Fuel tanks now a different size ?

[SEA3PO]

I was looking at the boat that Welfings have just listed and it says that it has 2 fuel tanks and holds 24 gallons.... in the picture it looks like the two tanks are of a different size.

It is a 2004 model and my boat is a 2003 model and it holds almost 50 gallons in total.... but for some reason my boat always sits lower on the left side....(probably due to the water tank ?) Is the two different size tanks an effort to make the boat sit level ? I always draw off the left tank first to level out the boat...

Joel
SEA3PO

[Sunbeam]

I don't believe different tanks were ever used (i.e. one size port and a different size starboard). That said, there were a number of "generations" of fuel tanks and so if one was replaced I could see where it might be one of the different generation/sizes. Between looking at varying years of 22's when shopping, and then doing some research prior to replacing my fuel tanks in 2002, here is what I believe I know about the generations of tanks in the 22:

1) 1990's to around 1999:
18 gallon Moeller tanks. These are simple rectangles and are not translucent. They are held down by individual metal "clips" that slot into a recess in the sidewall of the tank.

I think during part of this time there was also an optional 5x gallon single aluminum tank available that straddled the center area.

2) ? to 2002
25 gallon Wayland(er?) Marine tanks (hard to read label; company was in Burlington, Washington). These are "sculptured" tanks and have slopes on the bottom, outboard side, and top to match the C-Dory shape.

3) 2003 (only?)
20 gallon tanks, maybe Moeller. I don't know much about these. I think they had has some problems with the Wayland/er tanks and so had gone to these but people then wanted larger tanks (guess on my part based on comments read at various times).

4) 2004 to 2005 or early 2006
25 gallon Moeller tanks, part numbers FT2536 and FT2537 (one is port, one is starboard).

5) 2006 to at least 2012, likely to present
23 gallon Moeller tanks, part numbers FT 2339 (port) and FT 2340 (starboard). These are sculptured and just like the previous tanks except for one major change order which was "cut down" by 1" in height" in February of 2006 (there were a few other minor changes at various times between 2004 and 2006, but they were things like rotate pickup, change size of barb, etc.).

My theory on this change is that when they went to the flat cockpit sole "liner" in 2006, that liner includes a molding for the fuel tank bay and cleats. I'm guessing that necessitated the tanks being slightly shorter to get them in and out (and maybe for them to fit). That 1" removed reduced the capacity by 2 gallons on each tank.

****

When I went to buy new tanks, I wanted to keep the 25 gallon capacity if possible (I had the Wayland/er tanks). I contacted Moeller with the part numbers for the 25-gallon tanks and inquired about buying them. What they told me was that they did not own the rights to make those, and it seemed that the person who did (can't remember if I got name or not) was not someone they/I could get ahold of. I suspect it is someone who was associated with C-Dory back in the 2005/2006 era but is no longer. Since the new boats need the 23 gallon tanks (I think) to fit into the lined tank area, the new builders have no reason to want to sort this out and have rights to the 25-gallon tanks.

Moeller can make the 23-gallon tanks for anyone. So they can be ordered through any Moeller dealer. I purchased a pair of these, and have made alternate use of the "extra" space above them vs. the 25-ers.

So anyway, I'm thinking the boat you are looking at could possibly have had a tank replaced, and at that time was a different "era" of tanks than the other, non-replaced tank.

I have the opposite problem as you: always starboard heavy.

Sunbeam

[SEA3PO]

My wife says that I am wrong...that the heavy side is like yours the Starboard side.. (heavy batteries ?)

Joel
SEA3PO

[Sunbeam]

In my case it's likely a combination of the batteries both being in the starboard lazarette and the kicker being to starboard (109#). The water tank is on port, but that kind of doesn't "count" as it is just as likely to be empty as full, and if I keep it full to balance the boat then I cannot use any water!

I've tried to balance by keeping heavy tools, canned goods, etc to port but it is not enough. I actually tend to use the port side fuel tank first because that is when my port side water tank is most likely to be full and best counteract the issue (and then use the starboard tank when there is no longer as much water on port and I need the "help" more), but ultimately I need to use both tanks (and water) so it's not a "real" solution.

For my boat I will likely get a lighter kicker and may move the house battery(s). I only use the kicker for a "get to the side" spare, so really such a nice one is wasted on me (but it came with the boat, basically unused so I at least wanted to try it). Likely someone who uses a kicker all the time for fishing would appreciate the niceness of it over something lighter and/or more primitive.

A bit different from heavy displacement boats where 100# here or there is nothing!

[Hunkydory]

Sunbeam,

Thanks for showing the fuel tank capacities for the CD22's various production years. It cleared up what has been somewhat a puzzle to me on our 2000. It has the clear plastic, that is easy to see the fuel level & in addition has markers on the inside of 5, 10, 15 & 20 gal with several inches more fuel space above the 20 gal mark, so I feel kinda dumb now having always thought the tanks were 20 gal & the space not another 5 gal worth, especially knowing I could always count on a minimum of 40 gal of usable fuel if I topped them off between the 20 gal mark & totally filled with being careful not to spill fuel out of the vent. I have run them empty in the past & the fuel pick ups are set so when the tanks are empty, there is barely any fuel visible in them.

I also find room between the tanks for two five gal & one 2.5 gal containers for extended cruising.

Jay

[Sunbeam]

Cool - always nice to solve a long standing "puzzlement"

By the way, my 2002 came with the 25-gallon "Wayland/er" tanks (the name was hard to read on the label as it was slightly messed up in that one area). The label shows the tanks were manufactured in July of 2001, and definitely listed the capacity as "25 gal." If your tanks come up nearly to the underside of the splashwell molding then you likely have these -- the 23-gallon version leaves inches of space in that area.

Here is one of the labels from my original tanks. It was on the top center of the tanks in case you want to check yours. Glued on paper.

[Sunbeam]

Sorry, made a duplicate post by accident (and have never been able to figure out how Captain's Cat is able to delete these (?))