Leak repair of pvc fresh water tank

[windomember]

Hello everyone. This is my first post. Now a Beneteau 38s5 First owner. My acquisition is not without some reserves. Not because of the work on the boat - love that! But because I will be going from a motor sail environment on my 35 Coronado (restored in Vancouver BC in 2003) to a fast sailing vessel with critical trimming. Anyhow, I am now repairing the fire damage on the Beneteau in Trinidad and came across a leak in the port black pvc fresh water tank. Is there a way to seal this leak which is a slow leak?
Any help will be much appreciated.

 

[onecoolair]

Hello everyone. This is my first post. Now a Beneteau 38s5 First owner. My acquisition is not without some reserves. Not because of the work on the boat - love that! But because I will be going from a motor sail environment on my 35 Coronado (restored in Vancouver BC in 2003) to a fast sailing vessel with critical trimming. Anyhow, I am now repairing the fire damage on the Beneteau in Trinidad and came across a leak in the port black pvc fresh water tank. Is there a way to seal this leak which is a slow leak?
Any help will be much appreciated.

Confused? Is the leak in the plumbing line or the fresh water tank? Can you post some pictures for everyone to see ? Also can you circle on the photo were the leak actually is?

 

[kloudie1]

If it is PVC, it can be glued.. if it is poly, it cannot be glued but you can bolt a cover patch on (depending on where the leak is) over the leak. The patch would have a sealant on the tank side of it to keep everything tight.
Even on PVC, a bolted-on patch might be a much more secure fix.

 

[RichH]

If 100% PVC (the 'black' is simply carbon black used as a 'filler') ... simple 'plumbers' adhesives will work (+ bolting, etc. as kloudi1 advises)

If a co-polymer of PVC and a 'low surface energy' plastic such as HDPE, etc. then you need 'special' low energy adhesives such as:http://multimedia.3m.com/mws/mediaw...SevTSeSSSSSS--&fn=Final LSE Bonding Paper.pdf
Such adhesives are fairly new to the 'consumer' marketplace and may be hard to locate; but, are usually obtained from an 'industrial supply' source. \

... and then the addition of 'bolting' or 'studding' of additional reinforcement, etc. as above.

 

[kloudie1]

Neat article, Rich.. Thanks for posting the link.

 

[windomember]

Thanks for the response. Hey Rich you are right on top in my books. That 3m DP8010 appears the answer and without mechanical support for a small leak.

 

[RichH]

be very careful in your tentative identification of PVC ... it may be 'filled' polyethylene or polypropylene.
If you have any plumbers PVC 'cement' left over from 'a household' project, just 'dab' a very small amount onto a 'safe' area and see if it starts to 'melt' the surface. If not, then probably PE or PP, the most common 'plastics' used for small tanks.

 

[windomember]

be very careful in your tentative identification of PVC ... it may be 'filled' polyethylene or polypropylene.
If you have any plumbers PVC 'cement' left over from 'a household' project, just 'dab' a very small amount onto a 'safe' area and see if it starts to 'melt' the surface. If not, then probably PE or PP, the most common 'plastics' used for small tanks.

Thanks Rich. I am not at the boat and cannot confirm the composition(if it is noted on the tank). The 8010 seems to cover all of the possibilities. Do you have any recommendations as to a readily available material that could be used as a patch?

 

[RichH]

Since the patch is only a structural add, could be anything that will 'bond' ... even Aluminum.

 

[windomember]

Again, you have made my day.
I am going to take some plastic non combustibles to Trinidad in my battery and chain shipment and make my new battery box from them using the 8010. 1/4 inch pvc sheeting will make it light and impervious which is important since the batteries will be close to the engine. Better than fooling around with epoxies, etc.

Over and out Rich!