The raw water seacock on my 1999 Cataline 36 is behind the engine in a rather inconvenient location accessed from the aft berth. One has to raise the cushion (after moving anything on top of it), duck under it, lift off a cover, reach down into the cavity behind the transmission to see it using a flash light. Sometime before 2005 Catalina moved the seacock access to a more appropriate location in the entrance of the aft berth.
Has anyone modified the plumbing of the raw water intake, using the existing seacock, but adding a ball valve between the seacock and the strainer which could be accessed more conveniently? Yes it would mean more connections. And probably 4-5 ft of added tubing. I'm assuming the new value and tubing needs to be below the water line before entering the strainer.
Are the drawbacks to this design riskier than me wrenching my back operating the current located seacock, or just leaving it open, such as when cruising because this area becomes our garage and thus too much stuff to move to access?
Yes, I have to use flash light to see the seacock and open the cover that is below the mattress. My mattress is always folded back, so access is no problem.
If you are considering installing a ball valve elsewhere, you will have to remove the existing seacock and connect a new hose to the through-hull directly. This means the through-hull must be replaced to accept the hose.
In my opinion it is not worth the cost.
I wonder if a new seacock can be installed under the seat in front of the table for easier access.
Sail La Vie 1999 Catalina 36 MKII, M35B-17031, Coyote Point, San Mateo, CA
About Sail La Vie
I agree that the location of the pre-2005 raw water seacock is not ideal, especially after just upgrading from a C30. For the next haulout, I've been thinking of moving the thruhull and seacock to where it is for the the 2005+ hulls, and adding an access door of some sort. I would fill the old location as well.
The main unknown is where the strainer is on the 2005+ boats. Is it also moved toward the starboard side of the cavity to reduce the hose run and suction resistance? Or is it still on the port side of the transmission and prop shaft like my 2004, and the longer hose is ok (and doesn't rub on the prop shaft)?
Our 2005's intake strainer is mounted on the aft berth bulkhead in the engine compartment. It is just above the stuffing box and next to the water/fuel separator.
The valve and a female hose fitting (In which I screw in a plug when not in use- for backup safety should there be an issue with the ball valve below it) at the bottom of the picture was added by the PO. It's a useful freshwater flush feature. When the boat is on the hard, I place a bucket of fresh water on the after berth. I have a 4-foot length of garden hose. The female end is screwed into a male connector just above the ball valve. The other end of the hose is placed in the bucket. The engine water intake is closed, and the yellow handled ball valve is opened, allowing cooling water to be drawn from the bucket . After I flush everything, I wait until the bucket is sucked dry and then I pour in a few of gallons of antifreeze and draw that through the HX and muffler to winterize. When completed, I close the ball valve and open the raw water intake valve to drain any remaining water. It makes winterizing the engine easy.
Our raw water intake valve is located beneath the aft berth. It has a convenient access door just as you enter the aft cabin.
Paul & Wendy Keyser
"First Light"
Rye NH
2005 C36 MKII #2257
Wing, M35B
Paul & Wendy Keyser
"First Light"
Rye NH
2005 C36 MKII #2257
Wing, M35B
For some reason, I'm having difficulty posting the photo of our strainer set up. I'll try reformatting
Paul & Wendy Keyser
"First Light"
Rye NH
2005 C36 MKII #2257
Wing, M35B