Water Tanks

[michaelmrc]

i have a small crack in my port side water tank its only a 15 gallon tank and was wondering if i should try to repair it or just replace it. if i repair it is there a preferred product for sealing this plastic tank. if i replace i was thinking of the plastimo flexible water tanks as i could get better usage out of the space i have. any thoughts on these. thanks

[Marksman]

If it's a Poly tank, no adhesive is going to bond to it. You will have to mechanicaly fasten a rigid patch to the outside using some kind of potable water friendly sealant or gasket, through bolting would be best. But first you will need to drill a small hole at each end of the crack to arrest any further propogation. Hope this helps.

[Vasco]

You can repair poly tanks now.
Norwesco

[DeniseO30]

Actually Michael, Fred. 3m Makes something for it. My son and I fixed the Poly tank on my Oday 30. been good for almost 3 yrs now..

Amazon.com: 3M(TM) Scotch-Weld(TM) Structural Plastic Adhesive DP8005, 35 mL [PRICE is per PACK]: Industrial & Scientific

It really does work too! but, you need access to the tank.

[Marksman]

Would be very interested to see the chemistry behind the adhesive, and testing history. I learn somthing new every day, thanks 'nise.

[GordMay]

Originally Posted by Vasco

You can repair poly tanks now.
Norwesco

Apparently, it's effective on linear polyethylene.

[michaelmrc]

thanks everyone what about the plastimo tanks any thoughts on these

[DeniseO30]

It's still working on the cracked tank in my 1982 original poly tank! I'm not making this up. I was amazed too! Go to the 3m website read about it. Oh. the smell until it's cured is beyond tolerance, my son tells me LOL

[sailorboy1]

Unless the tank is going to be a real pain to remove my vote is to replace it! While it sounds that they can be repaired; I would weight the peace of mind of repair failure aganist any cost savings for a 15-gal tank.

[Marksman]

I have a friend with 3 potable water bags in his Norsea and really likes them. You just have to restrain them properly, like anything else.

I would also be a little leary of repairing a poly tank with just adhesive, and Denise,I'm not trying to deminish your success with it, I'm just old fashioned and all the industrial applications for poly culverts and the like either use mechanical means or ultrasonic welding to make the joins, that I've seen anyway.

[DeniseO30]

Do what you want really, I just know for my boat ripping out the top of the saloon bunk was a big job. The tank repair worked better then I ever expected.

They didn't use glue to hold airplanes together back in the day either!

good luck

[GordMay]

Sealing and Bonding Polypropylene and Polyethylene with 3M's Structural Plastic Adhesive #DP-800 (it's a Methacrylate)

➥ Stealth 316 - Sealing and Bonding Polypropylene and Polyethylene

➥ http://www.stealth316.com/misc/dp8005.pdf