Water tank epoxy recommendations

[wayne007]

I have an aluminum fresh water tank with a pin hole leak. Any recommendations on an epoxy to repair it? I've seen so many and its hard to find the best. I saw J-B Weld Water weld and its apparently safe for drinking water tanks.

Thanks

Wayne

 

[Don S/V ILLusion]

There is no such thing as "a" pinhole leak.

 

[Bill Roosa]

I'd tend to agree with Don
You might consider using solder (and lots of flux)

 

[woodster]

This a problem that will not go away with a quick fix an solder is not the answer on aluminum best to bite the bullet and take the tank out and either replace it or see if the panel that is bad can be cut out and a new panel be welded back in

 

[foulkes]

Using Epoxy

I have a Hunter 430, 1995 vintage. It has Aluminum water tanks and the forward one under the forward berth started leaking around 2002. I could not for the life of me see a way of removing the tank short of lifting the deck. I cut a couple of inspection hatches in the top of them, due to the baffles they have, and laboriously ground and sanded, then glassed the base and the sides through the small inspection hatches. No leaks since then! Watr was not great initially, but now no problem. Both holding tanks also leak, but I do not use them in my oart of the cruising world in SE Asia.

 

[sailhappy20778]

Sorry, I don't have an answer for your epoxy question. Many owners annually shock the water tanks with bleach or fill with chlorinated water. This causes pitting in aluminum tanks. Chlorine effects are cumulative. The pitting leaves small aluminum grit that should be filtered out so it does not ruin your water pump. Carbon filter your water before filling the tank. Marine, RV and Walmart stores sell cartridges. If you plug or fix the pin hole the pitting may stop and you may get many more years of life from it. I did.

 

[hotrodderjim]

aluminum doesn't epoxy well.And like someone said if theres one theres more( Like gray hairs!!lol). there is a "paint" made by POR-15 that is great for fuel tanks, but i don't know if its safe for drinking water. The tank would have to be removed & the paint is poured in ans sloshed around till it covers the inside. probably be cheaper 7 better to ge a poly one from West marine
HRJ

 

[cdnmurse]

http://hunter.sailboatowners.com/mods.php?task=article&mid=18&aid=8350&mn=28

here's my repair.. or shall i say replacement

 

[Peggie Hall HeadMistress]

probably be cheaper & better to ge a poly one from West marine HRJ

I second the recommendation to replace the tank...but not from WM. Ronco Plastics Ronco Plastics Marine Catalog makes TOP quality water and waste tanks for a very reasonable price and has more than 400 shapes and sizes, over 100 of which are non-rectangular (which means you might be able to fit a larger one in the same space), and they install fittings in the sizes and locations specified by the customer when they make the tank. Be sure specify "water."

 

[cdnmurse]

couldn't agree more; Ronco took care of me; shipped from California for almost half the price of something I could get locally