Association Forum - Water Holding Tanks (Fixing or Replacing)

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Water Holding Tanks (Fixing or Replacing)

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rwdutton
1st Mate

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USA
52 Posts

Initially Posted - 07/13/2003 : 15:38:25

"Puff" has original equipment water tanks and lines. All the water lines are, well let's just say, not nice. My partner and I tried to figure out how to get at the "T" fitting in order to loosen, replace, and retighten new hoses. The only way we determined we could access the rear of the tank (in front of the battery compartment) was to dut a circular four-inch access port in order to get our hands in there.
Having said that, I remember reading somewhere that someone (is that specific enough?) had installed two or more thick plastic collapsing bags that could be easily cleaned, replaced, whatever. There may be other alternatives as well.
We would like to get water on board after a long draught. Any suggestions, ideas?

Thanks, much

Bob Dutton,
"Puff", 1984 FK/SR, #4336
Westport, CT

Bob Dutton
Puff #4336 84 SR/FK

Edited by - on

Leon Sisson
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1893 Posts

Response Posted - 07/13/2003 : 16:20:12

Bob,

Re: "... someone (is that specific enough?) had installed two or more thick plastic collapsing bags ..." I replaced my stock water tank under the stbd. settee with a custom built 16.5gal rigid poly tank. I also added a 25gal bladder tank in the forward bottom area of the port cockpit locker. The bladder probably only holds 15gal because of the way it's crammed in. The tanks each have a deck fill, and are connected to the intake strainer of the pressure pump via separate 1/2" PVC ball valves. This allows me to choose which tank to draw from. (Start by using the one the boat is leaning towards, treat the other one as reserve on long trips.) ... And which tank to fill. (On a trip, if the water source is questionable, put it in the rigid tank, which has a 4" Beckson plate for easier inspection and cleanout.) I also replaced all my original hoses with 1/2" nylon reinforced flexible PVC hose. The original clear hose was black inside with crud.

I still have the original rigid tank in my garage. It's been thoroughly cleaned out, and is for sale if anyone is interested.

-- Leon Sisson

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rwdutton
1st Mate

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USA
52 Posts

Response Posted - 07/13/2003 : 18:04:51

Leon,
Who made your custom rigid for the starboard settee area? I guess I could buy one from West Marine or Boat US and build a wedge so it would fit appropriately.
Did you install the bladder one in the port side lazerette to balance the boat -- or because it had the room?
Cheers,

Bob Dutton
Puff #4336 84 SR/FK
Westport, CT

Edited by - on

Leon Sisson
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1893 Posts

Response Posted - 07/13/2003 : 20:22:27

Bob,

Re: "Who made your custom rigid [water tank] for the starboard settee area?"

Raritan, model # 16B215, I think. They have an extensive collection of molds (probably left over from OEM production runs). The procedure for having them make you a tank goes like this:
<ul><li>Get their catalog which includes dimensioned drawings of the molded shapes available.</li>
<li>Pick one or two you think might work.</li>
<li>Make stiff cardboard and duct tape mockup, and test fit.</li>
<li>While mockup is in place, decide on types and locations of tank penetrations (cleanout, filler, vent, outlet[s], etc.) You can draw them right on the cardboard, and measure later.</li>
<li>Make dimensioned sketches of your desired tank openings.</li>
<li>FAX Raritan your sketches.</li>
<li>They FAX you their version of what you drew, and a price quote.</li>
<li>You verify their drawings, sign the quote, and FAX it back along with your credit card number.</li>
<li>They build your tank and ship it.</li>
<li>You fabricate mounts and install tank.</li>
</ul>
I've had Raritan build me two tanks so far. They know that they're doing; it goes pretty smoothly.

Re: "Did you install the bladder one in the port side lazerette to balance the boat -- or because it had the room?"

I put the bladder there to make use of otherwise unused space at the extreme forward lower corner of the locker. This gets into a *long* discussion of my modifications to the port cockpit "dumpster" in my 1979 boat. One of the beauties of bladder tanks is that they can be stuffed into, and conform to, spaces that are so inaccessable as to be otherwise wasted.

-- Leon Sisson

Edited by - on

John Mason
Admiral

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USA
687 Posts

Response Posted - 07/14/2003 : 13:46:33

Have you tried removing the screws from the settee seat board and lifting that up? You should be able to get access to the tank and the hoses.

