catalac

[Tropic Cat]

Mark,

The foredeck is a balsa core on my 8M and Sean's 10M. In the case of the 10M, the foredeck must be an inch thick (25mm).

[ssullivan]

Originally Posted by Talbot

Thanks, I had already picked up that the saildrive diaphrams were overdue for replacement.

None of the other Catalacs have a foam or balsa sandwich construction They are solid lay-up. Is the 10m a sandwich?

The boat he is looking at has 2 x 30hp 3HM35 Yanmars with 2 bladed folding props, and are quoting max speed 9 kts - which seems a tad fast!
Everything else seems fairly reasonable, so he may have a go at it.

The 10M is also solid glass construction, except as Rick mentioned, on the fore-deck. There are many layers of balsa and fiberglass sandwich on the foredeck - approximately 3cm thick!

Be especially weary of any "milky" color in the saildrive gear oil. Many people have had water leak into the oil. Sometimes it comes from the seals around the prop shaft. Other times it comes from the oil drain screw seal.

[Talbot]

I drilled through the foredeck on my 9m and it was a solid layup.

[Talbot]

Originally Posted by Nat

Hi Talbot. I notice in the article on your boat that you replaced the head lining. Is this a costly job? Is it something easily DIY?

There are several artilcles on headlining replacement on the UK Catalac site at Your Heading Goes Here including one by me about Hi Jude.

Is this a costly job - depends really on how much you do youreself, the quality of the replacement, and the type of glue.

I used a very expensive glue normally supplied for car headlinings, in order to get as high a melt point as possible.

I used a felt backed carpet as the basis for the headlining.

I did all the preparation work myself (helped enormously by my son)

I kept the old headlining as a template for the new one.

I employed professional carpet fitters to fit the headling (strongly advised).

Result was about half the price of a professional doing all the work, and the carpet is a much better insulator than normal headlining. The pictures in the PBO article show what the results are!

[Tropic Cat]

Originally Posted by Talbot

There are several artilcles on headlining replacement on the UK Catalac site at Your Heading Goes Here including one by me about Hi Jude.

I'm contemplating replacing my headliner as it's now showing signs of aging. I understand how the carpet method would add insulation but the way I'm envisioning it's installation, it leaves no ability to rebed deck hardware mounted above it. So, I'm considering removable panels instead.

Was this an issue on your boat?

[Talbot]

Rick

Happy New Year

I am 6ft 2" with a very long back, so headroom in the saloon was an issue. Plywood squares with the carpet glued on, would be very neat, and offer the facility you want in the area of the deck hardware, but I needed all the space I could get.

The carpet provided significantly better insulation than the original small foam and pvc stuff, for both sound and heat!

[jbowering]

There is a Catalac 9 meter available for sale in Falmouth, Antigua not far from where we are currently berthed. No idea of state and price but might be able to find a contact for you if you want to pursue it. Its been in either Falmouth or English harbours for the past two seasons that we have been here.