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Catalina/Capri 25/250 Sailor's Forums

Catalina 25 Specific Forum

fresh water tank

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bnpirate
1st Mate

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33 Posts

Initially Posted - 07/28/2003 : 22:36:46

Hi all,
I Have resently purchased an 84 sk/sr. the previous owner let the boat sit on the trailer for three years before i bought it. the water tank was winterized. my question is whats the best way to empty and clean the tank so i can have a usable water system.

Brian Nield

Edited by - on

Dave B
Admiral

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Mali
863 Posts

Response Posted - 07/28/2003 : 22:52:03

Welcome Brian!

First, forget any notion you may might have had that the water tank is for potable water. If the tank was winterized with boat/RV antifreeze, it's non-toxic, but the water you put in, after sitting for a few days and flowing through the hoses, probably won't be. I put about a half cup of bleach in the tank before filling it, but use the water for washing hands, dishes, etc. For drinking and cooking, we freeze water in gallon plastic jugs, and then use some to refrigerate the cooler while they slowly thaw--others can be allowed to thaw faster.

Somebody else will probably have a good idea for cleaning the system--ours has been fine for its purpose.

Dave Bristle, 1985 C-25 #5032 "Passage" SR/FK/Dinette/Honda in SW CT

Edited by - on

seashot
1st Mate

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27 Posts

Response Posted - 07/28/2003 : 22:59:32

My spring ritual for dewinterizing, or in your case coming of a long storage is this. First, rinse with water, add about a gallon, pump it out and repeat until the water appears clean. Then add a cup of bleach, and fill the tank to the top. Pump a little water out, just enough that you know the bleach has made it through the line. Now let is sit for a little while, even over night is ok. Then pump out the water and flush with plain water a few times. The water will still have a slight odor, that is likely the plastic tank and lines. I then add a water conditioner (available at RV store) or a few drops of bleach and fill the tank. We use this water for dishes, brushing teeth, wathing hands. We could drink it, but we don't because of the taste (plastic tank) so we carry a gallon of bottled water for drinking.

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bnpirate
1st Mate

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33 Posts

Response Posted - 07/29/2003 : 19:26:46

thanks for the help!

I was hope there was a way to drain the tank without pumping it through the sink.

thanks again
brian

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Dave B
Admiral

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Mali
863 Posts

Response Posted - 07/29/2003 : 22:05:25

<BLOCKQUOTE id=quote>quote:<hr height=1 noshade id=quote>
I was hope there was a way to drain the tank without pumping it through the sink.
<hr height=1 noshade id=quote></BLOCKQUOTE id=quote>
Maybe there is... Syphon it into the bilge (or use a hand pump with a hose led to the bilge) and pump it out with the bilge pump (which moves a lot more water than the sink pump). However, you want to move some through the hoses to the sinks.

Dave Bristle, 1985 C-25 #5032 "Passage" SR/FK/Dinette/Honda in SW CT

Edited by - dave b on 07/29/2003 22:11:06

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OJ
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
4382 Posts

Response Posted - 07/29/2003 : 22:31:00

We installed a 6" inspection plate on the top of the fresh water tank.
Directly over this plate we installed an 8" plate in the wood that is secured over the top of the water tank.
We had a lot of crude in our tank when we acquired OJ <img src=icon_smile_dead.gif border=0 align=middle> .
Good luck.

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lcharlot
Master Marine Consultant

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Antigua and Barbuda
1301 Posts

Response Posted - 07/29/2003 : 22:36:56

Get an inexpensive drill-pump, the kind you power with a small electric drill. This will empty the water tank in a few minutes. If the boat is up on the trailer, just siphon the tank overboard (you will need 15' or so of garden hose).

As for the issue of actually drinking water out of that tank, I have had diarrhea too many times on weekend outings to trust tank water from a 20 year old water system for anything other than hand washing, no matter how carefully the system has been flushed and bleached. If you refill tanks from the Marina's water system, who knows how pure that water is, or isn't? I only drink or ccok with bottled water I have brought from home for that day or weekend cruise. For extended trips of a week or more, I bring a 6 gallon jug, filled at home, for drinking and cooking water, and refill it from marinas only if I absolutely have to, and then only from faucets on shore, not on the docks, where the pipes are possibly corroded or even leaking.

