Hi there
I filled up both fresh water tanks yesterday and noticed a couple gallons of it ended up in the bilge
I checked the hoses and tank connections and all looked good - any idea how this might be happening? Is there some sort of overflow area where water would end up in the bilge if the tanks were full but kept getting filled?
Many thx in advance!!
If you have the tanks in the "open" position you may have a leaking hose going to a sink. If the inspection orts on the tops of the tanks arn't tight, water could come from there too while filling if you over fill
Chuck Parker
HelenRita 2072 Mk II
2002 Tall Rig - Winged Keel
Atlantic Highlands, NJ
The caps on the top of the tanks allow water to escape particularly if there is strong water pressure from the filling hose. That may be where the excess water came from.
Gary Bain
S/V "Gone With The Wind"
Catalina 36', Hull #: 1056, Year: 1990, Engine: M-35
Standard Rig
Moored: Boothbay Harbor, Maine
Home: Auburn, Maine
I have the same issue... If there's too much pressure in tanks, the top caps leak. If you keep all your valves open at the pump (from all 3 tanks) when you fill up, the rear starboard tank seems to be the on that's most likely cap to leak on my boat... I'm guessing that it sits slightly lower than the centerline tank. I've tried sealing the caps with plumbers tape and it helps, but if I completely fill the system, that cap will leak. I realize it's probably a good thing - better to release a bit there than put too much pressure on the tanks and the rest of the system.
I'm experimenting with different filling up and usage techniques.... Next time I'm going to close the forward feeder valve, fill my forward tank. Then fill my aft tanks (but be careful not to overfill). I'm going to leave the forward feeder closed until I use a bit of the water in my aft tanks. My theory is that if all 3 tanks are full, the water in the forward tank puts enough pressure on the system to cause the lowest cap to leak. If there's a bit of breathing room in those aft tanks, then maybe it won't leak.
Then again... I could be completely wrong!
Jake Z
five o'clock somewhere
2000 Catalina 36 MKII
Hull #1836
Jake,
I think most owners use one tank at a time, to better keep track of their usage. In other words, keep the valves closed for the tanks that you are not using. If one tank starts leaking, you would only lose the water in that tank, not the water in all tanks. Also if you have a problem in one tank, you can isolate that problem, and still have use of the other tanks. Just a thought.
Tom Sokoloski
C36/375IA Past Commodore
Noank, CT
Hey Tom... Thanks for the note on that. I'll do that and see how it works for me.
Jake Z
five o'clock somewhere
2000 Catalina 36 MKII
Hull #1836
As a new owner with LOTS of issues, fresh water leakage being a big one, I hadn't come up with tank isolation as a firs step. THANKS, Tom!
Kevin Lenard
"Firefly"
'91 C-36 Mk. "1.5" Tall Rig, Fin Keel, Hull #1120, Universal M-35 original (not "A" or "B")
CBYC, Scarborough, Lake Ontario, Canada
Great suggestions - Mamy thx
I use a similar process. Fill all tanks. Start drawing only from starboard. When empty, switch to center (aft). When empty, switch to bow and start thinking about filling. With bow tank the largest, this gives best probability of not running out!
Joe & Patti Worth
"Tehani"
1999 C36 MKII #1810
Atlantic Highlands, NJ