Some PO put stainless steel caps on the aluminum fresh water deck fillers on my 1983 C36. They are so solidly welded together, they're never coming apart. So, I wanted to buy new housings and caps and as ever, by the time I get done, I'm going to wind up replacing the whole boat if not careful. The problem is that the old fillers are 3/4 pipe, every new one I've been able to find is 1.5. That means either trying to step down, which leaves too much room for leaks, or replacing the filler, tubing, getting sideways in the lazarette and cutting the various openings wider, and putting in a new connection on the water tanks. And oh by the way, the new caps are a smaller diameter than the original, which means kludging up some way to fill in around the opening and not all three screws actually have a place in the deck for mounting.
Or, if someone still makes that original diameter filler cap, I could just install it.
Anyone know of a source?
Thanks
Dan
S/V Tao
#114
S/V Tao
Catalina 36
1983, Hull #114
Dan,
There have been a number of different deck fills used thru the years. It might be a good idea to post a pic so that others could indentify it and give you some ideas. Also, I've never heard of a 3/4" deck fill. Did you look at the top of the tank to confirm that it's 3/4" all the way from the deck to the tank? Maybe there already is a reducing coupler that you could take out and use 1.5" hose as most other boats are plumbed??
Tom Sokoloski
C36/375IA Past Commodore
Noank, CT
I was just down the the boat, the hose size is 1" ID, so my memory was off. I'll try to get a pic. Thanks.
S/V Tao
Catalina 36
1983, Hull #114
Here's an image of the original deck filler showing the small diameter of the throughput. It's about 7/8ths. I was told these are not even made anymore. Trying to step-down leaves the problem that leaks can occur at every step.
S/V Tao
Catalina 36
1983, Hull #114
Hi Dan,
I imagine you've solved your problem by now, but I wanted to post this for future searchers.
My 1984 filler caps (Wilcox Crittenden 1.25") were worn out and one had a hole in it from the key pressure over the years. I read all about how the W-C caps are no longer available (eg at the Catalina Direct site), but on a whim took the old one up to West Marine. They had in stock a Spare Waste Cap by Perko that fits perfectly. Perko Cat. # 1269DP099A
Hope this helps
nick
Nick Tonkin
*Former* Website Administrator, C36/375IA
*Former* owner, C36 tr/fk #255, Santa Barbara, CA