Hi Rich,

Each tank should be on it's own valve.  As the valves are bunched together they won't help with line leakage, but will help with weight distribution.  Water weighs 8.35 lb per gallon.  If your boat list slightly to the starboard with the tanks full, I'd drain the starboard tank first.  If not, the forward tank is like having a football linebacker standing on the foredeck.  Drain that one first, then the starboard second and finally the aft center tank.   That's my take. Of course, you're probably not racing so these small weight differences don't really matter.

Lou Bruska
Sojourn
C36 MK 1, Hull #495

Hi Rich,

Each tank should be on it's own valve.  As the valves are bunched together they won't help with line leakage, but will help with weight distribution.  Water weighs 8.35 lb per gallon.  If your boat list slightly to the starboard with the tanks full, I'd drain the starboard tank first.  If not, the forward tank is like having a football linebacker standing on the foredeck.  Drain that one first, then the starboard second and finally the aft center tank.   That's my take. Of course, you're probably not racing so these small weight differences don't really matter.

Lou Bruska
Sojourn
C36 MK 1, Hull #495

Hi Rich,

On my first post, I forgot to mention the most important reason for have each tank on its own valve.  If one of the combined tanks leak, in effect, they both leak.

Lou

I replaced the valves on my 2002 C36 but found it a pain in the neck to have to open up the sette cushion/hatch cover every time. On my boat (at least)) I had a fire extinguisher in a cut-out under the stove. I moved that to the starboard side and put a 3 valve distribution bar in the cut-out. Much handier.

Someone on the site did this years ago and there should be more details in the tech library... that's where I got the idea from.