[C38] Sloping floor

[Les]

Hi, Rich and all,
	A prior owner had placed a bladder tank in the starboard settee on JACE
for water, but with no vent.  Over time, the bladder filled with air,
not water, and wouldn't work right.  Eventually I just removed it
because we wanted the storage space anyway.  I would be suspecious that
if you allowed the fuel level to ever fall below the hose connection to
the bladder for fuel, you might have the same problem.  I do know that
if you hang a bladder upright, with the fill up, it will bleed the air
naturally, assuming the ultimate fill is above the tank.  But laying on
its side, with a hose lower than the tank, it tends not to do that and
the flow into it can be pressure blocked.

Regards,
Les H
On Tue, 2007-11-27 at 10:52 -0800, Rich West wrote:
> Hi Phil and all,
>  
> We've installed a bladder tank on Legacy.  We put it under the port
> dinette seat after applying some thin closed-cell foam to protect the
> tank from abrasion.  As it's a bladder thank, it requires no vent.  We
> ran the hose to the main tank and we put valves and a transfer pump
> right in front of the main tank.  We never feed the engine directly
> from the bladder tank but just transfer fuel to and from the main tank
> and bladder tank.  Although it's a 20 gallon tank, it only holds about
> 18 gallons where it's installed.  I'm really happy with the
> arrangement.  
>  
> Between our 35 gallon main tank, the 18 gallon bladder tank and jugs,
> we carry about 90 gallons of fuel when we start out on an offshore
> passage.
>  
> Rich, Legacy, #360
> 
> 
> ______________________________________________________________________
> From: listserve-bounces at catalina38.org
> [mailto:listserve-bounces at catalina38.org] On Behalf Of
> eyriepg at comcast.net
> Sent: Tuesday, November 27, 2007 10:05 AM
> To: Catalina 38 list
> Subject: [C38] Sloping floor
> 
> 
> 
> It appears that several changes were made to the Catalina 38 in 1982.
> One of them was to change the sloping floor to a slight step down
> going forward.  We have the slope covered by a sole fitting carpet and
> nearly everyone who comes aboard for the first time nearly takes a
> tumble on the slope.  I would guess that the slope is safer after you
> get used to it being there.
>  
> Another 1982 change was the shape of the galley countertop.  The sinks
> appear to be moved outboard and the countertop raised about 2 inches.
> The drop leaf counter extension was eliminated and an extra drawer was
> placed under the counter at its end.  I value my early model drop leaf
> table and the extra large dry storage locker that having the sinks
> inboard gives me.  But, it is a pain in the back using the lower
> countertop level.
>  
> I imagine that 1982 also brought the larger fuel tank with the larger
> cutout in the quarterberth platform.  Our cruising on the inside
> passage really warrants the larger fuel capacity, which I try to
> replicate with gerry cans of fuel on deck.  I was planning to add a
> larger tank, even moving the raw water intake, but I am concerned
> about engine access.  Que Linda was refitted with a Yanmar 3GM30 and
> the oil dip stick is aft on the starboard side of the engine.  If I
> add the larger tank, I doubt that I will have access to the dip stick
> and fuel pump/filter.  HAS ANYONE HAD EXPERIENCE WITH DIESEL BLADDER
> TANKS?
>  
> Another change around 1982 was the step at the head of the v-berth.
> The earlier C38s had a step below where the plug fits in the v-berth.
> Later models have a bit more floor space when the plug is out.
>  
> Another circa 1982 change was the addition of a boarding ladder in the
> aft rail of the cockpit.
>  
> Anyone think of other 1982 changes?  I will write them up and submit
> them to the webpage.
>  
> Also what year did Catalina Yachts add the flush windows?  It must
> have been around 1987 or 1988.
>  
> Phil Gay
> C38 049 Que Linda (a 1980 model)
> Everett, WA
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