It would be cool to come check out your setup some time. If you have an insta account hit me up on there @sailingfujin, or just email me at twebster7676@gmail.com.
Hey dude I'm also your neighbor over at Cabrillo Way Marina with a Catalina 30. Thank you for all your videos. Let's have a beer one of these days!
The tow of shame? There's no shame in learning. Keep on!
At 9:10 can you tell us what he said? I couldn't hear him say anything really.. But good he showed up!
Thanks for the video. You made it 👏 These things happen. Got a suggestion for you; you got the outboard on you so if you install a bracket for it it can be your backup in case all else fails...just an thought. Take care.
Thought about lashing up the dingy to the boat and pushing it to Avalon lol. Pretty sure I would have ran out of fuel long before getting there haha. Thanks for watching!
Thanks for the video. Where did you get your dinghy racks? Those are perfect for the Catalina 30
Thanks for watching!
DO NOT GET THOSE DINGY RACKS. They have wrecked two of my dingys now. The weight of the dingy hanging on the hooks eventually pulls the seems apart.
Right now I just tow the dingy and put it up on the bow for now.
I have a universal engine in my boat, I put a raycor filter on as well. Very easy to clean and has a visible bowl to drain water or debris. Can’t hurt with an extra filter.
Don't be too tough on yourself as you by your experience are teaching fellow and future mariners.
Bought my old Catalina 27 in San Diego. I rigged up a temporary clean fuel tank in order to motor to Los Angeles. Several people had warned me about the fuel tank being contaminated.
Get a Racor 500 fuel filter. All you do is unscrew the top, pull the filter out and drop in a fresh one. You wont have to do any bleeding. Takes 30 seconds, no tools needed, and no fuss or mess unlike the kind you currently have. The 500's size is overkill for your size engine but its worth it.
Gotta have the dual filter with live switch over. Those things usually clog right when entering or leaving a crowded harbor….also can use the old filter housing and a cheap pump to polish your own fuel every so often. If you do that, and filter the fuel going in, you won’t have to worry about your fuel system. Cheers.
Yeah, I definitely plan on adding a second filter housing to the system for a quick switchover eventually. Thanks for watching!
Hi. Nice video. What kind of autohelm is that, and does it work well?
Thanks for watching! It’s called Autohelm 3000 I believe made by Raymarine. It is about as primitive as it gets. A belt wraps around the wheel and is driven by an electric motor. The motor is connected to a head unit that has a gyro inside it, and it steers by magnetic heading.
Hi. Thanks for the video. Can you tell me about your stern pulpit fight racks? Great idea but I can’t seem to find them.
@@WebsterIndustries Wrong. Its a CPT Autopilot. You clearly know nothing about sailing.
@@SOLDOZER
The brand name IS Autohelm 3000 and it IS made by Raymarine.
CPT is another brand of the same style of autopilot. They both have the same function of steering by an internal gyro compass.
Wow this dinghy system is just what I’ve been looking for. What are those hooks called? Were they originally for the dinghy? Thank you!
I'm not sure what the exact term is for the hooks, but they are made by Edson Marine. I just scoured their website and couldn't find them or anything else like them on the rest of the internet. They've probably been on this boat for decades. I'm also not sure if the dinghy likes sitting on the cradle like that; it might have been what contributed to the tear in the seams. I'll probably just end up towing the new dinghy most of the time cause I'm scared of wrecking another one haha.
Good on you! With a diesel engine 9/10 times it’s a fuel issue.
Can I ask how much US charged for the sail repair? I have a tear in the exact same spot on our C30..
Yeah I guess it’s a pretty common spot for them to tear from what he was saying. It was somewhere around $300.
Ok, cool. Thanks.
Enjoying learning from your learning journey. I’m a few months behind you as we got our C30 last September…
Why not use the Suzuki? I have a Suzuki 2.5 hk on my Maxi 68 and that works fine.
Because he has Seatow and it was not an emergency.
Yeah. Been there done that. Same thing. Fueled up, it stirred up sediment in the tank, engine died. I ended up sailing back to my home port several miles south on the Chesapeake Bay, with a wicked southerly. (Look at a map of the chessie to understand while that is important). 8 hours of 20+ knot winds beating into the wind to get back to home port. Ever since then, I have paid exceptional attention to my fuel system. it has never happened again.
Ouch that’s not a fun sail…..ocean swells coming in unchecked AND all the shallow water we have around the bay 😵💫
hey at least you got back by yourself and didn't have to give up your dignity haha.
A great way avoid spill from filters is to wrap a plastic bag around the filter (food freezer bag is my preference)
Thanks for the tip! Might do that next time
Nice boat
Great video! What does it cost to get a tow like you had?
My insurance covers it fully, but if you don’t have coverage for it, it’ll cost you $1,400US
The tow is free if you buy the annual $175 membership. If you dont have the membership a tow can cost thousands.
I think your being to hard on yourself - It's not like your the first person to ever call for help ! That's what the service is for . I hope it didn't cost to much!
Without becoming more aware and practical about the systems of your boat don't go far from land until you have gotten a bit more experienced. Take your boat out on a few weekends that aren't nice preferably with a skilled yachtie.
Dude, I was in the Indian Ocean, and I had the same thing happen to me. I just took the old filter out, and washed it out with diesel fuel from my tank, and it lasted all the way through the Suez canal, and I bought a few spares in the Med. Grow a pair.
New to dailing, why is this dude motoring, and not using his sails? Isnt that the point in a "sail" boat??
Do you see any wind Einstein???
Mabey you should read your manual.
There's a trouble shooting section.
Guys have sailed around the world without an engine.
Is that a sailboat or a stink pot?
It's a Sailboat, the engine is an auxiliary. Focus on sailing!
You went out of port with a sailboat with zero wind while you should know engines made for sailboats are about the biggest junk ever made by mankind.
Captain man uggs
They were a gift, I swear! Lol
I enjoyed watching your experience. Shit happens and if you don't have the parts you are screwed. If you had the filter though you should at least try. As you learned it is an easy fix. Your diagnostics skills are good for sure! You do not plan to take your Cat 30 to Hawaii do you?
Thanks, it means a lot! Definitely not taking the Cat30 to Hawaii, idk why I said that haha. Maybe one day if I ever get on a blue water cruiser.
@@sailingfujin That is what I am thinking :) Although there are a few that have circumnavigated if you can believe that.
@@CPTCleoTorris that is wild, I think they might just be a little too small for that lol I’d go crazy
@@sailingfujin Me too... Me too :)