Those holding tank blues
Two hours, five sheets of foam board, and still no lovin'. I'm not sure how Randy ended up with a perfect fit for tank #B115 in his CD36 because it wasn't even close in Ariel.
The tank sits a good 2" higher than the bunk boards, so there's no way that tank will work either. The only thing I can think is that Randy's CD36 doesn't have the fiberglass bed bonded to the hull like Ariel.
The bed is somewhat visible in this photo.
The new plan is to cut my mock up of #B486 down to 16 1/2" deep (tall), do a trial fit, and if things look good I'll call Ronco Plastics and ask them if it's possible to modify the mold enough to meet my depth requirement. If not...well, I'm not sure.
Jake had fun anyway!
**3.28.06** I called Ronco Plastics today and asked if it is possible to modify the mold. I was told that their tanks are seamless and any modification would require a seam, thus voiding any warranty that they would typically offer. Furthermore, the representative told me that the seam would sooner or later result in a leak. So much for that idea. When I inquired about the cost for a new mold and tank, he said that set up would run about 500 dollars plus the tank price, approx. 200. Ouch. He then suggested that I call Kracor, the original manufacturer of the the CD36 tank, to find out what they could offer. Kracor will manufacture the tank for 485.69 + s/h and a 3 week wait - 200 for the setup and 285 for the tank. I was told that I might be able to get the tank through Lewis Marine for less money. That would involve a 6 week wait, if they will even deal with an individual and not a reseller. I'll give them a call tomorrow.
So, any CD36 owners out there interested in splitting the set up cost for a run of holding tanks?
** 4.5.06 **
I realize this method of updating the blog is a bit odd, but I'd much rather have related information together than simply the most recent development at the top of the entries.
I cut my mock up of #B486 down to 16 1/2" so I could get it into the forward cabin for a test fit. I also created a spacer that I could place under the bottom of the tank once it was in the forward cabin to bring the tank's depth back to the designed 17 5/8", the idea being that, if things fit, it might be worth the trouble of removing the trim around the doorway into the forward cabin to get the Ronco tank in there. Well, with slight modifications to the glassed in fiberglass bed, the tank will certainly fit. This will involve cutting the bed loose from the hull, trimming some material from it, then glassing it back in place. I was hoping to avoid doing so much work to get a functional holding tank in there, but there are some advantages: the Ronco tank is virtually identical to the original tank which means equal capacity and the ability to reuse the original fiberglass bed, just slightly lowered; 2) While I'm doing the fiberglass work, I'll make the v-berth bulkhead watertight and install a small bilge pump to deal with any green water that gets shipped over the bow during heavy weather. Last summer we had to deal with water in the bin located in the notch of the vee, so it wouldn't be a bad idea to seal off that area.
A tight fit with the fiberglass bed in the original location.
The fiberglass bed, attached only at the upper sides where the bond is visible.
The tank sits a good 2" higher than the bunk boards, so there's no way that tank will work either. The only thing I can think is that Randy's CD36 doesn't have the fiberglass bed bonded to the hull like Ariel.
The bed is somewhat visible in this photo.
The new plan is to cut my mock up of #B486 down to 16 1/2" deep (tall), do a trial fit, and if things look good I'll call Ronco Plastics and ask them if it's possible to modify the mold enough to meet my depth requirement. If not...well, I'm not sure.
Jake had fun anyway!
**3.28.06** I called Ronco Plastics today and asked if it is possible to modify the mold. I was told that their tanks are seamless and any modification would require a seam, thus voiding any warranty that they would typically offer. Furthermore, the representative told me that the seam would sooner or later result in a leak. So much for that idea. When I inquired about the cost for a new mold and tank, he said that set up would run about 500 dollars plus the tank price, approx. 200. Ouch. He then suggested that I call Kracor, the original manufacturer of the the CD36 tank, to find out what they could offer. Kracor will manufacture the tank for 485.69 + s/h and a 3 week wait - 200 for the setup and 285 for the tank. I was told that I might be able to get the tank through Lewis Marine for less money. That would involve a 6 week wait, if they will even deal with an individual and not a reseller. I'll give them a call tomorrow.
So, any CD36 owners out there interested in splitting the set up cost for a run of holding tanks?
** 4.5.06 **
I realize this method of updating the blog is a bit odd, but I'd much rather have related information together than simply the most recent development at the top of the entries.
I cut my mock up of #B486 down to 16 1/2" so I could get it into the forward cabin for a test fit. I also created a spacer that I could place under the bottom of the tank once it was in the forward cabin to bring the tank's depth back to the designed 17 5/8", the idea being that, if things fit, it might be worth the trouble of removing the trim around the doorway into the forward cabin to get the Ronco tank in there. Well, with slight modifications to the glassed in fiberglass bed, the tank will certainly fit. This will involve cutting the bed loose from the hull, trimming some material from it, then glassing it back in place. I was hoping to avoid doing so much work to get a functional holding tank in there, but there are some advantages: the Ronco tank is virtually identical to the original tank which means equal capacity and the ability to reuse the original fiberglass bed, just slightly lowered; 2) While I'm doing the fiberglass work, I'll make the v-berth bulkhead watertight and install a small bilge pump to deal with any green water that gets shipped over the bow during heavy weather. Last summer we had to deal with water in the bin located in the notch of the vee, so it wouldn't be a bad idea to seal off that area.
A tight fit with the fiberglass bed in the original location. 
The fiberglass bed, attached only at the upper sides where the bond is visible.
posted by Ariel | CD 36 at 3/26/2006 02:07:00 PM
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