Well, after totally exhausting all the possibilities of buying new water tanks it has come to the final chapter. Or should I say the beginning of the final chapter. I did the research, found the plans and talked it over with West Systems. I'm building my own custom fit water tanks out of plywood. Do I hear a groan? Yes, plywood covered with epoxy and glass tape. Unlike polyester resins epoxy is water proof and harmless to drink out of after the curing time. There is no fiberglass taste and, it won't leak water out anymore than it lets water in (in a Fiberglass Boat). Blistering??? Not with epoxy. I found the drawing in the book, Upgrading the Cruising Sailboat by Daniel Spurr. I hesitate to post the drawing here because of copyright laws, but will be glad to email it to anyone interested. Oh yeah, Thanks for everyone's help during my quest... Ron/KA5HZV The pictures will be along as the work progresses... For the drawing... Captronbob@Yahoo.com
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Ed Schenck
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Jim Legere
Good Idea
I think they will work great. I suspect this is a solution to the H37C holding tank woes as well. It is fairly labour intensive, but if you have the time ... hey! I think I'll look at fabricating new tanks out of stainless or aluminum when the time comes on mine (lots of good welders cheap around here). Thanks for the pictorial on how to get them out.
I think they will work great. I suspect this is a solution to the H37C holding tank woes as well. It is fairly labour intensive, but if you have the time ... hey! I think I'll look at fabricating new tanks out of stainless or aluminum when the time comes on mine (lots of good welders cheap around here). Thanks for the pictorial on how to get them out.
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Peggie Hall/Head Mistress
Kinda heavy...
And can affect the trim of your boat big time. Consider an epoxy lined aluminum tank. If you're willing to drink and cook with water from an apoxy lined plywood tank, what's the difference?
And can affect the trim of your boat big time. Consider an epoxy lined aluminum tank. If you're willing to drink and cook with water from an apoxy lined plywood tank, what's the difference?
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Ron
No Way
An extra hundres pounds a midship on an 18,000 lb boat is not going to do a thing trim. Have you ever been on a sailboat? You should know this! no way..no how. An as far as drinking from epoxy, you're about a thousand times better off than drinking from aluminum. Ask the AMA.. This is the way tanks were made for years, before the advent of the new plastics. Ask Scott at Ronco.. But your input is appreciate.... Ron
An extra hundres pounds a midship on an 18,000 lb boat is not going to do a thing trim. Have you ever been on a sailboat? You should know this! no way..no how. An as far as drinking from epoxy, you're about a thousand times better off than drinking from aluminum. Ask the AMA.. This is the way tanks were made for years, before the advent of the new plastics. Ask Scott at Ronco.. But your input is appreciate.... Ron
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Richard Craig
Why Epoxy ???
I had to jump in here...... You're kinda right, epoxy resins are good. But given the application (and cost factors) you might want to think about a good Vinyl Ester resin. The VE resins present a good barrier coat against moisture, in fact have a lot lower absorbtion (sic) rate than the epoxies. There is also the human factor to consider. Many people are unknowingly allergic to epoxy resins. Bad part is, you won't know until you handle it, no matter how much protection you use. And once you've had a reaction it is almost a given you can never handle epoxy again. Finally, and maybe most important, VE is usually a bunch cheaper !! Whatever course you take, best of luck. Richard C
I had to jump in here...... You're kinda right, epoxy resins are good. But given the application (and cost factors) you might want to think about a good Vinyl Ester resin. The VE resins present a good barrier coat against moisture, in fact have a lot lower absorbtion (sic) rate than the epoxies. There is also the human factor to consider. Many people are unknowingly allergic to epoxy resins. Bad part is, you won't know until you handle it, no matter how much protection you use. And once you've had a reaction it is almost a given you can never handle epoxy again. Finally, and maybe most important, VE is usually a bunch cheaper !! Whatever course you take, best of luck. Richard C
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Ron
Richard....
Interesting... What you say is right on the mark... almost! Here is a quote from, Upgrading the Cruising Sailboat by Daniel Spurr: "Although vinylester is currently thought to be superior to polyester and most epoxies in creating a barrier against the ingress of moisture, its higher cost makes it somewhat prohibitive. Because of its higher cost few builders lay up the entire hull skin with vinylester although most are now using it for the first coat following the gelcoat (in a mold). The average boat owner has little use for vinylester resin." As for the regular Polyester resins, the years have spoken and poly has not faired well. You're right about the alergic reaction factors. I'm just hoping I'm not one of those people. I think a lot of people are put off by the word "Epoxy". It's just another type of plastic and I like to think of it in those terms. I have done a lot of research and found that once epoxy has cured it is harmless. Thanks for taking the time to help me along in this process and let me know if you want a copy of the drawing... Ron
Interesting... What you say is right on the mark... almost! Here is a quote from, Upgrading the Cruising Sailboat by Daniel Spurr: "Although vinylester is currently thought to be superior to polyester and most epoxies in creating a barrier against the ingress of moisture, its higher cost makes it somewhat prohibitive. Because of its higher cost few builders lay up the entire hull skin with vinylester although most are now using it for the first coat following the gelcoat (in a mold). The average boat owner has little use for vinylester resin." As for the regular Polyester resins, the years have spoken and poly has not faired well. You're right about the alergic reaction factors. I'm just hoping I'm not one of those people. I think a lot of people are put off by the word "Epoxy". It's just another type of plastic and I like to think of it in those terms. I have done a lot of research and found that once epoxy has cured it is harmless. Thanks for taking the time to help me along in this process and let me know if you want a copy of the drawing... Ron
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Larry W.
Tanks
Ron; Found your post most interesting. I'm considering building two fuel tanks from plywood/epoxy, since I can shape and fab them myself. What has your research showed regarding fuel and epoxy?
Ron; Found your post most interesting. I'm considering building two fuel tanks from plywood/epoxy, since I can shape and fab them myself. What has your research showed regarding fuel and epoxy?
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Ron
Interesting exchange.
This is sort of an interesting exchange. Our Hunter 31 (1985) has a fiberglass tank that was moulded into the liner when new. We just opened the tank up because the lid was leaking. Upon opening the tank we found only a fine coat of silt from the well water that has been used in the tank for the last 15+ years. There was NOT one blister. The interior of the tank is coated with Gelcoat. In my opinion this sort of proves that if the fiberglass and gel coat are properly laid up blister are not a problem. On the other hand if there are voids in the layup and the glass is not properly cured, there is a much greater chance of blistering.
This is sort of an interesting exchange. Our Hunter 31 (1985) has a fiberglass tank that was moulded into the liner when new. We just opened the tank up because the lid was leaking. Upon opening the tank we found only a fine coat of silt from the well water that has been used in the tank for the last 15+ years. There was NOT one blister. The interior of the tank is coated with Gelcoat. In my opinion this sort of proves that if the fiberglass and gel coat are properly laid up blister are not a problem. On the other hand if there are voids in the layup and the glass is not properly cured, there is a much greater chance of blistering.
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