Water tanks on a 37 cutter, Peggy is right

[Frank Ireton]

Peggy Hall is exactly right when in her response about holding tanks she stated that boat designers would probably do thing differently if they had to work on the boats 10 years down the road.Our ' 79 cutter has two 50 gallon tanks for water, one on each side under the main cabin berths. It looks like the boat was built around them. Has anybody had any experience in r & r of these monsters with out disassembly of the boat? I would like to take the large tanks out and replace them with several smaller tanks (about 10 gallons each) on each side that I could link through a manifold so I don't have to fill up for a weekend cruise. Probalbly would loose some capacity in the process but as is stands now it is difficult to tell how much water is in each tank so the tendency is to fill them up. Unless the tank is emptied on the weekend the water starts to turn green after a week or so without use.Frank Ireton*Stargazer

 

[Jay Hill]

Cheap Option

You might consider "Empty the Water Tanks" as an option on your secure list. Just like you have to fill them up on the start of a weekend cruise, you could empty them at the end. Makes the pump run a little longer but if you open every faucet that flows overboard, it doesn't take long. This can be done on your way into the harbor/marina/dock so you don't have to "wait" on it.

 

[Peggie Hall/Head Mistress]

A better idea, Frank?

I may have a better idea: install another smaller tank somewhere else and leave your big tank dry until you need it. Depending upon where we can find room for it, you might even be able to install a y-valve that lets you route either tank to your water pump. You'll want the extra water when you do go cruising long enough to want the big tank anyway..It's just a idea...

 

[David Simpson]

Ballast?

Being that the two tanks on the 37c are roughly equal in size and location, what about filling only one before taking off on a lengthy passage? Then, just before going from one tack to another, twist a valve and let all the water drain into the leeward tank. Once the tack is made, it becomes the windward one and you effectively have "moveable water ballast".Just a thought on a cold day......

 

[Ed Schenck]

Water or storage?

Hi Frank, I fill the tanks on my '79 H37C by timing it. I time how long it takes to fill a 2-gallon bucket then move the hose from the bucket to the inlet. I like to keep about 20 gallons in each tank for day sailing.My gauges work but the floats need to be replaced to return the accuracy. Since I plan to cruise I need the capacity but some have installed smaller tanks to get the added storage space. As for cleaning I just follow Peggy's instructions in the Spring. Sorry about the cold weather in Long Beach Dave. But I think the manifold is too low in the bilge to shift the water from tank to tank. Maybe at 45 degrees though.

 

[Tom Neal]

Who wants to drink Aluminum anyway?

FrankI also have a 37-C and had those nasty aluminum "fuel" tanks. I cut a hole in the top to "clean" the tanks and found hugh gobs of a slimy grey gunk in the bottom of each plus loads of oxidized aluminum on the sides.So I took a circular saw to the tops and removed both tanks. after lining the areas with carpet I replaced both with flexible 37 gal bags and all is much better. Just look at the bag and you know how much water you have. Also they are easily removable for cleaning.Good luckTomtneal@cybernet2k.com

 

[Bob Miller]

No Problems

There has already been alot of good input on this discussion, but I'll add one more anyway. I installed a "T" between the two tanks, with a separate valve on each side of the "T" for each tank. I had a different reason for doing this. This allows me to shut off both tanks when FILLING so I can fill each tank independently. When trying to fill the tanks without these shutoffs, one tank would crossfeed to the other, forcing me to alternate between the two tanks until both were full. I am just an occassional weekend sailor and keep both tanks mostly full. I have never cleaned the tanks (in the 12 years I've owned the boat) nor had any problems with water quality. I've noticed that the water quality depends more on where I get the water, not how long it stays in the tank.

 

[Ed Schenck]

Why Bob?

Why did you need to modify with shutoffs for each tank? Each of my tanks leads to a "T" valve(manifold). That valve(center bilge, near galley sink) normally is used to select which tank(one or both) is flowing to the pump. But I thought it could also be used to totally close off the manifold.

 

[Bob Miller]

"T" Valve

Ed,My "T" valve was not really a "T" valve before, but just a "T".

 

[Frank Ireton]

Thanks and I should have added

Thanks for the great ideas. Now to put them to work. I should have added that the water in our marina comes from a well. It is great, but untreated so it greens up after a while.