Fred - I have an 89 MK1 with 42 gallon capacity. 2 tanks in the aft cabin - 1 under the starboard bench and 1 under the bed behind the prop shaft. I'm surprised you only have 20 gallons. A few members have upgraded their tankage - you could start here - https://www.catalina36.org/forum/technical-discussion/installing-bow-wat...
Searching for "water tank" gives you a lot to weed through - but there are some good reads in there.
I am planning to add a bow tank as well but it hasn't made it to the top of the list yet. I am installing a valve assembly this spring to give me easier access to switching the tanks and I have added a valve for the additional tank. There is an upgrade article by Bruce Landsberg in the members only section on the valve setup. The valves are located in the small shelf below the oven in the galley.
—
_____________
Harold Baker
S/V Lucky Duck
Duncan Bay Boat Club
Cheboygan Michigan - Lake Huron
1989 C-36 mkI TR/WK M25XP
Thanks, Harold. That's very helpful. I like the boat overall, but the water capacity has been a nagging doubt. We plan to cruise the Caribbean in her, and I want to be sure we're not constantly pulling in somewhere to top it off.
That's what these valves were supposed to be for? Mine don't appear to be connected to anything, and neither the dealer or the surveyor knew what they were for. Thank you for solving the mystery! I have the 3-tank, 3-valve setup, with the valves under the dinette settee, so the PO must have done this at some point.
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Don Lincoln
"Nancy Lynn"
1993 Catalina MK1.5, Hull 1238
LaSalle, MI (Lake Erie)
Universal M-35AC
Don: Your setup might have been for the two foot pumps in the picture. One for that galley/refrigerator drain and one for a sea water rinse in your galley? Not sure - they could still have been for the fresh water tanks - hard to tell.
—
_____________
Harold Baker
S/V Lucky Duck
Duncan Bay Boat Club
Cheboygan Michigan - Lake Huron
1989 C-36 mkI TR/WK M25XP
My 83 also has the two tanks Harold referenced. Do you have water fills on both sides at the stern for water?? I find I need to way over fill both tanks to make sure they are full and not just feeding each other.
Les
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Les & Trish Troyer
Mahalo
Everett, WA
1983 C-36 Hull #0094
C-36 MK 1 Technical Editor.
Fred,
My 1990 has the two tank configuration as described above. 42 gal total capacity. We looked seriously at adding a bow tank but instead went with the idea that perhaps we should stock the bow with one gallon containers of drinking water. After looking at how we used water, we went with filling the bow with bottled water as we seldom drink tank water. 30 Gallons in bottles. (saves on the Imodium bill)
We shower with tank water, cook with it and clean with it but seldom drink it. We also have a flexible tank that can be placed upon the deck to enable additional potable water storage when the needs arise. Beyond that, we never really did see the need to add a bow tank.
Hope that helps.
Bill
—
Bill Dolan 1990 Catalina C-36 MKI - Hull #1041 'Williwaw'
Std. Rig, Walk Through, Wing Keel
M35, Oberdorfer Conversion,
Home Waters; Charlotte Harbor & The Gulf Islands of Florida
'You are never out of work if you own a boat'
Fred - I have an 89 MK1 with 42 gallon capacity. 2 tanks in the aft cabin - 1 under the starboard bench and 1 under the bed behind the prop shaft. I'm surprised you only have 20 gallons. A few members have upgraded their tankage - you could start here -
https://www.catalina36.org/forum/technical-discussion/installing-bow-wat...
Searching for "water tank" gives you a lot to weed through - but there are some good reads in there.
I am planning to add a bow tank as well but it hasn't made it to the top of the list yet. I am installing a valve assembly this spring to give me easier access to switching the tanks and I have added a valve for the additional tank. There is an upgrade article by Bruce Landsberg in the members only section on the valve setup. The valves are located in the small shelf below the oven in the galley.
_____________
Harold Baker
S/V Lucky Duck
Duncan Bay Boat Club
Cheboygan Michigan - Lake Huron
1989 C-36 mkI TR/WK M25XP
Thanks, Harold. That's very helpful. I like the boat overall, but the water capacity has been a nagging doubt. We plan to cruise the Caribbean in her, and I want to be sure we're not constantly pulling in somewhere to top it off.
Again, thanks.
That's what these valves were supposed to be for? Mine don't appear to be connected to anything, and neither the dealer or the surveyor knew what they were for. Thank you for solving the mystery! I have the 3-tank, 3-valve setup, with the valves under the dinette settee, so the PO must have done this at some point.
Don Lincoln
"Nancy Lynn"
1993 Catalina MK1.5, Hull 1238
LaSalle, MI (Lake Erie)
Universal M-35AC
Don: Your setup might have been for the two foot pumps in the picture. One for that galley/refrigerator drain and one for a sea water rinse in your galley? Not sure - they could still have been for the fresh water tanks - hard to tell.
_____________
Harold Baker
S/V Lucky Duck
Duncan Bay Boat Club
Cheboygan Michigan - Lake Huron
1989 C-36 mkI TR/WK M25XP
My 83 also has the two tanks Harold referenced. Do you have water fills on both sides at the stern for water?? I find I need to way over fill both tanks to make sure they are full and not just feeding each other.
Les
Les & Trish Troyer
Mahalo
Everett, WA
1983 C-36 Hull #0094
C-36 MK 1 Technical Editor.
Commodore
Thanks, Les. This is interesting. Makes me wonder about the fella who did the inspection for me. I'll have to check further myself.
Fred
Fred,
My 1990 has the two tank configuration as described above. 42 gal total capacity. We looked seriously at adding a bow tank but instead went with the idea that perhaps we should stock the bow with one gallon containers of drinking water. After looking at how we used water, we went with filling the bow with bottled water as we seldom drink tank water. 30 Gallons in bottles. (saves on the Imodium bill)
We shower with tank water, cook with it and clean with it but seldom drink it. We also have a flexible tank that can be placed upon the deck to enable additional potable water storage when the needs arise. Beyond that, we never really did see the need to add a bow tank.
Hope that helps.
Bill
Bill Dolan 1990 Catalina C-36 MKI - Hull #1041 'Williwaw'
Std. Rig, Walk Through, Wing Keel
M35, Oberdorfer Conversion,
Home Waters; Charlotte Harbor & The Gulf Islands of Florida
'You are never out of work if you own a boat'
Thanks, Bill. It seems to be unanimous that the fella who did the inspection for me might have missed a water tank.
Thanks also for sharing your experience as well.
Fred