fresh water holding tank leaking!

[PD]

Can anyone here offer some insight as to what is involved and what to expect? The fresh water holding tank seems to be leaking from bottom. The boat is a '80. Is this usual?--------------This was a big suprise. Boat all set for launch, filled up the water holding tank. A 1/2 hour later my bilge pump started running every 10 minutes...I looked under the port side bench in the main cabin, and there was a stream running from under the tank. I observed the three hoses attached to the tank and could see that the leak was not coming from a loose fitting.I assume that I have a fairly major project ahead of me, and that I should postpone my launch date (I am on a mooring).Can anyone here offer some insight as to what is involved and what to expect? It looks like I will have to cut the existing tank out, and retrofit a smaller one that will fit between the openings above the existing storage area that holds the tank. And I thought I was going to have an easy spring... :-(

 

[Briann Smith]

Water filter ??

I had the same problem on our Hunter 31. Since I live in a "hard" winter area of Canada, I learned that water left on a boat freezes. I noted that my bilge, just before launch, was filling and discovered that my problem was in the in-line water filter which had not been drained and consequently was broken by the expansion of the frozen water inside.

 

[Debra B]

check archives under head mistress

Lots of stuff on tanks, and a recomended company.How hard does it look to be to get the tank out?

 

[John]

Not that hard

I had the same issue on my 78 H30. It's very likely that the tank is leaking. Don't know the exact reason( calcium pitting or something), but they basically deteriorate after 20+ years. I cut out the "bridge" between the two openings on the access openings on the top of the port settee. Then cut the strip of glass holding the tank in place with a circular bit on a drill. With some persuading, the tank will come out. I didn't have the right tools to cut it up, so I think I just crushed it so it would come out. If you can grind down the edges of the glass strip that was holding it, you can get it throught the opening.Took a day because I spent way too much time trying to cut the tank up, before just cutting the glass and crushing to get out. Should probably take only an hour to get it out.Then either get another plastic tank of the same dimensions that will fit through the opening ( I used a bladder temproarily ) and fix it in place.I did not glass the "bridge" back in, because I have yet to install a permanent tank. I built a plywood backing, and bolted that in. Has been fine since.PS - The bladder worked well for one season so far, but I will eventually put a plastic tank in. But I wanted access back there to the electical and plumbing lines I want to replace in the future.

 

[PD]

thanks

I decided to cut out the "bridge" section. I got the tank out in 1/2 an hour without having crush the tank. The whole area was damp, so I will let it dry out for while, then paint it with bilge-coat and add a new (plastic) tank. The bottom of the tank was pitted, from calcium I assume.I think the hardest part of this job will be re-fiberglassing the bridge piece back on and supporting it.I think this job will take me about 3-4 hours total. The boat-yard wanted $1000 to do it.I took pictures for future reference for others here.

 

[Peggie Hall/HeadMistress]

Why glass it?

Reattach--or make a new one--that secures with screws so you can remove it if you ever need to replace a hose or remove the tank for any reason.