I copied a design found on the internet for these oversized teak towel hooks on the vberth doors.


The hooks work great with the doors open or closed.


Getting the towels out of the way after swimming has always been a challenge given the small size of the cabin.

Catalina 310 / Getting Ready for 2016

  1. - LED anchor light

  2. - Re-tape spreaders

  3. - Towel hooks for the salon

  4. - Interior LED lights in the cabin & vberth

  5. - Storage dividers in the cabinets

  6. - “Breezing Up” as “Avitar” for the sailing forums

  7. - Paper towel dispenser

  8. - Our Makau/Hawaiian Fish Hooks, (for safe passage)


And SURPRISE !  // a new through-hull for the Head sink


I learned that 10 watt LED’s are available from Phillips and put them in the cabin light fixtures to save battery power.


The limited storage on a boat is always a challenge, particularly in these two cabinets on our boat.


I used teak & wood shelves in one unit and plexiglass on the other to get a feel for how each would be to work with and also to see how they hold up over time.

Sara agreed to go aloft to install the LED anchor light and re-tape the spreaders.


This will make me less concerned about a strong battery to start the engine each morning.

I wasn’t confident the paper towel dispenser could share the Nav Station until I realized we cook/eat as much as we sail on this boat.


From that point designing and building a paper towel dispenser that was “one handed”, fit and was good looking was just like a Junior Achievement project.

“Breezing Up (A Fair Wind)

Winslow Homer, painted about 1873-1876


I’ve loved this painting by Homer since stumbling upon it at the National Gallery of Art and finally have found a way to enjoy and share it.


I’ve cropped the image slightly to focus it on my favorite part of the painting and make if fit the square format needed for the sailing forums that I participate in.

When in Hawaii I was taken with the fish hook pendents many wore, the Makau.   The story goes that if it’s given to you as a gift it will protect you for passages over water and bring you good luck.


Martha and I each ended up with one so now they hang on the wall over the vberth and in the salon.

Surprise !

The white piece is a “plug” you can use from outside the boat to stop the water flow for maintenance or in an emergency, (attach retriever line in the loop so you don’t lose it).


The manufacturer is sending a replacement at no charge and Bruce say’s he’ll come help with the replacement for the comedy value of watching me try to get the new valve installed while keeping the water out of the boat.


I may use this project as an excuse to simplify use of the head for guests; I’ll post about that later if we choose that course.



The through-hull handle is not supposed to come off in your hand!


Mine did and water was coming into the boat.


After the water was stopped the learning started.