Ben it is very straight forward as I have had mine out a few times. Asuming your tank is right behind the gally sink. You will need to loosen up the hot water heater so you can move it to the side some. I do not take any of the hot water heater hoses off. Take and label your wires for your sending unit and tank ground. Then remove the hoses fron the tank. Once done I belive there are 3 screws per side at the bottom of the tank. It is a L bracket welded to the tank. Once the screw are all out. Then gently work the tank out of the hole. It will come with out any cutting of the glass. Good luck

Hi Ben,

Unless you need to inspect the bottom of the tank exterior, you might think of cleaning the tank in place since it is so easy to get at. I recently had mine cleaned and the fellow drained it and thoroughly scrubbed it in place in a few hours. You'll need to cut inspection plates on either side of the baffle in order to get at the whole tank interior, just an FYI. If you'd like a pic of where he cut mine, just let me know.

Mike

We removed our tank on 1983, hull 78 Catalina 36 this summer. And yes, our tank was glassed in place - glass over tabs. I had to cut the glass with a dremmel , and also had to bend the tabs down in order to remove the tank as the opening was too small to allow the tank to be pulled through.

Ben. I had some glass over the tabs but screws under that. Each may be different. No bending of tabs either. I developed a leak in the bottom while in the Bahamas. I had to patch it with glass. It will come back out in a month so I can add a few layers of glass to the whole bottom as it was setting on a piece of plywood and it developed a few pin holes. Mike if it is a 33 gallon could you post the lenght and width. I need to cut me a piece of new plywood as I would like a general size as I am 1200 miles from our boat.

Hi Randy - I won't be at the boat for a few days, but I'll post those measurements ASAP. Mine is a 33 gallon as well.

Mike

Mike-

Could you please post that picture? Thanks!

Is your tank a 32 or 33 gallon?

Our 1989 MKI is listed as 32.

Hi Laura, here you go. Mine is a '91 and it is a 33 gallon tank. The two large inspection plates really allowed room to get the interior absolutely spotless prior to refueling. FWIW, the small cap at the top left side of the photo comes off to allow for checking fuel level with a dipstick. The guy I used has been cleaning tanks in Marina del Rey since 1976 and he suggested it and I like it as a backup to the fuel sender or some expensive contraption.

Mike

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[QUOTE=mutualfun;10163]Mike if it is a 33 gallon could you post the lenght and width. [/QUOTE]

Hi Randy,

Getting back to you, my 33 gallon tank measures 16" wide by 30 1/2 " long.

Mike

I need help!  I own a 1985 36 foot MK1. The fuel tank is leaking into the bilge. The label on the tank identifies it as a 35 gallon capacity.
 The L bracket on the port side looks to be glassed in, but I can't see the starboard end of the tank  it is very close to the fiberglass end of the seat  
any suggestions?  

I replaced mine a few years ago not easy on the port side I is glassed to the bottom with the hot water tank shelf on top of the tabs 
First had to slide hot water heater over some fittings broke from being so old
Then cut a good size piece of the the heaters shelf out to free the takns mounting tab
Then cut the tab from the bottom of the boat. You will have to pull the tank at an angle to get it out 
you can do it with and only use three four letter words

We're looking at doing this very soon on our 88'.  Small leak somewhere that is quite frustrating....  Also I dont like not having a port to check / confirm fuel levels with a dip stick.