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Catalina/Capri 25/250 Sailor's Forums

Catalina 25 Specific Forum

knot meter

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bradminda
1st Mate

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USA
45 Posts

Initially Posted - 10/03/2012 : 21:56:27

I have an original knot meter on my 82 c25. It worked fine until i tried to lube it and make it better. Any information on where to have it rebuilt or repaired. I know ai could just replace it but I like the original look of the meter.

Edited by - on

OLarryR
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
3467 Posts

Response Posted - 10/04/2012 : 03:20:22

My original is an SR Mariner that worked okay up to about a year ago and then stopped working. While I occasionally use my handheld Magellan GPS for speed over land, I like having the knotmeter for speed thru the water. I considered replacing it with a Signal or Moor knotmeter, they require a different transducer housing and so I then reconsidered having the old meter fixed by SR Instruments. SR Instruments has a website - They dropped their marine instruments from production believe back around 2006 but their website still indicates they support reconditioning the old units. I do not recall all the cost info but in researching all of this, when the SR Mariner knotmeter was in production, it was quite an expensive gage compared to the present competition. Perhaps, the electronics these days are less expensive but I suspect that even back in the days when SR INstruments sold the knotmeter, it was one of the most expensive compared to the other analog gages being sold. Believe the SR Mariner knotmeter was around $400 back when they were made, whereas, the present competition believe sells the analog gages in the $200-$300 range. Anyway, I shipped my unit to SR Instruments and after they had a chance to check it out, they gave me an estimate and I gave them the go-ahead. SR Instruments basically replaced the entire guts of the gage including installing a new display and seal. The transducer unit, the electronics checked out okay except that the impeller had to be replaced since it had one missing vane and one cracked vane. It cost approximately $150 to recondition the unit. I re-installed it and it's equal to a new gage - What is visible is all new and knotmeter works fine !

Edited by - OLarryR on 10/04/2012 03:30:29

glen
Captain

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359 Posts

Response Posted - 10/04/2012 : 09:30:06

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by bradminda
 I have an original knot meter on my 82 c25. It worked fine until i tried to lube it and make it better. Any information on where to have it rebuilt or repaired. I know ai could just replace it but I like the original look of the meter.
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">Though I understand the benefit of the proper knot meter, for me the information from the GPS is good enough. So a few years back when the original meter quit, I never bothered to look for a replacement. Last year I decided to glass in the hole in the bottom of the boat, where the paddle wheel was inserted. To my surprise the imbedded socket (I think it was nylon) pretty much crumbled in my hand. This was an original install from 1979, and who knows what solvents it has been exposed to (bottom prep and painting, not to mention the not so pure water it sits in). However this is a plastic not bronze through hull, with no shut off (unless you are there at the right moment in time and happen to have some sort of a plug. If I was to replace this piece of equipment, I would not worry about finding something that can fit in an old socket. I would consider replacing the entire operation, and I would check to see if anyone offers one with a bronze through hull

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Voyager
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
5378 Posts

Response Posted - 10/04/2012 : 19:38:31

Wow, so you were that close to a catastrophic failure of the through hull? Holy cow! I am def going to check mine once I haul out in a few weeks' time.

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bradminda
1st Mate

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USA
45 Posts

Response Posted - 10/04/2012 : 22:47:25

glen thanks for the info i was planning to do my through hulls this winter although I was planning the same thing last winter but I had not even thought about the knot meter impeller as being a problem or concern. A rethink is in order and probably me trying to "fix" the knot meter was a blessing. Yhanks

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glen
Captain

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359 Posts

Response Posted - 10/05/2012 : 11:21:42

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by Voyager
 Wow, so you were that close to a catastrophic failure of the through hull? Holy cow! I am def going to check mine once I haul out in a few weeks' time.
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">Glad to help by passing on that information, and yes I was that close. I was able to break off pieces of that fitting with my bare hands.
I appreciate the information I got from this site, about the original through hulls (known as Catalina volcanos). It’s been stated here a number of times, to replace the old style drain, and since the drain for my galley sink was in the same area on the hull, I removed and patched it at the same time I patched the old paddle wheel hole. Then I relocated a new through hull for the sink drain w / shutoff above the waterline.
I started the removal project of the old through hull (which was pretty much an 8” nipple glassed into the hull), by trying to unthread the existing gate valve from that pipe. First I put a wrench on the valve and tried using just a little effort, but it was not successful. That incorrect valve was not about to easily unthread itself. So I applied more force until I felt the nipple and valve both start to turn. At that point the entire thing pulled out by hand. Yes it took some force to break the bond between the pipe and hull, BUT !!!!!!!!!!!!!!
The other through hull for the head was replaced long ago by the original owner. I wonder if there is a story that goes with that one?

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DrScow
Deckhand

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USA
9 Posts

Response Posted - 11/01/2012 : 12:58:05

I have a C25 1978 (#472) with a paddle wheel knot meter. Is this a through hull device??? How can I verify this?? If so, I will be pulling it and repairing the hole this spring.

WOW.
thanks

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cshaw
Captain

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USA
460 Posts

Response Posted - 11/01/2012 : 16:09:49

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by glen
 To my surprise the imbedded socket (I think it was nylon) pretty much crumbled in my hand. This was an original install from 1979, and who knows what solvents it has been exposed to (bottom prep and painting, not to mention the not so pure water it sits in). However this is a plastic not bronze through hull, with no shut off (unless you are there at the right moment in time and happen to have some sort of a plug. <hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

Wow! That sounds scarey! What brand knotmeter was it? (I installed my Signet in 1976, so mine is even older than yours that had de-composed!) Thanks!

Chuck

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Dave5041
Former Mainsheet Editor

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USA
3758 Posts

Response Posted - 11/01/2012 : 19:36:28

Paddle wheel devices are through hull.

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rrick
Captain

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USA
261 Posts

Response Posted - 11/01/2012 : 22:41:52

You know, a paddle wheel knot meter doesn't need batteries. Also, GPS doesn't give bragging rights in the hall of hull-speed records.

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glen
Captain

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359 Posts

Response Posted - 11/02/2012 : 08:37:08

Wow! That sounds scarey! What brand knotmeter was it? (I installed my Signet in 1976, so mine is even older than yours that had de-composed!) Thanks!

Chuck
[/quote]It was original to the boat. I want to say “Signet” but not sure. I always thought it was installed by Catalina when the boat was new, but I can't confirm that

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glen
Captain

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359 Posts

Response Posted - 11/02/2012 : 08:48:27

Adventure is set up for cruising and will never break any speed records. I know that a true Knot log will give accurate “Real Time” information, which is a terrific tool, but for me I just try to sense the feel of the boat for best performance. She tells me when she is happy! Weather I can increase a tenth of a knot doesn’t mean that much to me. What Me Worry - I’M Sailing and it’s Island Time

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rrick
Captain

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USA
261 Posts

Response Posted - 11/02/2012 : 10:13:04

http://youtu.be/4B3sd0XRFBE Here's a contender.

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Dave5041
Former Mainsheet Editor

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USA
3758 Posts

Response Posted - 11/03/2012 : 11:40:54

My ST-60 system has bronze through hulls and marelon internal fittings. Most paddlewheel systems use batteries - ship's batteries.

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