On my 1983 Catalina 30 TR the deck caps for the water, waste, fuel are all the black 1 1/2" Wilcox Critteden caps which are no longer made. I would like to replace all the caps but what I have found to date doesn't fit. Does anyone know where I might find replacements. I really don't want to change all of the assemblies, just the caps. Thanks in advance.
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Try this
I had the exact same problem a year ago. I ended up having to buy from Catalina Direct. It was expensive for me because I had to pay UPS their rip off brokerage fees. Should be an OK deal for you though. Here is the link you need. Fair winds. Ken
I had the exact same problem a year ago. I ended up having to buy from Catalina Direct. It was expensive for me because I had to pay UPS their rip off brokerage fees. Should be an OK deal for you though. Here is the link you need. Fair winds. Ken
You'll prob'ly have to replace the deck fittings
I ran into the same problem when I needed to replace the cap for the deck pumpout fitting on my 1979 boat. The original fittings all were 16 TPI (threads per inch)...everything today is 11. I tried every wholesaler and even importers, but no one had caps to fit the older fills. I finally had to give up and replace the deck fitting. The cost of replacing the whole fitting vs. just the cap wasn't that bad...complete 316 stainless fittings were $16 apiece...the stainless caps alone were $11. (That was a few years ago, so I'm sure they both cost more now, but the relative difference should be the same today). It's the work to replace 'em all that makes it a major PITA job.
I ran into the same problem when I needed to replace the cap for the deck pumpout fitting on my 1979 boat. The original fittings all were 16 TPI (threads per inch)...everything today is 11. I tried every wholesaler and even importers, but no one had caps to fit the older fills. I finally had to give up and replace the deck fitting. The cost of replacing the whole fitting vs. just the cap wasn't that bad...complete 316 stainless fittings were $16 apiece...the stainless caps alone were $11. (That was a few years ago, so I'm sure they both cost more now, but the relative difference should be the same today). It's the work to replace 'em all that makes it a major PITA job.
Makes me want to but a Catalina, NOT
Why would a manufacturer use items for only a few years, put them into production and then stop? Aren't there laws that make automoble manufactures, manufacture replacement parts for 10 years after the end of production? What other parts did Catalina (and the other top three manuf's) use that can't be found 15 years later? Especially parts that are prone to wear out from use. It makes sense if you want to make money, but doesn't speak highly of your customer relations dept. Remind me not to buy one of these "rare" items. I'll stick with the classics if I want rare. Keep it up, Ctskip
Why would a manufacturer use items for only a few years, put them into production and then stop? Aren't there laws that make automoble manufactures, manufacture replacement parts for 10 years after the end of production? What other parts did Catalina (and the other top three manuf's) use that can't be found 15 years later? Especially parts that are prone to wear out from use. It makes sense if you want to make money, but doesn't speak highly of your customer relations dept. Remind me not to buy one of these "rare" items. I'll stick with the classics if I want rare. Keep it up, Ctskip
If caps are good - just replace the O-rings
My caps are just faded but good the O-rings showed some cracking - so I just replaced the O-rings.
My caps are just faded but good the O-rings showed some cracking - so I just replaced the O-rings.
Reply to ctskip
I feel I needed to reply to your comments about Catalina Yachts! You are WAY off base about their products. One of the major reasons I bought a Catalina (1981) is the availability of replacement parts and the strong support of the company of their products. I have owned a number of boats in the past and find Catalina to be by FAR the best. This is not a company that is trying to make money selling replacement parts; how much money can you make selling deck fittings??? Anything that is manufactured changes over the years due to improvements, suppliers going out of business, and other reasons. Please dont trash a great company for something that is way out of thier control. P.S. I do not work for CY or have any other financial interest in the company, just a happy owner of thier products. Bill
I feel I needed to reply to your comments about Catalina Yachts! You are WAY off base about their products. One of the major reasons I bought a Catalina (1981) is the availability of replacement parts and the strong support of the company of their products. I have owned a number of boats in the past and find Catalina to be by FAR the best. This is not a company that is trying to make money selling replacement parts; how much money can you make selling deck fittings??? Anything that is manufactured changes over the years due to improvements, suppliers going out of business, and other reasons. Please dont trash a great company for something that is way out of thier control. P.S. I do not work for CY or have any other financial interest in the company, just a happy owner of thier products. Bill
Most things are obsolete after 20 ytears...
