1982 CD36 bilge access

[SSgtPitt]

I am the newest proud owner of an immaculate 1982 CD36. Her name was "Avalon", then became "Solar Blue" and soon will be "Sanctuary". My first of many questions is -
How many access points should there be for the bilge ? I have one small access just forward of the engine compartment.

[David van den Burgh]

That's pretty much it - at least it is on hull #7.

[John Danicic]

Same for Hull # 124.(1984). The 55 gallon fuel tank lies forward of the deep bilge on Mariah. You can see forward under the sole if you use a camera or a mirror and a light to what looks to be a pressure treated cabin floor joyce atop the tank. Other then that, there is a bit of room to see the bilge under the mast but I don't think that area qualifies as "bilge" though water from the anchor locker will flow by there.

Congratulations and good luck with her. A fine boat a CD 36 is. No need to ever get another.

[SSgtPitt]

Thanks for the replies. I've scoured the web and my owner docs trying to see how much room there is under the deck/floor. I did see another CD36 on yachtworld that has 3 accesses; where mine is, another just forward of that one about a foot and then another between the head and forward berth. Are there any "builder plans" out there? Once forward of the diesel tank there HAS to be some possible storage.

Question #2 - the rear lazerett holds the propane locker. Which completely negates access to quite a bit of storage. Who has a better assembly other than on deck storage?

[David van den Burgh]

Thanks for the replies. I've scoured the web and my owner docs trying to see how much room there is under the deck/floor. I did see another CD36 on yachtworld that has 3 accesses; where mine is, another just forward of that one about a foot and then another between the head and forward berth.

As I'm sure you're aware, configurations vary between the years. Ariel is a '79. As such, she has good bilge access just forward of the engine - minus the hoses and such that appear in your photo. Additionally, she has two hatches in the saloon for access to the two water tanks located under the cabin sole. If one were to remove those tanks, there would be good storage in that area. That would, of course, require removing the cabin sole and sacrificing 60 gallons of freshwater - probably not a big deal in a boat that has two more 30 gallon water tanks under the settees. If you don't have any tankage in that area, then there's good storage space just waiting to be used.

[Jim Walsh]

Thanks for the replies. I've scoured the web and my owner docs trying to see how much room there is under the deck/floor. I did see another CD36 on yachtworld that has 3 accesses; where mine is, another just forward of that one about a foot and then another between the head and forward berth.

As I'm sure you're aware, configurations vary between the years. Ariel is a '79. As such, she has good bilge access just forward of the engine - minus the hoses and such that appear in your photo. Additionally, she has two hatches in the saloon for access to the two water tanks located under the cabin sole. If one were to remove those tanks, there would be good storage in that area. That would, of course, require removing the cabin sole and sacrificing 60 gallons of freshwater - probably not a big deal in a boat that has two more 30 gallon water tanks under the settees. If you don't have any tankage in that area, then there's good storage space just waiting to be used.

I'd be extremely wary of voluntarily reducing your fresh water tankage unless you have, or plan on installing, a watermaker. At the very least you'll want to verify your tanks capacity and not be swayed by the figures stated by the builder or the capacity plates attached to the tanks by the manufacturer.
During preparation for a Bermuda cruise I physically verified my water tank capacities and posted my results to warn all my CDSOA friends of the erroneous water capacities I discovered.
http://www.capedory.org/board/viewtopic.php?f=9&t=33305

[David van den Burgh]

Thanks for the replies. I've scoured the web and my owner docs trying to see how much room there is under the deck/floor. I did see another CD36 on yachtworld that has 3 accesses; where mine is, another just forward of that one about a foot and then another between the head and forward berth.

As I'm sure you're aware, configurations vary between the years. Ariel is a '79. As such, she has good bilge access just forward of the engine - minus the hoses and such that appear in your photo. Additionally, she has two hatches in the saloon for access to the two water tanks located under the cabin sole. If one were to remove those tanks, there would be good storage in that area. That would, of course, require removing the cabin sole and sacrificing 60 gallons of freshwater - probably not a big deal in a boat that has two more 30 gallon water tanks under the settees. If you don't have any tankage in that area, then there's good storage space just waiting to be used.

I'd be extremely wary of voluntarily reducing your fresh water tankage unless you have, or plan on installing, a watermaker. At the very least you'll want to verify your tanks capacity and not be swayed by the figures stated by the builder or the capacity plates attached to the tanks by the manufacturer.
During preparation for a Bermuda cruise I physically verified my water tank capacities and posted my results to warn all my CDSOA friends of the erroneous water capacities I discovered.
http://www.capedory.org/board/viewtopic.php?f=9&t=33305

I wouldn't remove it either if I were planning on blue water sailing. I only mentioned it because I know all the configurations aren't the same and there may be some CD36s that don't have tanks under the sole. And given our cruising grounds, I'm not too worried about having 120 gallons of fresh water aboard.

[John Stone]

SSgt Pitt,
Congratulation on your new boat. Lack of storage is one of the Cape Dory dark secrets. There are ways around it though. You can make some mods over time and find some space. I built a propane locker under the cockpit seat at the aft end of the cockpit. It holds (3) ten pound aluminum tanks. It meets ABYC standards. Here is a link to the project. http://www.farreachvoyages.com/projects ... ocker.html

If you scroll to the bottom you will see the final product.

Semper Fi Marine.

