The boat is new to me since October last year. I've had to learn a lot so far.
so I was motoring out of my home port's channel and the engine quit. Right in the narrow channel of Rockhold creek in Deale Md, just between the jetties. I managed to hoist the sales, and steer away from the rocks, back into the harbor and I actually sailed back into the slip.. (pretty proud of myself for that one).
anyway, there was water in the fuel. My mechanic thinks it got in there from bad threading on the neck of the diesel fill plate. I arranged to have it pumped out and polished.
unfortunately the fuel polishing guy couldn't get
it done because the access hole in the lazarette doesn't line up with the access cap on the tank itself. I'm including some pics. I know that the previous owner had a new tank installed at some point in the last few years so that must be why it's not lining up. The refrigeration compressor seems to be in the way.
Does anyone have any experience with this? What should I do? Thank you
Looking at your pictures the set-up looks unfamiliar to me. Could you add a bit more information as to the make of your boat, model,and year. Catalina 36 MK1 -MK1.5 models, the fuel tank would be under the seat in main cabin and refrigeration would be in the port locker.
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
That picture is of the floor of the port side lazerette in the cockpit. The fuel tank is underneath. You can see the top of it through that access hole, but the two holes don't line up.
I can access the fuel tank through the aft cockpit. There are some screws that remove a panel. I wonder if I can take that panel off, and push the entire fuel tank a few inches towards the centerline just enough so the the holes line up, for the purpose of polishing the tank. Then move it back
It looks like the PO cut a bigger square hole and then put a piece of wood to cover it and I am guessing, a round port added and arranged so you can reach the fuel cutoff. Unscrew the fasteners holding on the wood piece and you may be able to reach the fuel gauge to remove it and access the tank.
thats coming from the owner of an early mkii yours looks 'similar'
Gerry Davies
Amara 1995 C36mkii #1392
TRWK M35A
Tampa, FL
Access to the fuel tank itself is easy. However to move or slide it out can be difficult. You'll need a long shaft screen driver to reach the brackets on the corners. It will also depend on how much fuel is in the tank.
A better option is to remove the fuel line from the racor and attach the polishing pump to it.
David S. Power
Two If By Sea #1687
Burnt Store Marina
Punta Gorda, FL