On your 30U, does your 58 gallon forward water tank drain hose attach at the forward end of the tank or aft end of the tank?
My drain hose (and vent and filler hose) all are attached to the forward end of the tank. But the tank is pitched aft, so the last 6 or so gallons never drain. (It’s only an issue when winterizing.) I’m wondering about trying to repitch the tank, or buying a new INA tank because it looks like those could drain from either end.
Jim,
1.) Is there room to wedge up the aft end of the tank, or 2.) Can you remove, rotate 180 degrees and reinstall the tank you have now?
Bob D
‘42’ 30C #170
W. Orange NJ
Hi Bob,
"42" is a great name! (Hope you figure out the question.)
Unfortunately, rotating the tank end-for-end is not feasible because of the shape of the tank and the other fittings.
Wedging up the aft end may be possible and I thought of doing that. It certainly would be cheaper. than buying the new tanks. But the existing aluminum tank is 30 years old so part of me thinks that if I'm going to the bother of pulling the tank, I might as well replace it. I'm also wondering why the drain is on the forward end of the tank, since that just makes for a longer hose to the water pump. (But maybe there's a good reason it's there. So, I'm curious how other Nonsuch 30Us are plumbed.)
My 30 Ultra forward 58 gal water tank is set up the same as your. All hoses attached at forward end.
I always thought this a bit strange too.
As I too am considering replacing the tank in the Spring, I would look to reroute the 'drain' hose to the aft end... unless someone posts a logical reason as to why it is attached forward and not aft.
I have removed this tank previously for cleaning and it has come out and gone back it fairly easily.
Peter Grabow
S/V CAKEWALK III
30U 430 1987
Jersey City NJ
Our forward tank is plumbed like yours, with all the fittings on the forward end of the tank. I know this because I had to remove the tank several years ago to have a leaking tank seam welded. The tank was amazingly easy to remove and replace but disconnecting and reconnecting the fittings was a real chore. I wish now I had replaced the tank with one of the INA tanks because it is probably only a matter of time before the repaired tank starts to leak again but so far, so good.
David Young
Bay Cat, 30U #402
Traverse City / Suttons Bay, MI
The exit fitting on the new forward water tank on Lionheart is located at the aft end. When ordering a new plastic tank from the INA you can specify where you want the fittings located since they are inserted after the tank is formed. But the aft end makes more sense. Make your choice known when you order.
A 30 year old aluminum tank may well have aluminum “sand” deposited in the low end, since chlorinated water will attack the aluminum. That is worsened if the owners add chlorine to sanitize the water on a regular basis. Eventually the tank may develop pin-hole leaks.(More serious in the holding tank.) The replacement tanks solve these problems.
My tank is the plastic type and the plumbing is forward. I don't remember it not being unable to drain out all but a little. Also, I installed a inspection plate forward of the tank which makes it easier to detach the hose.
Joe Valinoti
S/V IL Gatto NS30U #221
Sea Harbour YC
Oriental, NC USA
My forward tank is plumbed the same as yours. I discovered a more sinister problem with this a couple of years ago. The tank, though well secured, still moved forward and aft slightly under sail, and the old plastic fitting at the top of the tank where the vent hose enters cracked and broke off. When I filled the tank to capacity one day several litres spilled out into the bilge. I replaced it, but had to shim the tank back 3 inches to clear the forward bulkhead to prevent this from happening again. This opened up a new problem, as you may note there is a plastic louvered vent just forward of the 2 drawers under the main bunk. This vent actually goes a couple of inches into the space occupied by the tank, and by shifting the tank aft, the vent will no longer fit in. I’ll eventually solve this by cutting the flange off the vent or replacing it altogether with a surface-mounted unit.