[mashenden]

Thanks for the replies. I've scoured the web and my owner docs trying to see how much room there is under the deck/floor. I did see another CD36 on yachtworld that has 3 accesses; where mine is, another just forward of that one about a foot and then another between the head and forward berth. Are there any "builder plans" out there? Once forward of the diesel tank there HAS to be some possible storage.

Question #2 - the rear lazerett holds the propane locker. Which completely negates access to quite a bit of storage. Who has a better assembly other than on deck storage?

Ditto as far as having one access hole to the bilge in hull #84 - that's it other than an even smaller dust catcher built into the sole near the access hatch in the galley area.

On mine, there was a fair amount of wasted space to port of the sink. That food locker could be made much larger. I ended up putting a fridge in that area. Here is a post that shows a hole I cut for my fridge - you can see what is under that area in the galley... http://www.capedory.org/board/viewtopic ... 04#p187006

Also, a while back I unscrewed the boards related to the port settee slide-out and found there is quite a bit of space under there too. It would not be space that has easy/frequent access, but it is there.

Regarding propane, here is a picture of the propane locker on Nautica - it holds two decent sized tanks (not the same size as a home BBQ, but the next size down). When I bought the boat, the propane locker was in that location, but not connected. I put in a piped vent to a thru hull below it (but above the water line), and ran the propane lines and control wires thru the port locker to the galley.

Until this weekend (my first overnighter sail on her) I was pretty sure that I was going to recess the box into the area below it because it looked odd and seemed in the way. Come to find out it is really nice to lean on when standing at the helm, or to lean against when using a bean bag next to it, or to sit on when needing to be up high.

The guy leaning on the propane locker is one of the guys that went with me for this weekend's adventure. He is a 6'+ sturdy frame and found it very comfortable. I now plan to save my time and leave the propane locker where it is... maybe dress it up a bit with some teak and a cushion.

[M. R. Bober]

In addition to the access you show in your photo, Starview CD36 1985 has a small hatch to read the fuel gauge (it is under the adjustable wrench in your photo) and access at the mast. Additionally there is an inspection port under platform that supports the head.

Enjoy your fine new vessel,

Mitchell Bober
Sunny Lancaster, (Where the deer and car bumpers play.) VA

[Matt Cawthorne]

My 1982, hull number 79 has 4 access panels. The one you show in your picture, one small one just in front of the engine compartment that allows access to the front of the engine sump area, one over the aft end of the fuel tank to read the fuel gage, and one larger one up forward, behind the mast. The one behind the mast is where I store the extra anchors and extra chain. I am pretty certain that the last one was put in by one of the owners, since it wasn't there when I bought it.

Matt

[SSgtPitt]

Wow, thanks for all the replies. I'll be working on her again middle December and I'll post pics of my setup. The boat is in Corpus Christi Municipal Marina and I'm in Colorado Springs. big sigh So my time with her is limited for now.
I have 4 water tanks and approx 130gals. The main one is under the master berth and due to it's elevated position empties first. The next two are under the mid berths, starboard and port. The last one is under the aft berth and never seems to empty. I've got to figure out which gate valve feeds from each tank so I can use them as ballast to keep the boat balanced when under sail. A water maker is definitely on our list and I'm going with Echo-tec. Once that's installed I might delete the aft water tank.
I like the propane locker suggestion and will definitely be checking that out.
My goal is to keep her visibly original. She's so clean and pretty and I want her to stay that way.....just like a woman she'll probably take everything I have and only give back when she wants....and I suppose that'll be enough.

She's still cutter rigged, the mainsail is roller furled from the boom and has a power winch, she's got central air and radar and has her original Perkins 4-108 at about 2200 hrs, which leaks oil like normal.

I need some electrical work as there are some anomalies regarding the 2KW inverter, battery charger and alternator. I think I'll hire a Marine Sparky for that work.
The boat is truly beautiful and several sailing types have commented that she's "Showable", not sure exactly what that means but it must be good.

I'm looking forward to getting to know her.

[John Ring]

...I have 4 water tanks and approx 130gals. The main one is under the master berth and due to it's elevated position empties first. The next two are under the mid berths, starboard and port. The last one is under the aft berth and never seems to empty. I've got to figure out which gate valve feeds from each tank so I can use them as ballast to keep the boat balanced when under sail...

Sounds like you have different water tanks than my 1985.

On my 1985 ( #135) the forward valve on the manifold is the supply from the small V berth tank. The second valve aft is the main tank under the starboard settee, the third valve aft is the feed from the tank under the quarter berth, and the aft valve (fourth) was a supply to a second galley sink.

John
CD36 Tiara

[mashenden]

...I have 4 water tanks and approx 130gals. The main one is under the master berth and due to it's elevated position empties first. The next two are under the mid berths, starboard and port. The last one is under the aft berth and never seems to empty. I've got to figure out which gate valve feeds from each tank so I can use them as ballast to keep the boat balanced when under sail...

Sounds like you have different water tanks than my 1985.

On my 1985 ( #135) the forward valve on the manifold is the supply from the small V berth tank. The second valve aft is the main tank under the starboard settee, the third valve aft is the feed from the tank under the quarter berth, and the aft valve (fourth) was a supply to a second galley sink.

John
CD36 Tiara

My '83 sounds more like SSgtPitt's - I have 5 valves controlling 4 tanks (VB, P, S, QB) and the last valve (aft) feeds a hand pump to the galley sink (now removed to make room for the fridge). These valves are located below the galley sink, with a plaque on the door reminding me which is which.

I'm probably stating the obvious but you can control which tank empties first by using the valves.