SO43DS central water tank removal

[davidknell]

Hi all -

I'm just about to embark on the removal of the central water tank on our SO43DS, as a crack means that it's somewhat more accurately referred to as an air tank at the moment.

This, as far as I can see, will involve getting the saloon table out to gain full access to the tank. I'd be most grateful for any advice as to how best to get this done.

--Dave

[gipsy4]

Hi Dave,
haven't removed the water tank, but the diesel tank 2 years ago. Think, you don't need to remove the saloon table. should be enough to remove all the floor pieces in the aisle. If you would like to see a picture, pls follow this link gipsy4.npage.at/arbeiten_17625327.html
good luck, Ronald

[davidknell]

Hi Ronald -

Many thanks - and you're exactly right. Just removed the one long floor piece which runs down the edge of the aisle, and that's enough.

Had the same problem as you first time I put diesel in the boat as well - the seal between the fuel filler pipe and the tank doesn't seal any more, so the bilges got a quick wash with diesel.

All the best --

Dave

[omoo]

Hi Dave,
I too have a crack in my bottom water tank and would like to repair or replace it. How will you be doing the repair or if not repairing it where will you be purchasing a replacement?
Regards,
Harold

[davidknell]

Hi Harold,
Not sure at the moment. I've not got a price for a new replacement, and there's a chap here who thinks he can weld the plastic.. but I'll fill the thing up with water up before I put it back in and make sure that it stays put before I drop the thing back in the boat. I'll report back..

In the meantime, Google has a bunch of results for 'polyethylene water tank repair' which give the full range from 'it's easy' to 'impossible'.
--Dave

[davidknell]

A quick update. The tank was cracked in a corner, and showed signs of having previously been repaired, so I looked at some alternatives:

A new tank from Jeanneau is EUR585 + VAT and shipping, which is getting on for the cost of the parts to build a desalinator;
A desalinator would be nice, but it'd be a pity to waste the space, and then there's finding the energy to run the thing;
I could fit a second diesel tank there instead, but the current one's big enough for our needs.

So I've ordered one of the Plastimo 150l flexible water tanks at about a tenth of the price of the Jeanneau replacement. It should fit inside the leaky tank.

I'll report back further when it arrives.

--Dave