[Public-List] V berth water tank

[David Terrell]

I did what  George did and the result is excellent. I do not see a need 
for further changes. I used starboard for the top. Pictures  and a 
description are posted on the web site.

David 432


On Sat, Jul 20, 2013 at 4:40 PM, George Dinwiddie 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
>   So many I love were not yet born.                          also see:
>                'The Middle' by Ogden Nash     http://idiacomputing.com
> 
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>
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