How to remove this thing!

[Jared1048]

I'm trying to get into my fresh water supply to see if its cracked but cant get the dang lid off! I scrapped with a knife all around the edges and that sail tie was an attempt to create a handle to yank it off but was un-successfull.

Anyone ever get into this thing? Any advice?

[Background]

Boat is new to me and the water doesnt last very long and I'm 90% sure there is a leak in the system somewhere. I wanted to open up the holding tank to see if there any cracks in it.

Cheers,
-Jared

 

[jtm]

I suspect the cover was "glued and screwed" -perhaps with 3M4200 (or 5200 ;<). To have that volume of water sloshing around in a boat tank without a solid adhesive would likely flex the cover and/or fasteners til they leaked.

To learn if you have a tank leak you might want to plug the overflow hose and introduce to your fill water some minimally staining coloring/dye-- that should lead you to the culprit area. Trying to air pressure and see pressure loss prolly won't tell you enough(like where ) and there are too many connects(hoses-in/out) that may bleed off the air pressure.

 

[FourPoints]

it looks like it's screwed down in the picture...

 

[Nelsonhow]

On my 1983 H-30 the water tank is under the starbord brith in the main cabin. The tank is intregral to the hull meaning the starbord side of the tank is the hull of the boat. The port side, front and back of the tank are fiberglass panels molded into place. It's pretty bulletproof and highly unlikely to leak. I have an inspection port in the top and the and can see the inside fo the tank at least the rear corner where the fill tube at the top side rear of the tank, the vent tube at the rear top and the discharge port rear bottom of the tanks are located. I can also see the front and back of the tank form cubby doors in the birth base as well as cut outs in the top of the birth.

The top of the tank is gluded with silicone type sealant and also screwed in place. I suspect yours is the same.

Check the fill vent and outlet tubes that are molded into the tank. The hoses attach to the tubes on outside of the tank. I guess if you really mashed one it might crack and leak. If not check all of the hose fittings especiall to the pump. I was losing a lot of water at one time and traced it back to a leak in the pump fitting. Trimming back the hose and adding a new hose clamp fixed the problem.

 

[Steve Dion]

It is held down with screws & caulking. I have remove the lid on our water tank in the past and it took several hours.

You will need to get some putty knives under the lid and pry it up. If you are careful you can do this without damaging the glass/gelcoat.

There are a couple of posts in the archives regarding this exact procedure. You may want to consider getting some of the solvent that will help disolve the caulking.

We eventually put a couple of ports in the lid and had the cover glassed in place. Ours was leaking and I could not get it to stop.

It is doubtful that this tank is leaking. I would check your hoses (fill, discharge & vent). You should also see water in your bilge if there are any leaks.

If I can find the post on the lid removal I will link it for you.

 

[Steve Dion]

Here is the link! Best of luck. Let us know how this turns out.

http://hunter.sailboatowners.com/in...7&cat_id=25&aid=7326&page=article&mn=31_83-87

Be sure that you replace the baffle before you recommission the tank. You don't want 35 gals of water sloshing around when you tack.

PS: The rubber seal did not work either. The rubber may have been too hard, but the real problem was the screw holes. They were oversized and did not secure the lid poperly.

 

[Keith13315]

I did mine as Steve explains it was a pain but it can be done just re-caulk it so it doesnt leak.
Keith

 

[Jared1048]

I'll keep working on it. Thanks for the replies!

 

[Jared1048]

So I found the leak! Its on the hot water heater where the heating element is inserted into the tank.

I dont care that much about the hot water tank and have never used it (had boat only 4 months). I do care about using the holding tanks water though! I un-connected the hot water hoses and reconnected them by-passing the heater tank. Afer I did this though the cold water doesnt even work now. I thought these systems were completly different?

The power for the water pump and the hot water heater are different. Id expect the cold water to still work. It doesnt make any noise when I hit the "Water Pressure" switch now.

This making any sense to anyone?

Thanks!
-Jared