[Alberg30] under sole holding tank

[Jacques Dusseault]

Dear Peter,

I repaired my holding tank cover this year.  I had done a quick job a 
few years ago, but it became necessary to make a complete repair 
this summer.  For the hose ends, I replaced the aluminum pipes 
going into the tank with 1 1/2" PVC.  The original pipes were severly 
corroded. I strenghtened the angled front of the tank where the 
pipes come out with a piece of plywood and inserted the new PVC 
pipes.  I then glued and covered the plywood, pipes and front 
aluminum piece with epoxy and cloth.  I made sure that the entry 
point of the new pipes were perfectly sealed using epoxy resin with 
a filler.  In the 1 1/2 " pipes I inserted and epoxied 1 1/4" plastic 
nipples and reconnected the existing rubber hoses.  The 1 1/4" 
threaded nipple ends can be perfectly fitted, with expoxy glue, inside 
the 1 1/2 " pipes.  I also replaced the airventing tube with a small 
PVC pipe and reconnected it to the existing vent piping.  This may 
be all the repair you need at this time.  

In my case the aluminum cover was severely pitted with a few small 
holes and also needed repair.  It was also leaking around the riveted 
sides.  To correct this problem I took the entire aluminum top off by 
drilling out the rivets.  I then covered both sides of the existing cover 
with epoxy resin and cloth.  I cut a 12" X 14" square trap door in the 
cover, inorder to have access to the pipes.  I built an inside 
aluminum frame for the trap door cover to sit on, fiberglassed it, 
bolted and caulked the cover down.  I have a round plexiglass view 
port which is bolted down using bolts with threads in the aluminum 
cover.  Through this observation port I could easily insert my hand 
and wrench and bolt down the access trap door cover.  I then 
epoxied the entire holding tank cover down, around the lip of the 
tank rather than use rivets.  I cleaned the fiberglass rim thoroughly, 
filled the existing rivet holes and gave it a sanding.  To make sure of 
a tight fit for the epoxied top to the fiberglass rim, I added a filler to 
the epoxy and also screwed the top down with stainless screws 
using new holes I drilled between the existing rivited holes in the tank 
lip.  I then painted the top with aluminum gray paint.  In my earlier 
quick repair I had re-rivited and caulked the top.  It lasted a few 
years but started to leak again.  The new repair is very strong and I 
am sure  it will hold, without leaking, for another 30 years.  

I made one other modification.  I put a joint in the "pump out" pipe 
so that if I wish I can disconnect it and remove it from inside the 
tank through the removable cover.  We presently sail on the St. 
Laurence and Great Lakes and require a holding tank.  We have 
previously taken Kilwinning to the Bahamas where we could not use 
the holding tank but had to pump out directly to the sea.  We intend 
to take another sea voyage, in the next few years, and will 
supplement our water storage by using the the cleaned out holding 
tank area for the addition an extra flexible water tank.  I can insert 
the flexible water tank through the removable cover. I fiberglassed 
some holding points to the bottom of the tank so that the flexible tank 
can be held in place when installed.  This will keep the extra weight 
of the water low in the boat and help the boats performance.

If you wish more complete and exact material and design 
specifications or other info, I would be pleased to provide it.  I hope 
you can understand my above description.  The job was not difficult 
or expensive and looks very good.


Kilwinning #446 (1970)



On 25 Nov 2001, at 22:06, Peter Amos wrote:

> The aluminium top of my under sole holding tank is begining to look
> very weak at the hoses connection points.Has anyone replaced or
> repaired this tank without re-siting it. Peter Amos Tait Tait #478
> 


Jacques Dusseault
President, Synergem Management Inc.
2 de Menton, Gatineau, Québec,
J8T 5M6 CANADA
Phone:(819)561-1268
Cellular: (613) 220-2230
Fax:(819) 561-2361
Email: dussual at attglobal.net
Web Page: http://www.synergem.org
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