In our NS26C, we have two water tanks that are a bit long in the tooth, and my better half wants to replace them, and water lines, as well.
I note that drawing B470 STBD - is for a starboard water tank. Will this also work mirrored for the port side?
Thanks for any words of experience here;
John A. Stewart
NS26C 046
Kingston ON
I don’t know why it says Starboard. The original tanks were identical. both looked like the one on the drawing.
The aft end of the starboard tank looks just like the forward end of the port tank. Its not mirrored it is reversed.
To confirm look at the old tanks in your boat.
As far as I can see the only slight disadvantage was that the port tank never quite empties all the way.
Don’t overtighten the fittings because you risk cracking the tanks. Go easy, these are tapered threads.
Yes good idea to replace all the water lines while you are at it if they are the original lines.
One thing I did this year (was recommended by someone on this list) was move the water pump into the bilge out from under the head sink. It is much quieter. The other things I changed that I should have done much earlier was - replace the original sink taps with nice single lever modern ones, and get rid of the foot pump and valves under the galley sink.
Once you start down the plumbing road you might as well do it all at once. Much easier that way.
Tom
26C 28
Penetang
Funny that this should come up just now.
We got the same question about the Nonsuch 26C starboard vs. port tanks via email over the weekend. I looked into it, because I didn’t know the answer. So far it appears that all of the institutional knowledge has been lost. No one seems to know why we don’t offer a Nonsuch 26C port tank.
I caught this posting just before heading down to my own 26C to verify my impressions about how it should work. So, I’ll have more to say about this tonight or tomorrow.
However, this much I can say: the “B470 STBD” tank offered in the Nonsuch Store has the same dimensions as needed for use on the port. The tanks come with female-threaded holes for installing vent, fill, and drain. On the B470 STBD tank, all three of those threaded holes are on the same side of the tank. Used on the starboard side, those holes will all be aft. Using that tank on port, those holes will all be facing forward.
The Nonsuch 26C manual shows the port tank as having vent and fill forward, and drain aft. (See attached excerpt from the 62nd page of the manual.)
Several of us on the INA Board spent a chunk of the weekend trying to solve several mysteries:
If you have urgent tank replacement needs and can’t wait for that then, yes, the Nonsuch 26 Classic “B470 STBD” tank can also be used on port if you’re ok with how you’ll have to route the hoses.
– Bob
Robert Neches
Co-President, International Nonsuch Association
(Eagerly anticipating answers to questions #1 and #2 from older-times than me)
Nonsuch 26 Classic Tank Arrangements.pdf (60.2 KB)
If the tanks have the same dimensions, why not have Ronco put holes in both ends?? The customer can plug the ones he doesn’t use. We market it as fitting both sides. KISS!!
Joe
Hi John,
We replaced both water tanks about 7 years ago. They are identical. Simply reverse direction. I did note they are little higher than original. Not much but had to trim the boards that hold the tank in place.
Rob Powers
Respite #50 26C
Sidney BC
Hi Joe
Yes that would be great, put a drain hole at both ends of the 26C tank design.
You would have to check to see if there is room for the extra length of the drain fitting on the port side because the fill and vent fittings still have to be on the fwd end.
The original port 26C tank was like the INA drawing. See bottom of my garage trash bin …
Tom
26c 28
Penetang
Although you can follow Joe’s and Rob’s suggestions, I strongly suspect that having the holes where orginially spec’ed simplifies installation.
Rumor has it that an INA co-President will be checking this out on his boat this afternoon, and there will be an official INA recommendation soon.
– Bob
Solar Wind
Nonsuch 26c #143
(Split personalities don’t bother me. Or me.)
OK, folks. Here’s the official INA recommendation: Nonsuch 26 Classic owners are best off using the B470 STBD tank for both starboard and port water tank replacement.
My boat has the INA Nonsuch 26C INA tank program’s water tank on both sides. Consequently, all three connections face aft for the starboard tank, and forward for the port tank.
Although I thought differently before going down to my boat to look, I now think that it’s easiest that way. Here’s why…
There is a lot more room to deal with the hoses forward on the port side. You have 6+ inches (15.25 cm) forward, plus a compartment in front of that which you can reach through. Conversely,… … there’s no room to access things in back. The tank has only 3 inches space from the aft wall, but the access opening makes it unreachable. You perhaps connect an aft drain by routing the hose through the hole, connecting it to the tank before sliding the tank into place, and somehow guiding the hose while you skooched the tank back. But, I don’t think you’d enjoy it. You’d probably have to remove the saloon floor next to the galley sink to really be able to grab and guide the hose. Furthermore, … … the tank has to be skooched that far back to fit. What you’re seeing in this last picture is the bottom forward outboard corner of the tank. Note that it’s just barely touching the hull. The hull curves and narrows as it gets closer and closer to the bow. If you tried to place the tank any further forward to make room aft, the hull’s pinched in too far. You’d have to do a lot of extra work to get it properly oriented and supported. So, nooo – the tank really needs to be where it is.Summarizing what I learned from all this:
When I hear the same thing from Joe, Rob, and Thor, I should listen.
I wonder if the original port tank was installed first, and the boat then built around it.
As already said, you’ll probably be happier retrofitting the port tank with all three connections forward, which means the same tank works for both sides.
Bottom line, the INA’s going to stick with selling the one N26C water tank, but make it clearer that it’s meant for both Port and Starboard use.
Oh, well. I wasn’t sailing today anyway. At least I learned something.
– Bob
Robert Neches
Co-President, International Nonsuch Association
(And now slightly better-educated owner of Solar Wind, Nonsuch 26C #143)
Bob - thanks for the pictures and the investigative reporting. 
The boat’s now only 4 hours round trip to get to (was 5 in the storage yard), so I appreciate the experience and voices of knowledge on this list.
I’ll get my order in for 2 tanks this week.
John A. Stewart
NS26C 046
Kingston ON.
