Placement of fuel tank on 16 Cruiser

J

jimicliff

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Jun 16, 2009
Messages
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C Dory Year
2004
C Dory Model
16 Cruiser
Hull Identification Number
CDO16491E404
Vessel Name
Ocklawaha Queen
My next project is just about underway and I sure would like some C Brat council. Im not real impressed with the saddle tank idea only because the weight is still in the stern just like the tanks on the floor in the stern or on the floor along the sides. Im thinking about a custom tank in the center under the V berth. Not all the way to the bow but the back of the front third of the boat if that makes sence. My mission is increased range & proper weight distrubition. Im not sparing any money on the construction due to the importance of the project. By the way Im using trim tabs. Thanks Jimicliff
 
Jim-

I'm not a CD-16 owner or expert, nor did I sleep in one last night, but I think you're definitely on the right track from all my reading on this and other CD sites over the past 12 or more years.

I'd have the custom tank made from heavy gauge aluminum and mount it very soundly to the hull.

Will it interfere with your and the passenger's feet placement?

Will you have to open up a sealed buoyancy compartment to mount the tank? (Told ya' I'm a virgin as far as the 16's are concerned!)

Have baffles put in it if you think the sloshing around will affect your center of gravity or irritate you noise wise.

A standard remote fill intake would be best with a good vent system. Use vents that won't allow any water to enter. You need a good "goose neck" arrangement plus internal baffles and drains for water. With the smaller boat and forward placement, this will have to be done right. Could the fill be place further aft, or the tank just be filled through the cabin from abaft?

Be sure to add a Racor filter back in the engine well with a clear bowl for water accumulation and draining.

With the shorter CD-16, be sure that the trim tabs are plenty long. They add planning area, and help the boat plane earlier, at lower speeds, and add both stability and gas mileage to the shorter hulls, as well as allowing the athwartships trim.

Sounds like a fun project!

Good Luck!

Joe. :teeth :thup
 
I am curious about this topic since I have a 16 in progress. My understanding is that it is all about balance. I have already requested that my 2nd battery be placed somewhere up front. I am also thinking a 6 gallon fuel tank carrying an additional 6 gallons in 1 or 2 gallon containers and trying to find a secure place for them up front.
 
Stan I'm still working on the tank idea but I'm thinking about the middle of the V berth just in front of your feet. Look at these pics of my wind shield I think you'll like them, they are in my gallery. Boat name "Ocklawaha Queen"
 
I would be concerned about having an un-enclosed or enclosed fuel tank in the berth. This is major modification and would to check on safety issues, with Coast Guard, insurance company, fumes accumulation, venting, etc... It does not seem safe on first thought
m2cw
 
Jim as regards to the saddle tanks, I would argue a bit with the assertion that the weight is still in the stern. The saddle tanks I have seen move a good bit of the weight a good bit forward. I would think that "lever arm" change is larger than perhaps you might anticipate.

You might do a little experiment when you're light on fuel in the tanks. Fill a cooler with about 9 gals of water (72lbs = to about 12 gals of fuel in weight). With the boat at the dock, put that 72lbs on the stern (above the current fuel tanks) and then move it a couple of feet farther forward in the cockpit to see what a difference it makes. Then move it all the way forward in the cabin. Do the same and test the effect underway. Depending on what you find out from that, you may not want to go though the effort of moving the fuel tanks.
 
For all the talk about the 16 cruiser being stern heavy, my experience as an owner of both the cruiser and the angler, is that a permatrim and storing 'stuff' under the bunk solves the problem for just a little over $100. If you really want to get a little fancy, install a a tilt guage in the dash. Leave the fuel tank where it belongs, under the splashwell. Just my personal opinion. By the way, that opening front window is impressive.
 
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