Draining water tanks

[William Allen]

I have a 2001 Catalina 400 MK II(hull#233) with both a forward and aft water tank. Isthere an easy way to drain these? I have done limited cruising and the water needs to be changed. Thanks,Bill Allen

 

[Ken Krawford]

Bill,I'm not sure if your C400 has the same water manifold system as my C350 has. It is located in the bilge over the keel in my boat. There is a blue one for cold water and a red one for hot. If you have this you can open the drain in the manifold, (the outlet with no hose attached) turn on a faucet and run it until the tank is dry. Then switch to the other tank and run it dry.

 

[John]

If you open the spigot in the manifold, you'd better be prepared to put the bilge cover in place quickly. The water will come out of that spigot at a high rate of pressure. I have the three-tank set-up on my 350. My dealer recommended draining the tanks through the faucets in the sinks. That way, you are sure to clear out the anti-freeze in the tanks. It takes longer, but you can do other work while the tanks are draining.

 

[Mark7500]

C400 tanks

William--I have hull #175 (also a MKII) and I do it the easy way -- I use the pressure pump and just turn on the sink faucet. I figure this flushes all the lines between tank and pump. If I know I'm not going to need the water for a while, I'll drain the tanks, put about 5 gallons of dockside water back in each tank with a cup of bleach. I do this just before a daysail to let the solution slosh around and then I drain the tanks dry back at the docks and close the tank valves. I've been very pleased with the water system on this boat.Cheers

 

[Chris]

Draining tanks

I have a C36 mkII, and the best ( fastest) way to drain the watertanks is with the Hotwater tank drain. Attach a scrap of garden hose and lead the water into the bilge. open up and let her go... Fastern than running all the sinks...Regards,Chris

 

[Big Windy]

Drain

I do like Chris, except I run the piece of hose in a bucket and dump it overboard.