I viewed previous posts on this forum talking about the aft water tank which if accessed via the rear bulkhead in the aft berth. I currently have a water bladder located under the rear berth and plan to remove it and install an actual water tank. The water bladder is 200 liters and I understand I will not be able to get a rigid water tank with the same capacity to fit in the space under the aft berth. I've attached pics of the current water bladder and will also attach a pic of the aft bulkhead for reference.
My question is has anyone else attempted to do this?
There are currently two water tanks, one under the V berth and one under the starboard setee, one of the reasons I want to install a third under the aft berth is because the boat sits bow heavy. I notice this after it rains because water collects in the forward portion of the cockpit. I also assume this is why the aft water tank behind the aft berth bulkhead became standard configuration on later boats.
Any insight would be greatly appreciated.
Ed,
On the MKII's, that section is not fiberglass. The bulkhead is open (large break in the center) and a teak panel covers the opening, with the rigid aft water tank behind. My guess is you can cut that section and cover it with teak plywood. I would contact CY to make sure the opening would also work on the MkI as they do on the MkII. They may have changed structural elements on the MKII to allow the break in the bulhead for the aft water tank access.
Here are pics of my MKI
Ekut : You are going to have to cut fiberglass to install a ridged tank. :cry4`
Your other option is a bladder tank behind or just above the strut connection under the aft cabin floor.
A thought
I'll take a look from the inside of the lazarett this weekend and see what it looks like from the other side of the bulkhead. I think installing a rigid water tank in that location would be a major project.
I was actually thinking of trying to find A rigid tank that would fit under aft berth, I am thinking of something in the 25 gal capacity.
Ed, Peggie Hall always recommends RONCO tanks. They have a ton of standard sizes and will put the openings and connectors exactly where YOU want them. Personally, I wouldn't go anywhere else.
The OEM aft tank is reportedly 43 gallons, and if you use the area underneath the starboard side of the aft cabin, I am sure you culd get more than 25 gallons.
Good luck.
Hi,
Yes RONCO is the place to go.
Very nice service and quick too.
Just replace my sceptic tank with them.
Was an exact copy of the original one.
Stu & Patrice,
Thanks for the info. It is not at the top of my list since I have two water tanks already, one under the V berth and the starboard tank. My primary concern at this point is trim of the boat, it seems to sit bow heavy but I'll get a better idea when it gets back in the water in a couple weeks. It was hauled about a month ago for thru hull and bottom paint but when it was in the water I collected water forward in the cockpit.
Has anybody actually installed a water tank either under the aft berth or opened the aft bulkhead then installed one just like Cataline did on later MK1s? I do not have a removable teak panel on the aft bulkhead in the aft berth. I included a pic in a previous post, not sure how much effort is involved or if it can even be done. I have a call into Catalina asking their input.
I have a water tank under my aft berth. One of the POs installed it, so i dont know the source, but there is a nameplate on it. Here is a pic. I can go to boat this morning if you have a specific question, or want a better pic of the label or...?
Was the opening under the aft berth modified to install the water tank? What is the capacity? I would greatly appreciate any other pics you can take of how it is mounted. Also the manufacturer and model number.
I am going to the boat tomorrow and will get more pics, and see if I can answer your other ?s.
Btw, what do you have in this location? Is it just vacant? Do you have the opening? If I know what you have I can see what is different in my boat.
A 200 liter water bladder is currently located there but it is original to the boat which is a 1986, I'm thinking of replacing it. A picture of the bladder label is in the first post. There is an opening and I'm not sure of the exact dimensions but I'd estimate it is 45 (aft to fwd) X 36 (port to stbd). I'm headed to the boat over the weekend and will take more pics and get exact dimensions.
The tank in my boat is about 30" x 21.5" x 10", roughly. Since it was installed by a PO, I have no knowledge beyond what I can see. I have attached a pic of the label, which tells me that it was fabricated locally. The second picture shows the two openings in the aft cabin. I already posted a pic of the water tank itself above. The final pic is of the attachment plates. The tank has a plastic fitting at the bottom on the front side that a hose is attached to. I didn't include a pic since that is pretty staright-forward. Do you want any more info? My boat goes back on the hard on Monday (see my post on needing a new shaft and coupling), so if you need more pics, it will be easier this weekend before it is pulled.
