CD30' Water tank relocation

[Gene A. Camargo]

I've searched the message board but have not found a message that answers my question.
I own a Cape Dory 30' ketch with twin water tanks beneath the settees. What I want to do is remove these tanks from the settees for increased storage and relocate a rigid 30 to 45 gallon tank, in the bilge, beneath the main salon. The only difference is that the weight underneath the settees will now be centered lower in the bilge. Also, I want to remove the v-berth tank for increased storage.

Has anybody done this? Will it severely alter the sailing characteristics of the boat?



gcamargo@mindspring.com

[Reader]

Generally speaking, moving weight lower will lower the center of gravity, make the boat a little stiffer, and help it sail a little more on its feet. Low down is the right place for water tanks.

[john churchill]

before you start ripping into things, make sure you have plenty of room in the bilge. i recently cut a access hole in the fwd cabin sole of my cd26, expecting to find gobs of untapped storage space, only to be surprised by the ballast being much larger than i assumed. the is only about 3" there on my boat. the good news is that i awas able to inspect the mast step area( it was ok) get access to the hull in an emergency, and it made it far easier to run the wires for my new lightning ground system.
bottom line-i suspect that it will be a much larger job than anticipated with unexpected snags and frustrations with only marginal improvement in performance unless you sail with your tanks full all the time.

[Lyn Heiges]

I've searched the message board but have not found a message that answers my question.
I own a Cape Dory 30' ketch with twin water tanks beneath the settees. What I want to do is remove these tanks from the settees for increased storage and relocate a rigid 30 to 45 gallon tank, in the bilge, beneath the main salon. The only difference is that the weight underneath the settees will now be centered lower in the bilge. Also, I want to remove the v-berth tank for increased storage.

Has anybody done this? Will it severely alter the sailing characteristics of the boat?

READ WHAT JOHN CHURCHILL SAYS!!!

I have a CD28 which has similarly mounted water and holding tanks and the wood under the settee cushions has CD30 written on them from the factory, so it can't be a lot different. You too, must have the drain from the shower in the head which goes under the salon deck and from my experience in both my CD27 and CD28 there is LITTLE to NO room to try to do any tank relocations. You could remove the water tanks and put a small hard holding tank under the port settee similar to what was done with the CD27 and which had the single small hard tank in the V under the V-berth for the fresh water. This would not be too bad a task to do, however if you remove only one of the existing water tanks (the port one) and have a full tank of water under the starboard settee, you are very likely cause the weight to be much greater on the starboard side and you should have no problem making turns to starboard, however turns to port ????

Also, watch the stresses you put on the boat when you make some of these small changes. Ask a naval architect or someone REALLY experienced and knowledgeable before you try the project and save yourself time, frustration and the boat.

Best Wishes,

Lyn Heiges
CD28 MOON CHILD
CD27 GUILLEMOT



lheiges@compuserve.com

[John]

I've searched the message board but have not found a message that answers my question.
I own a Cape Dory 30' ketch with twin water tanks beneath the settees. What I want to do is remove these tanks from the settees for increased storage and relocate a rigid 30 to 45 gallon tank, in the bilge, beneath the main salon. The only difference is that the weight underneath the settees will now be centered lower in the bilge. Also, I want to remove the v-berth tank for increased storage.

Has anybody done this? Will it severely alter the sailing characteristics of the boat?

We have a '83 CD30 cutter and have the shower drain pan running beneath the main cabin sole. It appears from my inspections that the pan may also function by adding to the stiffness of the liner thus adding to hull stiffness as well. That pan would need to be removed to install any water tanks in that area of the bilge to obtain any decent space for tankage of reasonable capacity. I would NOT do it without first consulting a marine architect familiar with the CD hulls. You are talking about a significant modification and quite possibly opening (a sleeping) Pandora's Box that may not rear it's ugly head until the most inappropriate time, if you know what I mean. In my opinion moving the water tankage to that area would do no more than stiffen the action of the boat and lower the center of gravity. Since you are considering reducing the capacity of water, why not just install smaller tanks under the setees to gain some storage? That would save you a lot of work and not compromise hull design. I think the overall project no matter what you do is going to adversely affect the resale value of the boat. I'd leave it alone.