Larry Charlot
Catalina 25 #1205 "Quiet Time"
Sacramento, CA

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Sea Trac
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Vanuatu
1357 Posts

Response Posted - 07/29/2003 : 23:19:09

<BLOCKQUOTE id=quote>quote:<hr height=1 noshade id=quote>
We had a lot of crude in our tank when we acquired OJ <img src=icon_smile_dead.gif border=0 align=middle> .
<hr height=1 noshade id=quote></BLOCKQUOTE id=quote>

Are you sure the PDO wasn't using it as an auxiliary fuel tank? <img src=icon_smile_wink.gif border=0 align=middle><img src=icon_smile_big.gif border=0 align=middle>

J.B. Manley, Antares '86 FK/SR #4849
Grand Lake O' The Cherokees, NE Oklahoma

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frich
Captain

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USA
418 Posts

Response Posted - 07/30/2003 : 07:33:15

I too have an 84 C25, and my boat also sat for a few years. I found it pretty simple to replace all the tubing from the tank to the faucets and drains. Mine had a bad case of algae present. I then removed the starboard seat cushion and if your boat is on a trailer start a syphon to drain the tank. Otherwise use a wet dry vac.

Then cleaned the tank with chlorox bleach, pumped some water through and off i went. Hope this helps

Frank Rich
84 C25 SK

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Dave B
Admiral

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Mali
863 Posts

Response Posted - 07/30/2003 : 10:09:56

<BLOCKQUOTE id=quote>quote:<hr height=1 noshade id=quote>
We installed a 6" inspection plate on the top of the fresh water tank.
<hr height=1 noshade id=quote></BLOCKQUOTE id=quote>
Ours already had one--I thought it was original equipment.
<BLOCKQUOTE id=quote>quote:<hr height=1 noshade id=quote>
Directly over this plate we installed an 8" plate in the wood that is secured over the top of the water tank.
<hr height=1 noshade id=quote></BLOCKQUOTE id=quote>
Good idea!
<BLOCKQUOTE id=quote>quote:<hr height=1 noshade id=quote>
We had a lot of crude in our tank when we acquired OJ <img src=icon_smile_dead.gif border=0 align=middle> .
<hr height=1 noshade id=quote></BLOCKQUOTE id=quote>
If it was auxiliary fuel, I have to ask: What kind of engine was burning it? We might be able to save some money on fuel! <img src=icon_smile_cool.gif border=0 align=middle> Imagine the color of the exhaust... <img src=icon_smile_dead.gif border=0 align=middle>

Dave Bristle, 1985 C-25 #5032 "Passage" SR/FK/Dinette/Honda in SW CT

Edited by - dave b on 07/30/2003 10:10:40

Edited by - on

Champipple
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
6855 Posts

Response Posted - 07/30/2003 : 10:39:58

<BLOCKQUOTE id=quote>quote:<hr height=1 noshade id=quote>
We installed a 6" inspection plate on the top of the fresh water tank.
Directly over this plate we installed an 8" plate in the wood that is secured over the top of the water tank.
We had a lot of crude in our tank when we acquired OJ <img src=icon_smile_dead.gif border=0 align=middle> .
Good luck.
<hr height=1 noshade id=quote></BLOCKQUOTE id=quote>
Steve -
I get the 6" plate, but don't quite get the reasoning for the 8 inch plate?

dw

D. Wolff - "The Flying Wasp" #401 sr/sk
Chief Measurer C-25/250 National Assn.
<img src="http://www.flags.com/dreamimages/Flags/measurer.jpg" border=0>

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Sea Trac
Master Marine Consultant

