[C320-list] Water tank leak

[clburti at gmail.com]

Jack,

The tank is polyethylene, not fiberglass reinforced polyester. It is a tough and flexible material, so leaks are rare.


Removal is and replacement is simple. Empty. Disconnect the hoses, unscrew the boards across the top that hold it in place and lift it out. Catalina designs everything to come in and go back out the companionway.


Once you have it out, you can check it for leaks properly.


If it is leaking, replace it. It is virtually impossible to get an adhesive to bond permanently to PE under the conditions our tanks are subjected. 


Expensive is relative…and subjective…you can one from Catalina or measure and get one from Ronco plastics…they enjoy a great reputation and have an incredible selection.


http://ronco-plastics.com/ 




Fair Winds
Chris Burti
Commitment
Catalina 320, #867





From: mcdonough5 at verizon.net
Sent: ‎Friday‎, ‎May‎ ‎30‎, ‎2014 ‎11‎:‎05‎ ‎PM
To: 320





I’d appreciate any ideas on this problem.

With our 2011 Catalina 320 on jack stands, I filled the aft (starboard) water tank today. As soon as I finished, the automatic bilge pump kicked on. It ran for 8 or 10 seconds and shut off. Then a couple of minutes later it cycled again. And again. Etc. I opened the cover to the bilge and the cover between it and the engine compartment. Water was coming into the bilge area from the starboard side from the direction of the head. It was obvious by this time that the water level in the aft dank was dropping. I checked the hose leading from the tank to the fresh water pump and the aft hose leading to the deck fill. Both were dry. (I had filled the tank with a hose directly into the tank and not through the deck fill.) The forward water tank had not been filled when this problem occurred.

Is it likely that the fiberglass tank sprang a leak? If not, what else could it be? And if the tank is leaking, I assume any solution is time-consuming and expensive.

Jack #947