Install Holding Tank With Great Stuff Foam?

[Cool Beans]

Long time, no post! Been living on the boat, no internet out there

This is question is about Project 36 of 894, part 3: Installing the Holding Tank.

I found a 25 gallon Ronco tank fits quite nicely under the v-berth. I'd like to know the best way to install it. As you can see in the attached pictures the tank is wedge shaped and fits right down in there. There is about an inch gap on each of the angled sides, and it rests on the corners of the tank. I was hoping this might be as easy as putting down a bed of Great Stuff foam to set the tank in, with some glassed in ripped 2X6 on each side to give me something to mount tank straps too and add extra security.

Please, if it this this easy, tell me :dance:

 

[higgs]

Having installed two head tanks myself, I think your plan is right on.

 

[Delezynski]

Cool Beans,

If I were doing it, I would put a layer of Seran Wrap/plastic between the Great stuff and the tan. I have had GREAT success using Great Stuff as a VERY strong glue. Some day you may want to remove that tank...

Greg

 

[woodster]

the foam idea is what S2 did on the water tank in my boat back in 1979 and it was a Bear to get out when it came time to replace it lol....it holds very well...come to think of it i might just start selling it to law enforcement as a way to avoid flight risk detainees lol


regards

woody

 

[Florida sail]

Airhead, and use the space under the V berth for storage

 

[Ross]

From a design point of view. The Great Stuff is as convenient as you will find. for removal, a long skinny saw will serve. The stuff will scrape away with a putty knife. It stays flexible.

 

[Cool Beans]

Dare I jinx myself and say a boat related project might actually work out as planned? Will put some plastic down to prevent sticking. . .

Airhead, and use the space under the V berth for storage

I thought about it. . .and a plumbed porta pot, and electra san, and a custom bucket and WAG bags (which I use now until this toilet thing is fixed). Electra-san was top of the list but really cost prohibitive. Living aboard, the composting head wouldn't have time to break down before I would need to empty. It would basically be an expensive bucket without the WAG or the bag. . .and I like the WAG bags, but I figured I would be single forever if I stuck with those

So a conventional, tried and true, holding tank setup was decided on

 

[Allan12210]

When I fitted my new tank I took some plastic bags an tucked them into the void space and filled them to about 25% capacity with foam. After it expanded and cured it was a very good support. With the bags being open it did not collapse the tank. The foam went up but still stayed in the bag.

 

[Morgan donor]

In case of a knock down it might be wise to secure the tank from the top as well. A piece of wood glassed in to the sides of the hull if room allows. You'd be in a poo stew if the tank came loose and traveled around the V berth. 25 gallons weighs a lot and can have a mind of its own in a knock down. Likely no, possible yes. That's why batteries are bolted down!

 

[melliott0352]

When my recent purchase was surveyed the surveyor recommended taking out the wood blocking holding an aux water tank and using foam. foam in contact with tank is an excellent glue. Like the plastic bag trick for where you cannt reach, but like the stickiness for hold down. A long sawzall demo blade makes quick work of the foam for removal. Also a rag with acetone will desolve it on contact. Be ready to fill tank with water before foam fully expands if using the higher expanding foams so as it doesn't lift the tank too much.

 

[THECUSCUS]

Doesn't that foam soak up water like a sponge? Could be a stinky, moldy proposition if it gets some bilge water in it.

 

[RonRelyea]

I just replaced a 45 gallon fresh water tank in my V berth. The original had great stuff or something like it to keep it from moving side to side. The hull liner had a hole just forward and a hole just aft of the tank. Stainless strapping ran though the holes and around the tank to secure it. I was able to buy the strapping I needed by the foot from my local marina. They also lent me the tensioner. this is the stuff ...
http://www.uline.com/BL_2905/Stainless-Steel-Strapping

 

[MrBill_FLL]

Doesn't that foam soak up water like a sponge? Could be a stinky, moldy proposition if it gets some bilge water in it.

Great stuff is open cell foam, and does absorb water, smell, etc.

 

[Nom De Guerre]

Great stuff is open cell foam, and does absorb water, smell, etc.

The Great Stuff Window and Door that I used to fill out my shrunken Foss foam rudder is a closed cell polyurethane foam.