Any recommendations on how best to repair slow leak in Nonsuch 22 plastic freshwater holding tank? 4" hairline crack that empties entire tank into bilge in a few hours.
Buy a new tank.
NS26C Tabby
Gerard van Boven
The smallest tanks available on the tank replacement program are for Nonsuch 26s and are too large for the hole the tank came out of on my 22. Do you know of another source for tanks like these?
If I can’t find a source, my alternative is repair what I have. I’m researching how to repair polyethylene but would appreciate advice from anyone experienced.
Bob,
Don’t replace that tank till you give it a good fight. There are a bunch of You Tube videos that will give you guidance. Try this one: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u829qLroshw&t=321s
First thing I would do though is drill a hole at the very end of the crack. That will stop the crack from spreading.
You can do it Bob, I know you can.
Cheers,
Butch
Butch Garren
Nonsuch 30, #196
Whiskers II,
Solomons, MD
Bob -
Butch is right in the sense that it can be repaired, I’m sure, by someone who does plastic welding but … it’s gotta be 34 years old (or older). If you are drinking the water, maybe it’s time for a nice, new fresh tank. Your existing tank is a 14 gallon tank, just like mine, and I’d substitute a good bladder-type tank. They take a real beating. The best are made by Nauta of France. Plastimo tanks are OK (but Nautas are the best).
Research them - remember that you must get one designed for fresh water. It’ll have no taste - for years and years. These flexible and space-conforming tanks make "tank-related’"misery a breeze.
Ernie A. in Toronto
I’ve repaired a crack in my port tank Bob, and the repair has lasted five or six seasons, so far.
Cut strips out of a gallon water bottle or milk bottle (polyethylene???), about half inch by 4 or 5 inches - no precision necessary. With a heat gun (mine is a two-speed for paint stripping) heat up the cracked area until it nearly turns clear. You can’t heat so much that the tank wall collapses - that’s the tricky part - then patch this area with some of the strips. Heat these strips so that they “weld” into the cracked area.
You might try practicing on a noncritical area first until you get the knack of it.
The tank crack I had probably occurred because too much tank length was suspended over the bunk supporting the bottom of the tank, thus there was a lot of pressure on the bottom of the tank and it cracked under the repeated stresses a pounding boat endures. I built another bunk under the tank closer to the end, and haven’t had problems since.
It can be done!
Ed Cook
Chat-eau, N26C, #173
Middle Rivet, MD
I second that…
Brian McCuaig. NS30u
Whitby, Ontario
“Having a yacht is reason for being more cheerful than most."
I had a hairline crack also. It started at the filler fitting so the tank leaked only when it was full. I tried welding the crack with an iron but was not successful because this only weakened the area and the crack got bigger. I think this would work if you had a large powerful iron or small torch and a patch or strip of the same tank material to weld over/into the crack. I didn’t have any spare tank material then.
I replaced the water tank with a bladder. It doesn’t leak, it will fit anywhere, it was cheaper than a replacement tank and does the job well. However on hindsight I think I should have replaced with a Nonsuch tank because the bladder gives the water a slight plastic vinyl taste after several days even years after install. It’s good if you use this water soon after you fill. Or just don’t make coffee or brush teeth with this water.
https://ca.binnacle.com/Plumbing-&-Pumps-Water-and-Waste-Tanks-&-Accessories/c31_616/p2325/Plastimo-26-Gal.-Flexible-Water-Tank/product_info.html
Tom
26c #28
Penetang
I had a similar problem a few years ago. The crack emanated from the upper water connection, as I remember.
I drilled a 1/4 inch hole in the tank just PAST the end on the crack to spread the stress and stop the crack from getting longer. Then I attached an aluminum plate that covered the filler connection, and well past the end of the crack, using lots of flexible sealant and self tapping screws. Problem solved, with no leaks for years.
