Fix a leaking water tank.

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ggrizzard

ggrizzard

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May 27, 2004
2,059
Hunter 30_74-83 Ponce Inlet FL
My 1979 Hunter 30 has developed a leak in the 30 gal., aluminum water tank. It appears to be in an inaccessible area under the settee. Removing it would require a large fiberglass repair. Can anyone tell me if there is a way to seal the tank without removing it?
Thanks,
G Grizzard
SV Intuition

Seems there are a number of answers in an earlier forum. It just took me a little time to find the thread on the new site.
G.
 
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Steph

Steph

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Sep 30, 2005
52
Cal 28-2 Port Annapolis, Annapolis, Md
tanks repair

If you don't want to undergo a lot of fiberglass repair, can you cut a new access port on top of the tank, repair the leak with epoxy, then cut a new access cover. (I'm assuming you can find the leak.)Then, screw the new cover in place with a gasket to keep it water-tight?
 
higgs

higgs

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Aug 24, 2005
3,736
Nassau 34 Olcott, NY
If you can cut off the top you could install a felxible tank inside the old tank.
 
ggrizzard

ggrizzard

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May 27, 2004
2,059
Hunter 30_74-83 Ponce Inlet FL
Thanks all,
I really appreciate the responses...
I did find the old postings and, no, I can't find the leak(s) without cutting fiberclass. So, hearing 'The Head Mistress"
tell another hunter owner that after 10 years he was living on borrowed time with his tank, and considering that mine is 30 years old in July, I've decided to replace the aluminum tank with plastic.

I'll get the yard to cut the whole settee top off so that I can lift out the old tank, put in the new one and fiberlass the top of the settee back in place.

Happy Thanksgiving to all.

GGrizzard
 
B

Barnacle Bill

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Jun 9, 2008
1,850
- -- -Bayfield
Often an aluminum tank (for water or fuel) will corrode if any of the tank's exterior is sitting in water or moisture that may have collected in the compartment that the tank resides. I know this doesn't solve your removal problem, but you might wish to make sure that it is dry down there or the problem will continue to exist. The epoxy approach may work for a while, but it is best to pull the tank and have the bad areas welded up, or if the tank is too shot, then replace it and a plastic tank might be considered. That is all - good luck.
 
BobM

BobM

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Jun 10, 2004
3,269
S2 9.2A Winthrop, MA
You might want to be prepared to cut out the old tank if it won't come out. It might have gone in before the deck went on! :-O
 
Peggie Hall HeadMistress

Peggie Hall HeadMistress

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Dec 2, 1997
9,011
- - LIttle Rock
It's aluminum--any metal, actually--WASTE holding tanks that are living on borrowed time after 10 years...the average lifespan of an aluminum WATER tank is about 20 years. So you've made a wise decision to replace a 30 yr old aluminum water tank instead trying to repair it.

Ronco Plastics http://www.ronco-plastics.com (no relation to the VegoMatic Ronco) is your best source for a tank...they make top quality tanks and have more than 400 shapes and sizes, over 100 of which are non-rectangular. And they install fittings in the sizes and locations specified by the customer when they make the tank. The online store here is now a dealer for 'em and have excellent discount prices. So go the Ronco site to find the size/shape you need...copy and print the drawing and mark your fittings locations and sizes...then order the tank from Dave here.

When working with the drawings, remember that there is no top or bottom until the fittings are installed, and you'll decide where they go. So rotate and flip drawings...in the nearly 10 years that we were Ronco distributors there weren't half a dozen boats we couldn't find a Ronco tank to fit...it just took a bit of creativity sometimes.
 
RichH

RichH

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Feb 14, 2005
4,773
Tayana 37 cutter; I20/M20 SCOWS Worton Creek, MD
If the tank has an access plate or you can install a large access plate (fairly easy if youre 'handy'), you can 'line' the tank internals with a NSF rated 'potable water' lining epoxy. Most of the major epoxy suppliers offer such to the aircraft/airlines/trains/commerical marine industries through their 'commercial' divisions. I get small lots of potable water tank lining epoxy through: www.epoxyproducts.com/nsp120.html Just remove the accumulation of AluminumChloride, rough-up the internals with a disc sander, structurally rebuild any 'major' weakness (weld areas, etc.) with WEST/ fiberglass cloth, etc., then apply the lining epoxy over all internal surfaces (with a brush and roller). Such a tank 'rebuild' is very economical.
Hope this helps.
 
sailingdog

sailingdog

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Oct 22, 2008
3,502
- Telstar 28 Buzzards Bay
Actually, you'd be better off using CeRAMKote 54, which is approved for small tanks, unlike the product RichH has linked to, which is only approved for tanks 1000 gallons or greater in size, which I doubt you have on a small sailboat.
 
ggrizzard

ggrizzard

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May 27, 2004
2,059
Hunter 30_74-83 Ponce Inlet FL
I'm not very handy these days, so that's why I will have to get the yard pros to do all the cutting.
I called Ronco and there is a tank that would fit IF...
as BobM says, I can cut the old tank out (it's glassed in!).
So now I'm thinking about a bladder, but nowhere on all of the posts (new, old and older) does anyone site a source for flex tanks. West marine has one that is too square. I need 50"L x 9"H x 16"W or smaller, proportionally. Any sources would be appreciated.
 
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