Steve,
The opening on my boat looks to be about the same size. It seems the PO found a tank that fit the opening and the tabs install on the lip of the opening. The cover is modified with cutouts where the tabs from the tank connect the edge of the opening. Where is the water fill for the tank located, my guess would be at the back of the tank up high, also the location of the vent line. I'm headed to the boat tomorrow and will take some pics of my configuration. I'll look up the info on the label and see where that leads.
Steve,
I looked close at the pic, it would seem the tank makes getting to the back of the engine difficult I assume it ends just at the shaft log and still allows access to the stuffing box. When I did some initial work to my engine this past Jan; heat exchanger, motor mounts, water lift muffler, I spent my share of time in that location upside down / backwards. I was only able to do this because the water bladder I have in that location was just about empty. I was thinking of replacing the older bladder with a newer unit but would feel more confident with a hard tank like you have. Thanks for pics and other details, good food for thought regarding size of a tank plus potential mounting ideas. I will try and contact the guy who built the tank and see what the cost would be to supply one.
Is the bottom of the tank tapered to fit the hull shape or flat?
There is a second water fill opening aft of the tank on the starboard side. The opening matches the one for the midship tank. I will go to the boat later today and check the bottom of the tank.
The tank does end behind the shaft log. I do have to replace my shaft and coupling next week, but i have been able to access everything ok. It is a little tight, by nothing real bad.
Btw I read you other post re the hot water heater. If you notice in the middle pic above, there is corner of additional opening. Behind that is my hot water heater. It is accessible there and also accessible under the aft lazarette. Another PO improvement. This frees up all of that space under my sink, and uses space that i would not be using otherwise. Something to consider
Steve,
I like the idea of relocating the Water Heater, using that space under the second opening under the aft berth sounds like a good idea. I'm going to start another post. If you could take a pic please add it to that post as an example so I can get some others to comment. It seems the PO made some interesting changes which make sense. Have to reroute some water lines and wiring but easily done. The space below the sink would be useful, just not sure of the impact.
I don't think I was clear in the post above my PO cut a new opening in the aft bulkhead, next to the hanging closet and installed the hwt there, not under the bed. But under the bed sounds interesting also. I will post pictures as soon as I can get to the boat.
The bottom of the tank is flat. it appears to be resting on a rubber bladder. Is this the old water bladder? See pic
Here is also a pic of the spacing between the forward end of the water tank and the dripless.
I will post my pics of the Hot Water Heater on the other thread.
I removed the water bladder from under the aft berth today. I've attached before and after pics and a pic of the removed bladder which is 60 in X 28 in. The stuff on the ground is what came out of the bladder, hence the reason I removed it. :shock:
The opening measures approx 32 in X 21 in with a depth from 6 in aft & 10 in fwd. I think the taper may be the reason a bladder in located under your hard water tank since the top appears to be level.
I just measured the heigth of the tank in the front. Not sure if i can get to the aft end. If i can i will measure the height there. The top of the tankmis level.
The pic you have does appear to be the bladder that is sitting under my tank.
Hard to access aft end of tank, but it appears that the tank is a little less than 6" in height at that point. There is a small space between tank and aft edge of opening. I put a tape down there and it hooked on what I think is the bottom of the tank. Read as about 5 7/8"
Thanks for the info on your tank, it appears my measurement track with yours. Still considering potential locations and size of the water tank. I am going to also consider a NEW bladder.
did you get a new bladder? i blew mine up, yesterday and i have the exact same one as you do, in the first picture (hull 99, 1986). was it easy to put in?
I did not get a new bladder, redid the entire fresh water system and that is the last item on my list. I contacted the company and they said if the bladder is not leaking it could be reinstalled. I'm not sure if I like the idea of water bladder but it seems to be appropriate for that space. If I get a new bladder I'm looking at about 30 to 35 gallons versus the old bladder which was 50 gallons. There were four blocks glued to the hull that the bladder was fastened to, two of the blocks of come loose. I think the 200 L 50 gallon water was too big for that space that's almost 400 pounds of water.
wow, the catalina manual said that was 43 gallons but you're right, that's 55 gallons (and a LOT!). i don't have a choice, i have to replace mine. are there instructions somewhere?