Most mfrs do support obsolete equipment for at least 10 years after it's been discontinued (if they're still in business, that is)...but we're talking about a fitting for a 24 yr old boat. It's the eqivilant of trying to find a door handle or tail light for any 24 yr old car...you MIGHT get lucky and find one in a junk yard, but you won't find either one from any supplier. It doesn't make economic sense for any mfr to continue to supply replacement parts for obsolete equipment forever.
Most mfrs do support obsolete equipment for at least 10 years after it's been discontinued (if they're still in business, that is)...but we're talking about a fitting for a 24 yr old boat. It's the eqivilant of trying to find a door handle or tail light for any 24 yr old car...you MIGHT get lucky and find one in a junk yard, but you won't find either one from any supplier. It doesn't make economic sense for any mfr to continue to supply replacement parts for obsolete equipment forever.
It really depends on the company. I had the
exhaust manifold gaskets replaced last week on my 1987 Volvo wagon. All of the parts were in stock at the local dealer. I had to trade a 15 year old dodge because I could no longer get repair parts.
exhaust manifold gaskets replaced last week on my 1987 Volvo wagon. All of the parts were in stock at the local dealer. I had to trade a 15 year old dodge because I could no longer get repair parts.
Catalina parts
I tried, in vain, to get cam cleats for a 1999 C400 either as duplicate replacements or equivalent dimensions so as to allow use of the same mounting holes. Two of us tried catalina who didn't respond to multiple requests, both by telephone and by email. The mfg, in the UK, was similarly unresponsive. This isn't to say any other boat manufacturer would have been more helpful and this is only an isolated example, however, clearly this one mfg isn't "by FAR the best"
I tried, in vain, to get cam cleats for a 1999 C400 either as duplicate replacements or equivalent dimensions so as to allow use of the same mounting holes. Two of us tried catalina who didn't respond to multiple requests, both by telephone and by email. The mfg, in the UK, was similarly unresponsive. This isn't to say any other boat manufacturer would have been more helpful and this is only an isolated example, however, clearly this one mfg isn't "by FAR the best"
It's simple, really.
W_C was founded in 1847 in Middleton, R.I. The company had languished for years when someone bought the company and revitalized it, in the late 1990's/early 2000's. Things were great. I needed new caps for the deck fills on my C36, and was able to get them, quickly and inexpensively. I still have a spare in the plastic package. In November of 2003 Thetford acquired W-C and moved them to Michigan Soon after, these important small items disappeared from W-C's web site and customer service turned to sh*t. (I just got off the phone with them. They deck fills and replacement parts have been "discontinued"). Yet another in a long and frustrating series of acquisitions in the recreational marine industry that result in orphaned products, fewer choices and poorer customer service. I wish these guys would just leave well enough alone. Take a look at the latest series of acquisitions that end up with Navico owning B&G, Simrad (the recreational products), Northstar, Navman, and more. Try to get a Navman wind instrument. Try to get service on a Navman instrument. What a disaster for boat owners. About manufacturers supporting products. Be realistic. Catalina has made perhaps 2,200 C-36's in 25 years. Ford made almost 500,000 F150's last year. If you regulate the small boat industry like the auto industry you will drive manufacturers out of business and dramatically increase prices. Catalina picked the best component available at the time. I bought a replacement part for it 20 years after the boat was built. Try to get a piece of interior trim for a 20 year old car.
W_C was founded in 1847 in Middleton, R.I. The company had languished for years when someone bought the company and revitalized it, in the late 1990's/early 2000's. Things were great. I needed new caps for the deck fills on my C36, and was able to get them, quickly and inexpensively. I still have a spare in the plastic package. In November of 2003 Thetford acquired W-C and moved them to Michigan Soon after, these important small items disappeared from W-C's web site and customer service turned to sh*t. (I just got off the phone with them. They deck fills and replacement parts have been "discontinued"). Yet another in a long and frustrating series of acquisitions in the recreational marine industry that result in orphaned products, fewer choices and poorer customer service. I wish these guys would just leave well enough alone. Take a look at the latest series of acquisitions that end up with Navico owning B&G, Simrad (the recreational products), Northstar, Navman, and more. Try to get a Navman wind instrument. Try to get service on a Navman instrument. What a disaster for boat owners. About manufacturers supporting products. Be realistic. Catalina has made perhaps 2,200 C-36's in 25 years. Ford made almost 500,000 F150's last year. If you regulate the small boat industry like the auto industry you will drive manufacturers out of business and dramatically increase prices. Catalina picked the best component available at the time. I bought a replacement part for it 20 years after the boat was built. Try to get a piece of interior trim for a 20 year old car.
