Catalina 34

General Activities => Main Message Board => Topic started by: ghebbns on October 07, 2012, 11:06:37 AM

Title: Water tanks
Post by: ghebbns on October 07, 2012, 11:06:37 AM
I am still just getting to know my new (to me) 1990 C34 with the open transom.  One surprise I have found is that there is only 1 water tank.  I see a second inlet near the starboard stern and there are two hoses (fill and vent?) in the rear lazerette underneath this but they are cut.  I am guessing the PO removed the second water tank.  Is this where a second tank usually is?  This is mainly out of curiousity.

Probably not an issue for me.  In ten years I have never used the second water tank in my Catalina 30, although the water tank under the starboard settee seems rather small.  Probably will try it for a year and see how it goes.

Greg
Title: Re: Water tanks
Post by: chuck53 on October 07, 2012, 11:25:56 AM
My aft tank is behind the aft cabin bulkhead between the aft cabin and lazarette.  You have to remove the bulkhead to get to it.  It's not accessible thru the lazarette, at least it's not on my 87.
Title: Re: Water tanks
Post by: Stu Jackson on October 07, 2012, 12:59:37 PM
Greg, that'd be a bummer if he really did that, based on the cut hoses you described.  We use both tanks, the first is usually the aft tank, and when that runs out we switch to the starboard tank, then refill.

If you're not sure of anything, the Manual usually helps, it's in the C34 tech wiki, clock on the link at the top of this page, then scroll down to Manuals.
Title: Re: Water tanks
Post by: Ron Hill on October 07, 2012, 02:14:18 PM
Greg : If a PO really removed that aft tank that is a SUPER bummer, because he left you with the smaller (28gal) starboard tank and cut the hoses to the larger aft (43gal) tank.

You might want to pull the aft panel in the aft cabin (remove the port side panel first) and see if that tank is actually out of there.  You might still be able to get another tank from Catalina parts if you are interested.

A few thoughts. 
Title: Re: Water tanks
Post by: Rick Johnson on October 07, 2012, 07:12:28 PM
Copy of a message from Peggy Hall:

If it's a plastic tank, you can buy an identical replacement from Ronco Plastics.

http://www.ronco-plastics.net/marinetanks.html

Ronco has supplied all the water and waste tanks for Catalina for several decades.  Give 'em the boat year and model and which tank, they should know which is the right one. Buy direct and save the markup Catalina puts on it. 

Btw...they show 400+ tanks in their catalog, but any that are still OEM proprietary won't be there. So depending on the age of your boat, it may or may not be in the catalog. However, that doesn't mean they don't still have the mold and know which one you need.

« Last Edit: 11 November 2010, 14:54:33 by Peggie Hall »    


Peggie Hall
Specializing in marine sanitation since 1987
Author "Get Rid of Boat Odors - A Guide To Marine Sanitation Systems and Other Sources of Aggravation and Odor"
Title: Re: Water tanks
Post by: Ralph Masters on October 08, 2012, 08:19:50 AM
On Ciao Bella I draw water from the forward tank most of the time.  The aft tank sits higher then the froward tank so I open both valves and run water down to the forward tank to keep it topped up, then only have to fill the aft tank when it is low.  If I hang my head into the aft lazerett I can see the corner of the aft tank and can see the water level in the tank.  This method keeps fresh water moving in both tanks so neither one gets stagnent.

Ralph
Title: Re: Water tanks
Post by: Ron Hill on October 08, 2012, 03:02:10 PM
Greg : Rick has a point, but be careful as I don't know if the walk thru transom boats have the same aft tank as the other MK I C34s.  That's why you need to talk to Catalina parts.

A thought
Title: Re: Water tanks
Post by: ghebbns on October 08, 2012, 05:07:40 PM
Thanks for all the replies.  I didn't look at the location everyone is describing - it appears it is more hidden than I thought.  It may still be there but with the hoses disconnected.  I will have a look next time I am on the boat.

Greg
Title: Re: Water tanks
Post by: Dave Spencer on October 08, 2012, 06:07:11 PM
Greg,
I to have a walk through transom and the large water tank is exactly where others described it would be - behind the bulkhead in the aft cabin.  It is easy to see it by accessing the stbd rear hatch.  I use mine sparingly since it adds a lot of weight right at the aft extremity of the boat.  Being in fresh water, I find the stbd tank to be adequate for most of my needs.  When we're cruising, the water lasts longer than the holding tank so I try to carry as little extra fresh water as possible knowing good water is available wherever and whenever I pump out.
I've attached a couple of pictures I took when I had the bulkhead panel off last year.  
Title: Re: Water tanks
Post by: Jim Hardesty on October 09, 2012, 06:19:14 AM
I don't fill the forward tank.  Shamrock is already a bit bow heavy (anchor,chain,windless).  I say this based on "boat feel" and that Lake Erie waves (close and steep) will break over the bow.  And I don't need it.   With the small holding tank, I have to pull into a marina to pump out before using all the aft tank.  It's still hooked up, I wouldn't hesitate to fill it if I felt it would be needed for a extended cruise.
Jim
Title: Re: Water tanks
Post by: Les Luzar on October 09, 2012, 09:15:21 AM
In the past, I removed the port aft cabin panel, and then tried to remove the back panel, but it was jammed in there so tight I could not remove it. Any tricks to get that aft panel removed? It seemed that the upper side of the panel was jammed tight into that cabin floor lip and I could not budge it out. I was even thinking of cutting it into two pieces. Any ideas to remove that panel would be appreciated.
Title: Re: Water tanks
Post by: Clay Greene on October 09, 2012, 09:25:43 AM
On our boat, we need to take the port panel off before we can take the aft panel off.  The port panel is trimmed all the way around so it goes "on top" of the aft panel.
Title: Re: Water tanks
Post by: Ralph Masters on October 09, 2012, 10:41:56 AM
Jim,
It seems that filling the aft tank would help pull the bow up a bit, it'll set the boat a bit deeper all around but should reduce the bow down attitude.

