[Public-List] V berth water tank

[Glennb]

dolce is hull number 318, built in 1968.  It also has a tank that is tabbed into the hull. The top is all FG and appears the whole tank is glassed together into one piece.   It sounds like a series of late 60's pre-liner boats were built this way.  

Glenn


Sent from my iPad

On Jul 20, 2013, at 1:40 PM, George Dinwiddie <gdinwiddie at alberg30.org> wrote:

> Bill,
> 
> On 7/19/13 10:07 AM, Bill Newman wrote:
>> My No. 233 is a non liner boat that I have owned for about 12 years.
>> The water tank is fibreglass and is I believe, tabbed to the hull.
> 
> The usual arrangement is a tank that uses the hull and some laid up glass to form the bottom and sides. The top was generally a sheet of aluminum bedded and pop-riveted across the flanges of the sides.
> 
> The usual problems are that
> 1. the fiberglas becomes saturated with water and slowly leaches into the water
> 2. the aluminum corrodes, flaking white aluminum oxide into the water
> 3. the pop-rivets start to leak
> 
>> Originally it had no inspection port so later I made one and found a
>> very moldy plastic bladder inside the tank.  I removed this and
>> thoroughly cleaned the interior of the fibreglass tank and used this
>> for a few years until it began to leak.  I then cut a larger opening
>> into the top and installled a bladder which does not conform well the
>> the shape of the tank.  If it is completely filled it bulges out the
>> opening and leaks some water no matter how well the fittings are
>> tightened.  The result is that I cannot carry a lot of water with
>> this arrangement.  I do not use the tank for drinking or cooking just
>> for washing myself and the dishes.  I am thinking of temporalily
>> removing some of the furniture from the v berth, then making a
>> cardboard mock-up of a tank that fits the space and taking this to a
>> tank maker to have it fabricated.  I am thin king of having this made
>> of aluminum because there are several companies who will do this and
>> a mold is not required.  I expect my experience is not unique.  My
>> question is. has anyone had any experience  replacing the water tank
>> under the v berth and if so any advice or information about how to
>> proceed and the results will be much appreciated.
> 
> I would not recommend using aluminum. Like the original aluminum top, it will oxidize and flake white aluminum oxide into the water.
> 
> The usual fix for the water tank is to
> 1. remove the furniture
> 2. remove the top of the tank
> 3. clean the tank well
> 4. coat the fiberglas walls with epoxy
> 5. put on a new, non-aluminum top (high-density polyethelyne or reinforced epoxy sheet) bedded with good caulk, and using self-tapping screws instead of pop-rivets
> 
> If you do this and add a charcoal filter, you should have water suitable for drinking.
> 
> Of course, you still need to clean the inside occasionally through a port on the top, and you may want to dose with chlorine (plain chlorox) when you fill the tank.
> 
> - George
> 
> -- 
> ----------------------------------------------------------------------
>  When I remember bygone days                         George Dinwiddie
>  I think how evening follows morn;            gdinwiddie at alberg30.org
>  So many I loved were not yet dead,           http://www.Alberg30.org
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