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Vanuatu
1357 Posts

Response Posted - 07/30/2003 : 10:46:17

<BLOCKQUOTE id=quote>quote:<hr height=1 noshade id=quote>
Imagine the color of the exhaust... <img src=icon_smile_dead.gif border=0 align=middle>
<hr height=1 noshade id=quote></BLOCKQUOTE id=quote>

Yeah, it would probably look pretty crud-e! <img src=icon_smile_evil.gif border=0 align=middle>

<BLOCKQUOTE id=quote>quote:<hr height=1 noshade id=quote>
I get the 6" plate, but don't quite get the reasoning for the 8 inch plate?
<hr height=1 noshade id=quote></BLOCKQUOTE id=quote>

It allows access to the water tank without having to unscrew the entire starboard settee lazerette cover, if it's not hinged.

J.B. Manley, Antares '86 FK/SR #4849
Grand Lake O' The Cherokees, NE Oklahoma

Edited by - Antares on 07/30/2003 10:47:22

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Champipple
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
6855 Posts

Response Posted - 07/31/2003 : 08:32:10

<BLOCKQUOTE id=quote>quote:<hr height=1 noshade id=quote>
<BLOCKQUOTE id=quote>quote:<hr height=1 noshade id=quote>
I get the 6" plate, but don't quite get the reasoning for the 8 inch plate?
<hr height=1 noshade id=quote></BLOCKQUOTE id=quote>

It allows access to the water tank without having to unscrew the entire starboard settee lazerette cover, if it's not hinged.<hr height=1 noshade id=quote></BLOCKQUOTE id=quote>

You lost me again - Catalina must have changed the lazarette cover, because all of ours are just peices of wood, cut to fit the gap. There is a finger hole in the middle for easy removal. Was there a mod that I am not aware of?

D. Wolff - "The Flying Wasp" #401 sr/sk
Chief Measurer C-25/250 National Assn.
<img src="http://www.flags.com/dreamimages/Flags/measurer.jpg" border=0>

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OJ
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
4382 Posts

Response Posted - 07/31/2003 : 09:44:56

<BLOCKQUOTE id=quote>quote:<hr height=1 noshade id=quote>

You lost me again - Catalina must have changed the lazarette cover, because all of ours are just peices of wood, cut to fit the gap. There is a finger hole in the middle for easy removal. Was there a mod that I am not aware of?
<hr height=1 noshade id=quote></BLOCKQUOTE id=quote>

OJ, hull #2428 doesn't/didn't have the finger hole for easy removal - the piece of wood is fastened in place with screws, hence the inspection plate.

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Sea Trac
Master Marine Consultant

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Vanuatu
1357 Posts

Response Posted - 07/31/2003 : 11:09:36

<BLOCKQUOTE id=quote>quote:<hr height=1 noshade id=quote>
OJ, hull #2428 doesn't/didn't have the finger hole for easy removal - the piece of wood is fastened in place with screws, hence the inspection plate.
<hr height=1 noshade id=quote></BLOCKQUOTE id=quote>

Antares, hull #4849, is the same as OJ sans the inspection plate.

J.B. Manley, Antares '85 FK/SR #4849
Grand Lake O' The Cherokees, NE Oklahoma

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John Mason
Admiral

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USA
687 Posts

Response Posted - 07/31/2003 : 14:19:12

In my boat (1982), the port side settee has the plywood pieces fit into recessed rims and with finger holes. On the starboard side settee, the forward plywood is screwed down, the aft section is hinged to access the battery compartment.

John Mason
<img src="http://www.users.qwest.net/~jamason/ali.jpg" border=0>
pronounced "Ali Paroosa"
1982 - FK/SR #3290

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OJ
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
4382 Posts

Response Posted - 07/31/2003 : 20:05:13

<BLOCKQUOTE id=quote>quote:<hr height=1 noshade id=quote>
In my boat (1982), the port side settee has the plywood pieces fit into recessed rims and with finger holes. On the starboard side settee, the forward plywood is screwed down, the aft section is hinged to access the battery compartment.
<hr height=1 noshade id=quote></BLOCKQUOTE id=quote>

Ditto

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