Ralph
Title: Re: Water tanks
Post by: lazybone on October 09, 2012, 07:02:45 PM
Quote from: Les Luzar on October 09, 2012, 09:15:21 AM
In the past, I removed the port aft cabin panel, and then tried to remove the back panel, but it was jammed in there so tight I could not remove it. Any tricks to get that aft panel removed? It seemed that the upper side of the panel was jammed tight into that cabin floor lip and I could not budge it out. I was even thinking of cutting it into two pieces. Any ideas to remove that panel would be appreciated.

I think there iare one or more hidden (gel coated over) screws on that back panel.  There was a thread about it somewhere.
Title: Re: Water tanks
Post by: Roger Blake on October 09, 2012, 07:17:17 PM
Les--My panels are tight too...if you pull in the middle, they will come out. What I found, is they will not reinstall...I am going to shave about 1/8" off total (1/16 each side) to reinstall them. But in doing so, I will need to seal the "raw" edges with varnish to ensure it will not swell due to mositure.
Title: Re: Water tanks
Post by: Stu Jackson on October 09, 2012, 07:47:03 PM
My experience with the fuel tank bulkhead in the link below, haven't gotten to the aft panel, yet.  I think the FAQs (see the tech wiki) have the answer to the aft bulkhead screw.

http://c34.org/bbs/index.php/topic,6815.0.html (http://c34.org/bbs/index.php/topic,6815.0.html)
Title: Re: Water tanks
Post by: Les Luzar on October 10, 2012, 09:23:20 AM
Ok, I will check out the threads, and also I will try to pry the back panel out from the middle. Since it seems so tight, I also thought that I would not be able to reinstall it as well. It seems that my panel is so high into the upper lip, that I cannot get it to fall far enough to get it out. I was thinking after removal, of shaving the top enough to get it to fit a bit looser. I was also thinking of actually cutting that back panel into two pieces, down the middle so that each can be removed separately. But I may try shaving the ends and the top edges to see if that will solve this issue once I do get this back panel removed.
Title: Re: Water tanks
Post by: Clay Greene on October 10, 2012, 09:55:52 AM
To go back to the original post, why would someone cut the hoses and pull out the tank?  If it leaked or they didn't want to use it, why not just choose not to fill it?  That's a curious mix of DIY enthusiasm and poor judgment. 
Title: Re: Water tanks
Post by: Stu Jackson on October 10, 2012, 10:53:27 AM
Quote from: Les Luzar on October 10, 2012, 09:23:20 AM
Ok, I will check out the threads, and also I will try to pry the back panel out from the middle. ...But I may try shaving the ends and the top edges to see if that will solve this issue once I do get this back panel removed.

Les,

The Nov. 92 and Aug 94 Mainsheet Tech Notes have the discussion about the "hard-to-find" screws in that aft panel.  I found it by using the Knowledgebase and Ctrl-F to find "screw".
Title: Re: Water tanks
Post by: Ron Hill on October 10, 2012, 07:09:06 PM
Guys : This has been written up before, but it is VERY important.!!!!!

When you remove the "dog house" in the aft cabin (covering the bottom of the steering) you will find short and long screws.  When you replace the dog house and put a long screw in to a hole that should have a long screw --- you WILL put a hole in your aft water tank!!!!

A strong thought!
Title: Re: Water tanks
Post by: noworries on October 13, 2012, 11:04:38 PM
We've got a 91 w/ walk-thru transom--we have the aft tank and starboard tank, we usually leave the aft tank empty unless we're going cruising for a long weekend.  IMO it's better to have the weight amidships then near the ends, makes you less likely to hobby horse.

I pulled the aft cabin apart to look at it once... when I was installing a new autopilot... but no tips stand out in my mind as to help.  Hope you find the tank in there.

People do stupid things... like me for example when I removed the loop on the head that goes into the bulkhead because my new head had a nice short clean new hose that was self contained... until I realized what the loop was for... one of these days I'll take the countertop off to put a new hose in.
Title: Re: Water tanks
Post by: Stu Jackson on October 14, 2012, 05:49:26 AM
I looked in mine yesterday, but from the lazarette (checking the fridge wiring).  That's where my hoses show up and I can see the aft end of the tank from under the box enclosing the steering quadrant.
Title: Re: Water tanks
Post by: cmainprize on October 14, 2012, 05:56:25 AM
I had no issue removing the aft bulhead to access the water tank.  Had to wiggle it a bit to get it out but no big deal.  I also removed my aft tank after not filling it for years.  We need a pumpout prior to exhausting our bow tank (even with our new custom holding tank) so I pulled the tank and use the space for folding chairs fishing rods and whatever else the kids bring on our month long cruise each summer.  We have the boat plumbed for lake water for the bow and stern washdown down, the galley and head sink as well as the shower.  We have seperate drinking drinking water taps in the head in galley.  We drink bottled water anyway and normally only use the tank water for coffee, cooking, and teeth brushing.  I have no issue washing dishes or showering with the lake water.  I know peggy frowned on this a couple of years ago when I plumbed the boat like this, but we grew up at a cottage that used lake water for everything except drinking and hd no issues.  This is one of the advantages of boating in georgian bay/lake huron, the water is awesome.