caps
catalina direct sells exact replacement caps and they even come in three different colors to obviate mix-ups.
catalina direct sells exact replacement caps and they even come in three different colors to obviate mix-ups.
caps
i don't know about w-c, but the ones from catalina direct fit my 1991 catalina 30 just fine.
i don't know about w-c, but the ones from catalina direct fit my 1991 catalina 30 just fine.
jviss I can understand the auto comparison
not being totally true. Sure may you can find "a" part for your 20 yr old boat just as I can find "a" part for my 20 yr old auto. I don't expect to find everything. Just a few important parts that would wear out with continual use. Maybe even, make available a repro part to take it's place. Why can't it be regulated when it comes to certain parts being manufactured for a number of years after the production stops. At least have a sufficient inventory to sustain it, for a number of years. Not the common practice of, "use these parts till their gone, then use something else". If one is going to introduce a "new" line of products for their boats, they should be made to have on hand, a number of replacements available for a given number of years. To be determined upon usage and other factors. I feel it can be done, and should be done. Common courtesy. They haven't made a car with a carburetor in years, but they still stock carburetors. Same goes for 14 inch tires. The list goes on. Can you say the same about the boat industry? If not. Why not? I'm in the middle of a go round with the State of Oklahoma as to why boats are not considered motor vehicles. They do recreational vehicles (campers). Boats take us from one place to another and it must be registered in order to use it. It's subject to taxation and it has a motor that operates it. Thats another story. Just food for thought. Keep it up, Ctskip
not being totally true. Sure may you can find "a" part for your 20 yr old boat just as I can find "a" part for my 20 yr old auto. I don't expect to find everything. Just a few important parts that would wear out with continual use. Maybe even, make available a repro part to take it's place. Why can't it be regulated when it comes to certain parts being manufactured for a number of years after the production stops. At least have a sufficient inventory to sustain it, for a number of years. Not the common practice of, "use these parts till their gone, then use something else". If one is going to introduce a "new" line of products for their boats, they should be made to have on hand, a number of replacements available for a given number of years. To be determined upon usage and other factors. I feel it can be done, and should be done. Common courtesy. They haven't made a car with a carburetor in years, but they still stock carburetors. Same goes for 14 inch tires. The list goes on. Can you say the same about the boat industry? If not. Why not? I'm in the middle of a go round with the State of Oklahoma as to why boats are not considered motor vehicles. They do recreational vehicles (campers). Boats take us from one place to another and it must be registered in order to use it. It's subject to taxation and it has a motor that operates it. Thats another story. Just food for thought. Keep it up, Ctskip
Boats and Card
I can understand the frustration, but I can't understand how you could blame the boat manufacturer when they don't even make the parts. If GM/Ford make the parts for thier cars they should have replacements available. How can Catalina control what their suppliers do? As I said earlier I have had very good response from CY to each of my requests. They even made a full set of interior cusions last and they were perfect. I can only go by my experiences with CY. Fair Winds Bill
I can understand the frustration, but I can't understand how you could blame the boat manufacturer when they don't even make the parts. If GM/Ford make the parts for thier cars they should have replacements available. How can Catalina control what their suppliers do? As I said earlier I have had very good response from CY to each of my requests. They even made a full set of interior cusions last and they were perfect. I can only go by my experiences with CY. Fair Winds Bill
I could swear that...
...just after I bought my Oday 22 over a year ago, I looked at the WM cataloge and they had the 16 threads per inch deck stuff. Jack Hart
...just after I bought my Oday 22 over a year ago, I looked at the WM cataloge and they had the 16 threads per inch deck stuff. Jack Hart
Better get two sets
when you find them. If they are that rare they might come up missing one of these days. It doesn't seem like it takes very long for a sailboat to reach the age of 25. Its great that you can give a hollar and have a good chance that some one within earshot has had the same problem. Most of the older boats out there have long since ended their production runs, and their manufacturers have been reduced to historical notoriety. I have heard that CY is about as good as it gets, considering their still in business doesn't hurt either. Did that Cat Direct that Ken sent work?
when you find them. If they are that rare they might come up missing one of these days. It doesn't seem like it takes very long for a sailboat to reach the age of 25. Its great that you can give a hollar and have a good chance that some one within earshot has had the same problem. Most of the older boats out there have long since ended their production runs, and their manufacturers have been reduced to historical notoriety. I have heard that CY is about as good as it gets, considering their still in business doesn't hurt either. Did that Cat Direct that Ken sent work?