John Mason
<img src="http://www.users.qwest.net/~jamason/ali.jpg" border=0>
pronounced "Ali Paroosa"
1982 - FK/SR #3290

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rwdutton
1st Mate

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USA
52 Posts

Response Posted - 07/27/2003 : 14:51:42

John,
My partner and I did unscrew the stbd settee seat cover -- that is when we discovered how difficult it was to access the T-valve in the bottom after end of the tank (which is on the other, aft-end, side of the fiberglassed partition which helps hold the tank in place). The tank itself has an access hole, which is too small for my big hand to get into to clean out the tank.
So, one solution might be to install an access port to get at the T-valve in order to replace everything. That seems like a lot of work is their is a better way to improve the system. Our boat is a 1984 std. rig fin keel, two sinks, holding tank on the port side, two batteries in locker space behind the water tank.
Any advice would be appreciated. Cheers,

Bob Dutton
Puff #4336 84 SR/FK
Westport, CT

Edited by - on

John Mason
Admiral

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USA
687 Posts

Response Posted - 07/29/2003 : 18:49:01

Well, I don't have an easy answer for you. Sounds like the same set-up I have. Find someone with small hands and give 'em a pair of channelock pliers to grab that fitting with.

When I removed my water tank, I had to take every fitting off just to be able to lift it out of that compartment (there's the vent hose fitting on the hull(starboard) side of the tank). And it was a tight squeeze even then. But I did get it out without having to remove the glassed in plywood. Then I replaced all the blackened hoses and scrubbed the tank with bleach water.

Once you get everything clean, a flush with bleach water once a year will eliminate the need to remove the tank again. Just fill it with bleach water, go sailing for a while, then pump the water out through the sink pumps.

Here's a couple of pics of my set-up.

<img src="http://www.users.qwest.net/~jamason/water2.jpg" border=0>
<img src="http://www.users.qwest.net/~jamason/water3.jpg" border=0>

John Mason
<img src="http://www.users.qwest.net/~jamason/ali.jpg" border=0>
pronounced "Ali Paroosa"
1982 - FK/SR #3290

Edited by - on

rwdutton
1st Mate

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USA
52 Posts

Response Posted - 08/04/2003 : 21:21:28

John, Thanks very much for the pictures! Small hands indeed! But, am I seeing things or does one part of your T-valve go into the bilge? Perhaps I am looking at the picture from the wrong angle.
... I guess we will remove the hoses (maybe by cutting the T-valve off aft of the glassed-in partition and tilting the water tank out). Bleach sounds like a good idea ... it doesn't harm the hoses does it?
... BTW, did you replace the water faucet-pumps while you were at it?
Cheers,

Bob Dutton
Puff #4336 84 SR/FK
Westport, CT

Edited by - on

Dave B
Admiral

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Mali
863 Posts

Response Posted - 08/04/2003 : 21:45:15

Bleach definitely doesn't harm plastic--that's what it's stored in. It gives your boat that nice O.R. essence... <img src=icon_smile_big.gif border=0 align=middle> Rather than rebuild the OEM galley pump, I replaced it with a Fynspray with a higher volume "rocker" action that pulls water either way you move the handle.

Dave Bristle, 1985 C-25 #5032 "Passage" SR/FK/Dinette/Honda in SW CT

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John Mason
Admiral

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USA
687 Posts

Response Posted - 08/05/2003 : 16:58:49

You're not seeing things. I could never tell how much water was in the tank. Made filling it difficult. So, I added a bit of hose and a couple of T-fittings. Now I have a water gauge. The red lines are the 5 gallon increments.

<img src="http://www.users.qwest.net/~jamason/water1.jpg" border=0>

The faucets I took apart and cleaned with bleach water also. They were full of some pink algae-like gel. Gluck.

But now the system stays clean with the once a year rinse out with bleach water. And we do use it for teeth brushing, drinking and cooking.

John Mason
<img src="http://www.users.qwest.net/~jamason/ali.jpg" border=0>
pronounced "Ali Paroosa"
1982 - FK/SR #3290

Edited by - on

rwdutton
1st Mate

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USA
52 Posts

Response Posted - 08/05/2003 : 23:38:30

Thanks guys, the comments and the pics help ... stay tuned. BobD

Bob Dutton
Puff #4336 84 SR/FK
Westport, CT

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