[C38] early 20 gal fuel tanks, remove & replace

[mark turner]

Mine is definately bigger than yours. and rectangular in plan view. It takes up pretty much nearly all the space. The extra fuel capacity was certainly very useful crossing the Gulf of Mexico when I took delivery of her.The through hulls for the engine and air con are both well over toward the centre line - and can be quite difficult to get to for those of us less flexible people.
All the other C38's I have been on have a low step down from the galley chart table area into the saloon. I found them quite lethal and much prefer the sloping floor - especially when under way at night, and doing watch changes by red light.
Good luck with the tank replacement.

  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: D. R. Strong 
  To: Catalina 38 Listserve 
  Sent: Tuesday, November 27, 2007 1:59 PM
  Subject: Re: [C38] early 20 gal fuel tanks, remove & replace


  Mark: 
      Discreet Charm is hull number 50, 1980. She has a factory tank that holds ca 20 gallons. The tank is about 20 inches square horizontally, about 8.5 high on the outboard (starboard) side, and about 12 inches high on the inboard side. It has a pinhole leak along a welded seam. My pal and I pumped the residual fuel into a jerry can, then got the tank out pretty easily through the underbunk access. Cutting the fuel fill hose was necessary because the hose was fused to the aluminum fill. I have been told that learned that in California shops either cannot by law or will no not by sanity weld tanks that have held fuel; it is not worth a drive to Reno to find a welder. Upgrades to battery and freshwater strainer, etc have taken all extra room in the area, and I could not install a larger tank without major fiberglass surgery on the underbunk panel, which I dont want to do. 20 gallons serves me well, especially with Tom Troncalli's refueling scheme installed.
     I got an email quote of about  $350 plus $35 shipping from Speedytanks.com, in Pompano Beach, FL, a company recommended by Cree at Berkeley Marine. We have temporarily reinstalled the original tank after lots of epoxy on the leak. After the holidays and when we have used the 15 gallons or so remaining in the tank, I will replace it with the speedytank. I want to do perfect measurements on the removed tank before ordering the replacement.
      The sleuthing job to find the leak has been one of the biggest pains we have had with the boat. I hope to photograph the replacement operation and place saga on our web site.

  ps. Do any C38s not have a sloping floor?

  regards, Don


  mark turner wrote: 
    Hi Phil, The Goose is a 1981 with sloping floor. I have the rectangular under bunk access panel. My fuel tank is shaped like the one in the drawing (goodness knows how I would ever get it out). Can't remember how much it holds except it is more than 18 gals. The brokers advert said 35 gals- i seem to recall it was more like 25.
      ----- Original Message ----- 
      From: eyriepg at comcast.net 
      To: hlhowell at pacbell.net ; Catalina 38 Listserve 
      Sent: Wednesday, October 24, 2007 5:08 PM
      Subject: Re: [C38] Fuel tank tech info -- 5M attachments


      After comparing Les's photos of his 1982 fuel tank, which looks like the tank drawing in the tech tips part of the C38 web site, I am concluding that this tank could not possibly fit under the quarterberth on my boat.  The main problem is the my raw water through hull is in the way.  Les's boat also has a larger access hole since his hole follows the chamfered shape of the quarterberth molding where my cutout is rectangular.

      Now I am wondering if any pre 1982 boats have a larger tank than the 18 gallon one that I have in my boat.  I believe that in 1982 Catalina made a number of changes to the interior of the C38.  The countertop around the sink is shaped differently and a little higher, and the floor is stepped down forward of the galley where the earlier floors slope down (this takes guests by surprise all the time).  Any comments by pre 1982 boat owners would be very helpful.

      Phil Gay
      C38 049 Que Linda
      Everett, WA

        -------------- Original message -------------- 
        From: Les <hlhowell at pacbell.net> 

        > Hi, everyone, 
        > Sorry it took me so long to get the photos and get them posted. Please 
        > forgive the dirty appearance of the area near the fuel tank, we haven't 
        > had time to get that cleaned up this year... 
        > 
        > I used a tape measure to help you see the distances. These photos can 
        > be posted if Catalina approves. 
        > 
        > Regards, 
        > Les H 
        > JACE 
        > 


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-- 
Donald R. Strong
Professor
Section of Evolution and Ecology
University of California Davis
95616
530 752 7886


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