Leaky Aluminum Water Tank - repair?

[BobM]

Just my luck. :cry: Filled my water tank yesterday and found a wet spot on the carpet in front of it. I sponged it up but it kept coming. I opened the faucets and ran them for about ten minutes until the leaking stopped. The tank is aluminum, 30 gallons and mounted under the vee berth with no access provided. The aluminum fuel tank had developed pinhole leaks so I guess it should be no surprise that the water tank failed.

I was wondering if anyone had any luck fixing a leaky tank in place? I was pondering whether I could spray it with an epoxy like brewcoat (http://www.sscoatings.net/brewcoat-info.htm) using my wagner power painter with a flexible tip. Has anyone tackled something like this?

I am a chemist and am heavily involved in extractables and leachables testing of plastics as part of my job, so I am well aware of that aspect of using an epoxy coating. I typically daysail and weekend only so the water is really only used for washing dishes, hands, etc...not for drinking. I buy bottled water for that.

Thanks in advance for your experience and advice,

Bob

 

[Peggie Hall HeadMistress]

Slap some MarineTex on the leak...

On the outside of the tank. It won't last forever, but it will get you through this season. I've known many people who've used MarineTex on potable water tanks with no ill effects.

This does NOT work on a plastic tank, btw.

 

[Dave D]

Bob, I would encourage you to find a solution that provides potable water usage. You probably won't own the boat forever and I would think that there should be concern for subsequent owners and their families and guests. unfortunately, I can't offer any advise on the subject. I was wondering however, if there is any way of using a bladder inside the tank. Good luck

 

[sailaway78]

There used to be

Several years ago Devcon made an epoxy specifically designed for use on aluminum. It was amazing stuff. I have used it to redo engine cases on motorcycles that had spun a main bearing, with good success. Not sure if it is available any longer. With that said, I would consider any type or repair to be temporary, and plan on biting the bullet and replacing the tank sooner or later. Plastic replacements are readily available in almost unliimited configurations, and are not overly expensive.

 

[Richard Shelby]

Bob:

I've gone thru this problem for both tanks over the past 4 years. Tried epoxy coating the inside of the tank after cutting access holes and taking out baffles. The repair lasted about a year. Finallly had to put in a flexible bladder, but you will still have to cut access and remove baffles (if there are any). You can search the forum archives and find pictures. Good luck.

 

[BobM]

Thanks to you all. I forgot about the likelihood of baffles. As usual, it sounds like it is really the half measure that is the biggest waste of time and money. The brewcoat is a reasonable approach for potable water, as it is FDA approved for brewery tanks and potable water tanks. Sounds like I should have a big tank replacement party and do the fuel and water tanks at the same time. A bladder might be a good temporary fix, but anything flexible typically has more leachable compounds in it.

 

[Marco Garcia]

I have used some of PRC fuel tank sealants to repair the aluminium holding tank, while waiting for the replacement. You can buy them in 2.5 or 6 oz containers http://corporateportal.ppg.com/NA/Aerospace/Sealants/Sealants_Products/Specialty.htm

On the water tank, I had my aluminuim tank leak, I cut a panel on the bottom to fix it, but after looking inside, ordered a plastic from www.Duracast.com. Here is how it looked inside:

 

[RAD]

I replaced water and holding tanks last year and to get the most in the space I was working with try the attached link to an outfit that turned out to be the best solution without a custom made tank

http://www.tank-depot.com/

 

[BobM]

Thanks guys. Ronco tanks from tank depot seem to have an off the shelf solution for a 25 gallon tank under the vee berth, but I won't know what I need until I get into it.

 

[Peggie Hall HeadMistress]

Not the best source...

They do sell Ronco Plastics tanks, which are the best ... but they only offer tanks that have the fittings already installed in the usual off-the-shelf "standard" sizes and locations. You can order Ronco tanks from the online store here with fittings installed in the sizes and locations YOU specify. And Ronco has a lot more shapes and sizes--more than 400, over 100 of which are non-rectangular, than this vendor seems to offer.

If you need a water or waste tank, go to the Ronco Plastics catalog here http:www.ronco-plastics.com to pick out the one you need, then call Dave at the sbo.com store to place the order.

 

[RAD]

correct link
http://www.ronco-plastics.net/marinetanks.html

 

[BobM]

Sounds like a plan! Thanks Peggie. I like to buy from the site to support it.