H33 Fresh Water Tank

[Bob]

Does anyone out there have any experience removing the water tank mounted in a 1978-1981 Hunter 33. The tank in mine is mounted forward under the vee berth and has a complex shape to fill the volume. It appears that the vee berth top will have to be cut away all the way out to the hull in order to remove the tank. But what really worrys me is how the tank is secured. There aren't any straps or brackets visible from the top but the tank does move when it's pulled upon. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

 

[Terry Arnold]

why are you replacing?

Bob, I believe you are the only H33 owner that I can recall mentioning replacing the tank. The H33 has a welded aluminum tank that evidently has proved long lived and dependable. There is a good bit in the archives probably about cleaning the tank, which can be done fairly easily, (at least as compared with removing the tank) since the top of the tank is accessible through the existing access board. What H33 owners have typically done is cut out access in the top of the tank to allow cleaning of the tank and then install a screw out port for future access and even visibility of water level. Since access is such a bear, have you considered just rehabilitating the tank in place?

 

[Jim Logan]

Agree with Terry

Terry makes a good point - most of the problems with water quality are due to algea in the water lines, not in the tank (Read Peggy Hall's book or look in the archives). I had a flow problem with mine due to carbonates precipitating out and clogging up the supply tube - I unscrewed the elbow on top of the tank, rodded out the tube, used the Clorox/Vinegar commissioning ritual as outlined in the archives, no problems since then. The best thing you can do assuming no leaks is regular treatment and flushing of the water in the lines.

 

[richard shelby]

old water tanks

I can tell you from first hand experience that your 20 year old aluminum water tank is probably corroded (oxidized) and possibly leaking. Mine (H37C) were both in bad shape so they had to be repaired. See the forum archives search for "water tank" and you'll find my postings and quite a few others. I replaced one tank with a bladder, and the other I coated inside with epoxy. It's a pain in the butt, so don't attempt it unless you really have to.

 

[Sam Lust]

Water tank misery

Well, not quite yet. I think I have a very small leak in my aluminum tank. According to Peggy age wise it's about the right time. I get the tiniest dribble running down the center ridge of the inner hull just aft of the tank. Barely a shiny spot. I'm assuming corrosion of some sort because I had to replace the dip tube pick-up. It was sucking air and causing loss of prime. I didn't spend a lot of time studying exactly where it was holed. My V-berth sole is cut away there for depth and speed transducers which explains how I can see the wet spot. I figure I have a few years to go before I have to attack it. I don't recall seeing any posted advice as to something good to use to seal the tank from the inside. I would think some form of epoxy would work, but concerns have been expressed about toxcicity. I have no answer on that one. Yet. What I can answer for you is that the tank is mounted on blobs of foam of the type normaly used for solid floatation. Very easy to cut and trim away. My first choice to cut the tank away would be to use a "nibbler" if I had one and they weren't so expensive. Next choice might be an angle grinder with abrasive disk. And ear protection because they are extremely noisy. I can imagine having even less hearing after that project!I'd like to get rid of the aluminum tank under the V-berth and replace it with bags located in the forward-most settee lockers, as the lockers are essentialy useless due to shape but might serve well for water. The other reason would be to eliminate the slap of water in an almost full tank. Kept me up most of one night but I couldn't bear the thought of dumping precious fresh water.