Catalina Direct

Here's a new article on galvanic corrosion. https://www.catalinadirect.com/galvanic-corrosion/

Sailing! Such a great way to stay isolated.

If you ever have a chance to visit the Pacific Northwest, make time to charter a sailboat. See the Canadian Gulf Islands and Desolation Sound. And don't miss a visit to Princess Louisa Inlet

Teakerne Arm was a really fun spot with waterfalls and a freshwater lake to hike to. Wish we could have spent some more time there.

A beautiful Squirrel Cove evening was enjoyed by all and there was even time to sneak in a little painting the next morning.

Our next stop was Squirrel Cove on Cortes Island for some re-provisioning and respite from the unseasonal high temperatures.

We learned a lot about the details of living aboard a Catalina 445 during our recent charter. One thing we looked at carefully was the engine. Rather than just checking the fluids daily through the convenient doors provided, we removed the entire engine cover in order to make a thorough visual inspection. We were glad we did! The first hint of a problem was a small pile of rubber shards. Closer inspection revealed a fuel hose that was severely chafed. We found that engi...ne vibration was causing the hose to rub against the side of the compartment. A deep groove came dangerously close to creating a hole in the hose. A few more engine hours would have diesel fuel all over the engine compartment, in the bilge, and potentially pumped overboard by the bilge pump. This is just one example of why it’s important to do a thorough visual inspection of your engine compartment at least monthly. More if you use the boat often. You may avoid a dangerous fuel spill, environmental damage, and fines of potentially thousands of dollars. See more

Next we headed to Gorge Harbor to rendezvous with Leighton (Lowell’s brother) and Lynda aboard Morning Star. It was perfect timing since they were heading south from Glacier Bay Alaska as we began our adventure in Desolation Sound.

Our first night at anchor was in Prideaux Haven, a series of protected coves and inlets along the southern shore of Desolation Sound. It’s known as one of the most scenic anchorages around. That’s saying something, considering the beauty of this place!

We boarded our charter boat in Powell River for easy access to Desolation Sound just a few hours sail north. We enjoyed the journey and took the opportunity to familiarize ourselves with the idiosyncrasies of the Catalina 445.

We can’t own every Catalina Yacht, but we can charter them. This is one way we stay intimately familiar with the nuances of every model as well as the hardware and equipment aboard. Here are some photos from our most recent trip aboard NautOnCall, a Catalina 445, sailing in Desolation Sound, British Columbia. A great time was had and over 400 photos were taken of the boat and its systems. A tough job, but someone’s gotta do it!

Otter Bay, North Pender Island, British Columbia

Our test bed Catalina 30 Shellback approaches Pittsburg in the company of Express 27s and Moore 24s on their way upriver in the 'Doo Dah Ditch Run', 68 miles, San Francisco Bay to Stockton. Our purchasing manager Todd is at the helm.