Get serious!
Ctskip writes: "If one is going to introduce a "new" line of products for their boats, they should be made to have on hand, a number of replacements available for a given number of years. " So who's going to make them? Make a law? Consider that most 25 year old sailboats out there were made by companies that no longer exist. What about them? What we DON'T need is MORE government regulation!
Ctskip writes: "If one is going to introduce a "new" line of products for their boats, they should be made to have on hand, a number of replacements available for a given number of years. " So who's going to make them? Make a law? Consider that most 25 year old sailboats out there were made by companies that no longer exist. What about them? What we DON'T need is MORE government regulation!
caps
it there a reading comprehension problem out there? the question was where to get caps for a catalina 30, and my answer was that the caps catalina direct still sells, as of today, fit my catalina 30 just fine.
it there a reading comprehension problem out there? the question was where to get caps for a catalina 30, and my answer was that the caps catalina direct still sells, as of today, fit my catalina 30 just fine.
Most all the parts on my 25 yo are still avail
because they are made by reputable companies and the parts are still in production. From the motor to the hatches to the mast and the winches, and the oven are still in production today and can be had by calling the manufacturers. The manufacturer of my vessel no longer makes sailboats and hasn't for almost twenty years. Only made them from 70 to 85 or there abouts. I'm sure if there is anyone that doesn't like big govt, it'll be me. I don't like rules of any kind. As to "who's going to make them"? You ask. Thats a no brainer Whom ever manufactures the parts in the first place. It sounds like Catalina had some parts that were seconds(mistake on the number of threads)and got them at a bargain price, so they used them till they ran out. Then used something else with a more "standard thread". If GM is making a new headlight( rectangular for example) for their cars. And that was hard sell to to the NTSB. They know about how many cars they are going to produce with this "new product". They ordered accordingly. To leave plenty to have spares for replacement parts. Proper planning. But because the big companies don't apply common sense(that cost money) they must have laws to govern their production. Safety. These laws wouldn't even be noticeable just as they aren't noticeable with auto makers. Ever notice the laws governing auto makers ? Just apply the same to boat builders. Rectangular headlights didn't just happen. Just as the "shark eye" bow light was faded out. Popular, but still governed out by the "rules". Those are laws I can live with. Ones that make it safer for all. Sorry for the rant. I feel like this doesn't warrant the space it takes up I'll stop and let this one slide. Just give us good quality parts readily accessible. Is this to much to ask for? Keep it up, Ctskip
because they are made by reputable companies and the parts are still in production. From the motor to the hatches to the mast and the winches, and the oven are still in production today and can be had by calling the manufacturers. The manufacturer of my vessel no longer makes sailboats and hasn't for almost twenty years. Only made them from 70 to 85 or there abouts. I'm sure if there is anyone that doesn't like big govt, it'll be me. I don't like rules of any kind. As to "who's going to make them"? You ask. Thats a no brainer Whom ever manufactures the parts in the first place. It sounds like Catalina had some parts that were seconds(mistake on the number of threads)and got them at a bargain price, so they used them till they ran out. Then used something else with a more "standard thread". If GM is making a new headlight( rectangular for example) for their cars. And that was hard sell to to the NTSB. They know about how many cars they are going to produce with this "new product". They ordered accordingly. To leave plenty to have spares for replacement parts. Proper planning. But because the big companies don't apply common sense(that cost money) they must have laws to govern their production. Safety. These laws wouldn't even be noticeable just as they aren't noticeable with auto makers. Ever notice the laws governing auto makers ? Just apply the same to boat builders. Rectangular headlights didn't just happen. Just as the "shark eye" bow light was faded out. Popular, but still governed out by the "rules". Those are laws I can live with. Ones that make it safer for all. Sorry for the rant. I feel like this doesn't warrant the space it takes up I'll stop and let this one slide. Just give us good quality parts readily accessible. Is this to much to ask for? Keep it up, Ctskip
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