530 Water tank replacement options

[gtmopat1]

Hello All.
I have leaks on both my fresh water tanks along the top edges. Has anyone replaced their water tanks and if so where did you purchase them from. Were they similar in shape or did you go with straight rectangular tanks. Thanks very much Pat

[Lyndon670]

Hey Pat,

I have not replaced mine on my 506 - but, on my previous boat I did make a repair to mine using PL Premium adhesive.

[Viper]

Welcome aboard Pat. Unless they are really easy to access and remove or budget is no concern I agree with Lyndon on considering the idea of sealing the leaking seam before resorting to replacement, especially since it's just a water tank. If it's an aluminum tank you can try an epoxy putty product made for aluminum. I've seen that used on water and waste tanks with no problems as long as the surface is prepped properly. If it's a plastic tank, try 5200, I've seen that used with success as well.

Wish I could remember the name of a product/putty I saw used to seal a leaking fuel tank seam. It was orange in colour and used in the aircraft industry but not available to the general public. Fuel tank never leaked again though.

[MakinTime]

If the tanks are plastic and you decide to repair them, use a 2 part plastic repair material such as 3M plastic repair #4247 used with adhesion promoter or 3M panelbond #8115 prepped properly your repair would last the life of the boat. Much easier and less expensive then replacing the tanks.

[tomschauer]

Don't forget Flex seal or Flex tape. I haven't tried it, but I heard it actually works very well??????????

[Viper]

Source of the post......3M plastic repair #4247......

Forgot about that product. Good stuff.

[bud37]

Source of the post Hello All.
I have leaks on both my fresh water tanks along the top edges. Has anyone replaced their water tanks and if so where did you purchase them from. Were they similar in shape or did you go with straight rectangular tanks. Thanks very much Pat

Just a quick tip if you do decide to go the repair route ( can't hurt ) ,and you have a crack forming,before using whatever you choose to seal it ....drill a tiny hole at either end of the crack , that should stop the possibility of the crack going further after the repair........good luck man.......

[gtmopat1]

Thanks very much for all your responses. I am going to inspect the leaking areas again and review the options.

[Midnightsun]

Are the tanks aluminum or plastic. I will assume aluminum since plastic normally does not break apart. This being the case they will be corroded from the inside and repair is next to impossible however my experience was impossible. If plastic, then I wish you luck with any kind of repair as they are normally polyurethane which is basically resistant to any type of glue and must be heat welded. I went through this a long time ago and after every advertised polyurethane adhesive product in the book was used and every cuss word known to man not to mention 2 years later, I finally cut open the floor, removed the tank and had it professionally welded (plastic).

[Lyndon670]

Are the tanks aluminum or plastic. I will assume aluminum since plastic normally does not break apart. This being the case they will be corroded from the inside and repair is next to impossible however my experience was impossible. If plastic, then I wish you luck with any kind of repair as they are normally polyurethane which is basically resistant to any type of glue and must be heat welded. I went through this a long time ago and after every advertised polyurethane adhesive product in the book was used and every cuss word known to man not to mention 2 years later, I finally cut open the floor, removed the tank and had it professionally welded (plastic).

Hans nailed it - I spent weeks trying different products on to seal my plastic tanks on my previous boat. I was on a passagemaker blog and someone swore by PL Premium to seal/glue plastic. As I had tried everything else, I thought I would try it. I made the repair in 2007 and when i last talked to the previous owner in 2012, it was still sealed.