Ed Collis
formerly NS30U,
ORION VII
Toronto
I guess I was “too diplomatic”. I should have told the truth. There is a BIG price difference between Nauta tanks and Plastimo tanks. This reflects the fact that Nauta tanks are way better than Plastimo tanks. They are far more rugged and are the only type thatr are used routinely in government and military vessels, to hold every concievable liquid.
When Nauta says that the water in their Tedlar-lined tank has no taste, they mean it. Like most things in life, ya gets what ya pays for. If interested, I would contact Nauta to get real specifics on size, etc.
Here is a listing for a 23 gal. tank that may darn well fit into the water tank compartment, on the port side, of an N22. With one of these, it doesn’t matter if it’s a bit of a jam to get it in - it’ll take the shape of where it sits. I purchased my Nauta tank in the US when it made financial sense to do just that. Now, some research is needed to find the right supplier (for anything, actually).
Good luck with this.
Ernie A. in Toronto
Good thing you don’t live in California Ernie! 
Are you talking about the price of real estate ??
I don’t get what you mean.
Ernie A. in Toronto
Just pulling your leg Ernie. If you read your link it says that if you live in California this tank can give you cancer.
This may all be relative.
1 If you are filing your Nauta tank with that tasty Toronto water, Ernie, you may not notice any foul smell other than chlorine.
We fill our tanks with only pure spring water (no joke).
2 Yes there may be a big difference but the Plastimo tank is very tough. I have no issues with the ruggedness. For example, you can use it as a hydraulic jack to get you crew out of bed - the filler hole is 3 feet above the level of the tank top so about 1.3 psi@3ft when the hose is full, the plastimo tank is slightly larger than the under bunk compartment, the hatch under this bunk is about 12 by 36 inches area 432sq inch, so the little hatch could lift 561lb. This has been tested in the real world and found to be effective.
Tom
26C #28
Penetang
Hi Bob and other NS22’s!
You might want to try Ronco Plastics. They manufacture a whole bunch of fresh water & waste holding tanks for boats of all different sizes. Vast catalogue. Once you’ve checked the dimensions of your tank, send it to them and see what they can do for you.
https://ronco-plastics.com/product/water-waste-holding-tank/
Bob Gehrman
NS30U #396 “Quickbeam”
Baltimore, Maryland
What’s the matter with the tanks available through the INA?, I have two, no issues whatsoever…
Cheers
Brian McCuaig. NS30u
Whitby, Ontario
“Having a yacht is reason for being more cheerful than most."
Paul -
Just because I post a link does not mean that I have read it, for goodness’ sake !! Jeeeez …
These tanks can only give you cancer if you live in California AND drink California water out of them (in California, of course). Toronto water is superb once you get used to the taste. All Toronto water is filtered through a complex series of Raritan Sani-flex hose and Plastimo tanks before it comes out of the taps - hence, the good taste.
And, truth be told, I have heard of Ronco Plastics and they should be researched.
So there !!
Ernie A. in Toronto
Brian -
I don’t believe that we have INA tanks for N22s.
Ernie A. in Toronto
I’m sure the INA replacement tank is the best alternative. The Starboard side tank is a new INA tank, 15? years, and it is large and clean and does not impart any smell or taste. It does however leak like a sieve when you fill it right up because of the poorly installed inspection ports.
Tom
26C#28
Penetang
The INA only goes down to the 26 with its replacement tanks. The closest they have in size is the holding tanks for the 26 Classic and Ultra. The Classic is listed at 24 U.S. gallons and the Ultra at 23 gallons. The 22 water tank is listed as 23 gallons so it is possible one of those might fit in. You would have to do some modifications to make them work as water tanks but since they are new you don’t have to worry about prior usage.
. Rondo lists several 23 gallon tanks. The last 23 gallon water tank listed looks closest to the Nonsuch tanks in shape.
I would also investigate finding a local that welds plastic. Some people buy plastic welding equipment and weld plastic themselves or even uses large soldering irons heated by a torch. I am concerned about toxic fumes so don’t weld large plastic items.
Mark Powers
La Reina 26C
Vancouver, B.C.