Association Forum - Extra Water Tank for more Bow Weight

Assn Members Area · Join

Home.

Association Forum

Ships Store

Cruising

Racing

Technical Tips

Photo Gallery - New

Boat Search - Updated

Manuals & Brochures

Swap Meet

Links

Officer Flag Line & Staff

Bylaws & Constitution

Members Area

Join the Association

Notice:
The advice given on this site is based upon individual or quoted experience, yours may differ.
The Officers, Staff and members of this site only provide information based upon the concept that anyone utilizing this information does so at their own risk and holds harmless all contributors to this site.

Association Forum

Username:	Password:
Save Password
Forgot your Password?

All Forums

Catalina/Capri 25/250 Sailor's Forums

Catalina 250 Specific Forum

Extra Water Tank for more Bow Weight

New Topic

Topic Locked

Printer Friendly

Author

Topic

Russ.Johnson
Commodore

Member Avatar

USA
855 Posts

Initially Posted - 07/10/2006 : 00:43:33

I've read many posts about adding bow weight for the winged-keel boats. [url="http://www.catalina-capri-25s.org/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=12902"]Forward Ballast[/url]
I have a water-ballast boat and want to reduce weather helm.
If adding bow weight works for a winged-keel then I thought it might help for a water-ballast.

Here's my situation.
We sail on the San Francisco bay where it blows 20+ daily.
We have a 3rd generation rudder (the shorter WB one).
We only have the stock 110% jib.
We keep the boat on the trailer so removing extra weight is important.
I installed an electric bilge pump, so emptying the water tank is easy.

I installed a flexible water tank in the v-berth.
The result is the bow is 2 inches lower than before.
Weather helm is reduced and the bow cuts through the waves.
The downside is the outboard cavitates easier, so we sit on the starboard side leaving the marina.
Also, the boat is slower in light winds (for me is a reasonable trade-off).

I made a cover for the depth finder sensor with "Starboard"

New flexible water tank installed
The forward fitting connects to the standard water tank.
The aft fitting has a brass value the connects to a garden hose.

Starboard water pipes before project

Starboard water pipes with new valves
The forward-right valve connects the new water tank to the standard water tank.
The aft-right valve (closed) drains to the aft bilge (to the electric bilge pump).
The aft-left valve connects to the galley sink.
This solves another problem when filling the standard water tank the sink would spit.

The water tank is a Plastimo 16658 (32 gal. water tank).
I bought it through [url="http://www.marisafe.com/Store/viewItem.asp?ID=453010057&CID=45300000&FLT=453010057"]Marisafe[/url]
There are 2 models (Plastimo 16658 and Plastimo 26957)
The 16658 has the inlet/outlet on the same side.
The 26957 has the inlet/outlet on different sides.
The water tanks have 1.5 inch inlet and 0.5 inch outlet.
I used the Plastimo 19265 Fitting Kit and converted both the inlet and outlet to 0.5 inch. [url="http://www.marisafe.com/Store/viewItem.asp?ID=453010106"]Fitting Kit[/url]
Marisafe sells on ebay (I bought on ebay for 1/2 price).
On ebay.com search for "Plastimo Water Tank"

Russ (#793)

Russ Johnson
2005 C250WB Hull 793

Edited by - Russ.Johnson on 07/10/2006 11:53:10

americanrascal
1st Mate

Members Avatar

USA
50 Posts

Response Posted - 07/10/2006 : 04:43:14

This looks like a great addition Russ. Do you notice any rain leakage around the front hatch or companionway area as a result of the boat being canted that far forward?
Joe

Edited by - on

Ben - FL
Admiral

Members Avatar

880 Posts

Response Posted - 07/10/2006 : 06:08:48

Looks like a good mod. The best part of this is that it is adjustable. If two inches of burden at the bow is too much just dump some of the ballast.

