Battery location

[Ben Thomas]

On my CD30 I removed the floor and with some fear and lots of anxiety cut out the pan that covers the bilge area to install a 20gal. fuel tank.
On the 30 the bilge becomes shallower the more forward it goes.
The tank sits about 1" above the bottom of the bilge to allow gray water from head sink and any water in the chain locker to flow under it down to the two bilge pumps.
I secured the tank and tied the pan back together by the four braces across the top of the new tank. Wooden (epoxied) braces on top of stainless bars. Two bolts on each end.
I was concerned that the pan would flex under stress, but it has not moved in three years.
I made up the new floor and access hatches and secured with fasteners from PYI that dog down so it makes it easy to lift the floor out.
There is room for 1 or 2 batteries at the deep end depending on the battery size.
It would be a tight fit, at least on the 30.
Ben


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[Forrest]

A new meeting place for this month's SSCA meeting...(ps I've read Sharon's book and it's a great read !).

ATTENTION CDSOA GULF COAST FLEET MEMBERS

YOU ARE CORDIALLY INVITED TO ATTEND THE SEVEN SEAS CRUISING ASSOCIATION LUNCH ON FEBRUARY 20, 2009 - 12:30 PM; AT LAS BRISAS MEXICAN CANTINA ON HWY 146 IN BAYCLIFF.

SHARON RANGLE (ERIKA JACOBUS' MOM) WILL BE SPEAKING ABOUT HER CIRCUMNAVIGATION AND BOOK "THE OCEANS ARE WAITING - AROUND THE WORLD ON THE YACHT TIGGER.

SHE IS DRIVING UP FROM PALACIOS FOR THIS MEETING, SO PLEASE COME GIVE SHARON A CDSOA WELCOME...

SEE THE NOTICE BELOW FOR DETAILS.

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 2009
12:30 PM
LAS BRISAS MEXICAN CANTINA on HWY 146 - BAYCLIFF, TEXAS


Our very special guest speaker for February will be SHARON RANGLE - Circumnavigator and author of The Oceans are Waiting - Around the World on the Yacht Tigger! Sharon will be talking about the pleasure and the freedom of cruising - along with an overview of their journey, weather and obstacles encountered and overcome. If she doesn't have you ready to sail into the sunset by the end of her talk, you must not be breathing!!!

If you haven't read this great book about Sharon's amazing simultaneous entry into sailing, a new marriage and worldwide adventure - you have been missing out! This gutsy lady put an ad in Cruising World for a sailing partner; found herself swept to the altar and into the trade winds - in very short order. How could you not write a book about a fairytale like that?

Sharon will have copies of her book available for sale and will be happy to sign one for you; so plan to get a copy!

Sharon is driving up from Palacios to visit with us and we want a nice crowd, so the invite list for this presentation has been extended to the Cape Dory Sailboat Owner's Association (Sharon's daughter Erika has a CD28 at Waterford) and the San Leon Sailing Club. Please be sure to spread the word to your sailing friends and dock neighbors and bring a guest or two along with you; Sharon's talk is sure to be inspirational and will capture the imagination.

A little more about Sharon (and Dave!):

Born and raised in Seattle, WA, Sharon grew up with an affinity to water. But she never even set foot on a sailboat until she was in her late 40s. What a life changing experience!

Through serendipity and perhaps some guidance from above, she met and married Dave. They set off on a four-year circumnavigation on TIGGER, a Tartan 37. She discovered both the joy and the challenges of taking a small boat across very large oceans.

They visited more than 24 countries on their odyssey where adventures lurked around every corner.



When they returned, a book was in the making. The Oceans are Waiting – Around the World on the Yacht Tigger is the rollicking tale of two “past the blush of youthâ€