Looks like I’ll be taking advantage of INA’s tank replacement program. Not sure where exactly, but I have a serious leak in the fresh water system. I suspect one or both of the 36 year old aluminum tanks.
Any advice on getting the old tanks out and the new ones in?
I saw a post by Peter Grabow saying that the forward tank was easy to get out but that he had to cut the fiberglass a bit to get out the smaller 30 gallon tank under the port settee.
Jim Cosgrove
FATE 30U #343
Galesville, MD
I replaced all my water tanks about four years ago. I had no difficulty removing any of them and certainly didn’t have to cut any fibreglass. You might have to adjust the battens that run across the tops of the tanks but that’s a fairly straightforward bit of carpentry.
Bob Illingworth
Nonsuch Luck 30U #367 (GBR1262T)
Moored Titchmarsh marina, Walton on the Naze, Essex, UK; cruising the rivers of East Anglia, and, the North Sea.
Jim
You should have done what I did. I bought replacement tanks 15 years ago worried that my original tanks would spring a leak. They are still in storage at the house and there have been no tank leaks from the originals on the boat. 
Mike
BIANKA
1986 30U
Long Island
Mike,
That’s hilarious. I think you’ve uncovered the perfect solution to guarantee that your original tanks will last forever.
Jim Cosgrove
FATE 30U #343
Galesville, MD
Please provide ling to the replacement tanks, I can’t find the source.
Thanks,
Lloyd McDonald
THISTLE
Nonsuch 30 U. #390
Every thing about the INA tank program is on the INA website.
Joe Valinoti
S/V iL Gatto NS30U #221
Sea Harbour YC
Oriental, NC USA
Hi Lloyd,
Look on the INA web site, www.nonsuch.org. Under the pulldown “Store” menu you will see the replacement tank option.
I just ordered my new water tanks.
Jim Cosgrove
FATE 30U #343
Galesville, MD
Make sure you’re logged in or the menu doesn’t show up.
I have a leak from my forward water tank if I fill it completely. I only discovered this because my bilge pump started when I was filling the tank. I suspect that it is one of the connections at the forward end of the tank as it only happens when it is filled completely. Access to these tank fittings is not immediately obvious.
Does anyone have any experience on how best to get to these connections and what might be the problem?
Brian
Cygnet 30U 355
Edenton, NC
Hi Brian -
The outlet fitting for that tank is impossible to get to without taking out the tank, from my experience. If yours is anything like mine, the flexible piping comes out of the fitting and straight towards the bow and then loops back down towards the bilge where it runs towards the valves at the galley floor. The challenge I had when putting the tank back in was that it kept crimping that looped flex pipe as I placed the tank back into the hole. It’s also very difficult to see into that space once the tank is lowered into the hole. I ended up putting two elbows on the outlet so that there is no longer that loop and the flex pipe comes straight into the fitting instead.
Hope this helps -
Bob Gehrman
NS30U #396 “Quickbeam”
Baltimore, Maryland
If it only leaks when full, it should be the vent hose or an inspection port. If it was the line at the bottom of the tank, going to the system, it would leak all the time. I cut an opening and have a screen over it to access that lower fitting.
Joe Valinoti
S/V iL Gatto NS30U #221
Sea Harbour YC
Oriental, NC USA
Thanks Bob and Joe for getting back to me.
I think that it is the vent hose that is leaking as it only starts to leak when it is full. If it was the fill hose, it would probably leak all the time that I am filling it and I am sure it isn’t the delivery hose connection as it doesn’t leak except when being over filled.
So, it would seem that I will have to work out how to remove the tank until I can get access to that fitting. I have had a quick look to see what that would involve and I assume that the berth base will be removable, although I didn’t see any obvious fastenings.
Do either of you have any experience or tips that would point me in the right direction and flatten my learning curve?
Brian
Cygnet, 30U
Edenton, NC
Oddly enough, I can’t remember what the vent line and fill line fittings look like! I filled up the swear jar getting that forward fitting to work, so the other fittings must have been easy as pie! I recall that the tank will slide forward enough to get to those connections pretty easily. The tank is only held down by the cross boards which are screwed to the fiberglass.
Is your tank the original aluminum? Before I replaced mine I was having phantom loss of my water not long after I filled up. I could never figure out which tank was the problem, so I ended up just replacing both tanks through the INA program. (shameless plug since I’m also the INA Tank Program Administrator). It could be that the seams are starting to leak if it’s aluminum.
Mine is plastic and once the cross boards are removed, I can pull the tank up. Since I cut an opening forward of the tank, I have access to the lower fitting. Is your tank plastic or metal??
Joe Valinoti
S/V iL Gatto NS30U #221
Sea Harbour YC
Oriental, NC USA
Joe,
Where did you make the cut to gain access to the forward fitting? From the hanging locker?
Or the space where the mast is located?
Jim Cosgrove
FATE 30U #343
Galesville, MD
I believe it’s forward of the removable panel over the tank. I’ll try and remember to peak at it today.
Joe Valinoti
S/V iL Gatto NS30U #221
Sea Harbour YC
Oriental, NC USA