Edited by - on

Russ.Johnson
Commodore

Members Avatar

USA
855 Posts

Response Posted - 07/10/2006 : 11:54:34

Joe,
Rain water might be a problem.
I keep the boat on the trailer and empty the water tanks after each use.
Sometimes I rent a slip for a week or two, but it hasn't rained while the boat been in the water.
Russ (#793)

Edited by - on

Tom Potter
Master Marine Consultant

Members Avatar

USA
1913 Posts

Response Posted - 07/10/2006 : 19:14:05

Russ, Looks great, I like it. When I first started adding weight to the bow I added 300 pounds to start, but I've been making changes and 150 is working the best for me now. Seems ashamed to waste that space with sand, but 32 gallons (267#) is to much for me. I need about 18 gallons maybe 20 (150#). Thanks for the idea.

Edited by - on

britinusa
Web Editor

Members Avatar

USA
5404 Posts

Response Posted - 08/15/2006 : 07:20:05

Russ,
just following up on your post re the flexi tank.
We're going to order the same tank, the one that arrived (purchased by a family member as a gift) was the 39gal rectangular version.. way to big).

In our case we would not drain to the bilge as I installed a water pump, so it would only take 10mins to pump out the full tank, and we do that washing down the boat upon retrieval. Do you happen to know if the valves could be mounted through the side of the cabin seat (just the handle exposed), my new stbd side cooler doesn't allow access to that area to operate the valve.
I'll probably just use a single valve, between the two tanks, to maintain control of which tank gets drained in use.

Are you still happy with the results? any issues yet?

Paul.

Edited by - on

Russ.Johnson
Commodore

Members Avatar

USA
855 Posts

Response Posted - 08/15/2006 : 12:15:42

Paul,
I'm happy with the results, but this solution is not for everyone.
Keep in mind, we sail on the San Francisco Bay where it blows 20+ daily.
I've been reading your posts and I know you cruise for several days,
so an extra water tank and reducing weatherhelm will work double-duty for you.

One issue is knowing when the flexible water tank is full.
You have to touch the flexible water tank to feel how much pressure it has.
I was hoping to fill from the dock, but that didn't work.
This means keeping the v-berth cover open to feel the pressure.
I also need to cut the v-berth cover and install a hinge.

Also, I forgot to drain the tanks before loading on the trailer.
If your trailer bow roller is above water, it a real effort to crank the bow onto the roller with full tanks.
If you are going to use your wash down pump after it's on the trailer,
then get the trailer as deep as possible.

Your question about the valves, I wouldn't mount the handles through the cabin seat bulkhead.
I would put the valves either under the v-berth or under the galley cabinet (not in the cabinet).
For daysailing, the v-berth works best.
For cruising and want to switch tanks without opening the v-berth, under the cabinet works best.
Remove the trash can under the sink to access the space under the cabinet.
The PVC valves could easily fit there and still have room for the trash can.
You would have to run another hose next to your existing one from the new water tank to galley cabinet for the valve connections.

I checked e-bay today and Marisafe has the tank listed --> [url="http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Plastimo-Marine-Flexible-Water-Tank-32-gallon_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQcategoryZ26451QQihZ015QQitemZ250017550189QQrdZ1"]Water Tank[/url]
The auction ends Aug-18. Once they sell it they list it again.
So don't get in a bidding war, it will be back.
I also used the Plastimo 19265 Fitting Kit and converted both the inlet and outlet to 0.5 inch. Working with 1.5 inch fittings wasn't worth it.

Let me know if you have questions.
Russ (#793)

Edited by - on

britinusa
Web Editor

Members Avatar

USA
5404 Posts

Response Posted - 08/15/2006 : 20:46:05

Cutting the V-berth storage cover and setting a piano hinge was one of our first mods and was one of the most productive! I put the cushions in place, drew a line on the top of the cover passing the fibertip pen between the edges of the two cushions so that the cut would line up with the gap. Works a charm and makes the v-berth storage area useable.

FYI, I have considered putting in the 32 gal plastimo and removing the original tank. then I could make a cut out above where the current tank is and make it another storage area.

Paul.

Edited by - on

Topic

New Topic

Topic Locked

Printer Friendly

Jump To:

Association Forum

Notice: The advice given on this site is based upon individual or quoted experience, yours may differ.
The Officers, Staff and members of this site only provide information based upon the concept that anyone utilizing this information does so at their own risk and holds harmless all contributors to this site.