I did not get a new bladder, redid the entire fresh water system and that is the last item on my list. I contacted the company and they said if the bladder is not leaking it could be reinstalled. I'm not sure if I like the idea of water bladder but it seems to be appropriate for that space. If I get a new bladder I'm looking at about 30 to 35 gallons versus the old bladder which was 50 gallons. There were four blocks glued to the hull that the bladder was fastened to, two of the blocks of come loose. I think the 200 L 50 gallon water was too big for that space that's almost 400 pounds of water.
I would offer you mine but is just as old as yours. It had no leaks and appeared to be in good shape. Replacing it seems straight foreard, mine was attached at the four corners through grommets on the bladder. Large lag bolts were screwed into wooden blocks glued to the hull. The bolts were not easy to get to because the bladder extends far into the corners of the space below the aft berth. I am planning to buy a smaller bladder, 30-35 gal because the old bladder sat right on top of the shaft log.
Yes, i was thinking that too - a smaller one. i didn't look to see how it was attached and i'm not unhappy to have to replace it, since it was probably gunky on the inside too
also, do you have a picture of the hoses going into yours before you took it out? thanks
I don't share your concern about weight at all, but then I'm a cruiser, albeit a former racer (who didn't empty his water and fuel tanks when racing! :D).
Remember the port list issue with our boats, discussed as early as 1987 in Mainsheet? The water tanks are on the starboard side, right? :D :clap :D
nope. both of mine are smack in the middle with my holding tank on the port side.
if you have a soft bladder, can you take a picture of it for me? thanks
Pictures of the bladder before it was removed is in post 21 of this chain. I've modified the pic to show exactly where the connections are.
thanks!
I have been doing some research on water bladders, NAUTA still makes them and it lasted 30 years. As I said mine still holds water but I don't like the idea of drinking water from it after the gunk that spilled out when I removed the tank.
yeah, that's why i'm not unhappy to have to spend this money. no idea what is in there (and i really don't want to see). going to cut a hole in the bottom of mine, let it drain into the bilge then replace it with one smaller.
I took a pic of what emptied out of mine, look at post 21 of this chain. I find it hard to believe somebody did not get sick drinking out of it. Nasty smelly black gunk!! BTW, where are you located anaisdog?
detroit. at detroit yacht club, on the detroit river. and i don't know if anyone has drank out of mine, since i bought the boat 5 years ago. we only do day trips so i haven't needed tanks of fresh water
Quote from: Ekutney on August 18, 2016, 07:34:08 AM
I have been doing some research on water bladders, NAUTA still makes them and it lasted 30 years. As I said mine still holds water but I don't like the idea of drinking water from it after the gunk that spilled out when I removed the tank.
Ed, check the "101 Topics" for water system recommissioning by Peggie Hall. Properly treated, and/or used often, like our boat, should allay those fears. Our system has been clean and well used for 18 years, we drink out of the tanks and carry four gallons in jugs primarily to use for coffee in the morning when someone else is sleeping. The working water pump does make some noise.
Stu,
I have reviewed the 101 topic on Fresh Water commissioning and even bought her book on Boat odors... she is the SME on the topic.
My concern regarding reinstalling the old bladder is more of how much longer will it last plus it is very difficult to get to get to the attachment points to reinstall the wooden blocks. It hung right on top of the shaft log and since I have two other hard water tanks I don't have a shortage of fresh water. One of the reasons I would like to have water storage aft is to get some weight back aft. The boat is bow heavy right now which means water collects in the forward portion of the cockpit, if not for the teak grating I would be stepping into a puddle at the top of the companionway every time it rains. I currently have to push the water in the cockpit back to the scuppers to get it out. This may be the reason the later model C-34 had a 43 gal water tank way back aft, not sure. Maybe I'll start another thread asking for input/opinions/experience with boat trim issues.
Now I got it, Ed. Understood, good reasoning.
A trim thread would be a great idea.