2003 C-DORY 25 CRUISER

B

Banchor171

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C Dory Year
2003
C Dory Model
25 Cruiser
Need to replace the fuel tank in my 25’ C-Dory Cruiser. Does anyone have the tank specs or dimensions? I’m trying to get a replacement tank built and need sizing/details. Photos of the tank or install would be a huge help too.


Thank you,
Brian
 
Do a search on this website. Colby Smith has a detailed article on his tank rebuild on his 25. His is a later model 25 where the cockpit sole is removable. Yours will take some more work as the 2003 models had to have the cockpit sole cut out if I remember correctly.
colbysmith

Thread 'Fuel Tank Removal CD-25'

I've had a small leak in the cabin bulkhead, under the head, where the bulkhead attaches to the bilge hull floor. I've tried caulking the area, but have had no luck with the limited access under the head floor. I decided I would pull the cockpit floor up, remove the fuel tank, and access the leak from that side of the bulkhead.

After pulling the fuel tank, I learned that wet core rot is not the only problem we face with C-Dory's, but that my aluminum fuel tank was pitted on the bottom. I did some internet research and it looks like this is a common problem. One repair mentioned...
 
Is your fuel tank aluminum or plastic? One owner in California, Dora Jean, owns a 2003 25 Cruiser with a plastic tank.

If your tank is aluminum, this is the company that probably made your original tank. In Bellingham, WA. They may have the build sheet.



Coastline Equipment Marine Tanks |

Bow tanks are designed to fit snugly in the bow of the vessel. Better fit = Better Performance These tanks can vary greatly in size, and include a baffle...
coastlinemarinetanks.com
 
Nope, mines plastic big crack in the top of it.
 

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The cockpit deck will have to be cut and removed and then tank removed. I'm sure Coastline could fabricate a new one for you unless you can find a new plastic tank. I think Dr. Bob, Thataway, did cockpit work on a 2003 that he owned. I'm sure he will comment eventually.
 
Here's discussion and some pictures of fixing the cockpit deck.

T

Post in thread 'CD25 Cockpit Floor Leak'

Hi Boris,
It is possible that the 2003 and 2005 boats are differently made. Yes, the 2003 has a relatively small piece of plywood in the transom (not all of the way across as the 22's have). There is no cockpit liner; the cockpit floor is glassed to the side of the hull mold--and there is a grid between the floor and bottom of the hull.

Here is a photo taken of the scupper as it was removed--note the little gap between the cockpit floor and the transom:

2007_06_01_009.jpg

And from the inside, where there is definitely a gap between the cockpit floor and the transom, which we glassed over...
 
My 2003 cruiser had a pastic tank. The work done was to redo much of the cockpit floor, which had caved in due to core delamination due to being left in the open with no cover in New Jersey during the winter. Some of the plastic tanks have splits, some of the metal tanks have pin-hole corrosion and leak out the bottom. Both of these need to be replaced. I would do aluminium, with non carbon containing material "Battans, which keep the tank bottom off the bottom of the boat. I would coat the tank with coal tar epxoy and then a polyurethane. 20 years is a good life span of a heavily used, boat. If the boat is stored in a boat house or garage, you might get more years. Unfortunate many of my photos have dissapeared durng transition to this new site.

Here is a thread about the tanks. and another link on the alumium tanks. I would use fiberglass or plastic for spacers off the bottom of the boat. Check the core while you are there. In one boat, the fiberglass polyester resin which was utalized in the inner surface had been disolved by the ethanol from fuel. Hatteras, had to replace fiberglass/polyester, tanks in many of their boats, with epoxy resin. I built a 38 foot "World Cruising Sail boat", and the tanks were epoxy resin wtih fiberglass. They were diesel, but. for gas that would have also worked.

Here is what I consider the authorative answer on aluminum tanks This is an article/chapter in one of his eccellent books on yacht survey and construction. David Pascoe passed on a few years back, so this resource is no longer with us. He was somewhat controversial (and I believe missunderstood.), but did excellent anaysis of where boats failed. He believes a good aluminum tank with air space around it will last the life of the boat. I put new alumium tanks in a Cal 46 pilot house sailboat in 1991. The tanks were located such that they were not on the bottom of the boat, and could be inspected (with a mirror and/or camera uner the bottom), as well as sides and top. They were coal tar and LP paint coated. The appear as good today as when built on the outside. These are diesel fuel tanks.
 
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