leaking water tank

[David Brownlee]

The plastic water tank on our 1980 Cape Dory 27 has begun to leak very slightly. After several tear outs of the bunk boards, we have determined that the problem is not with the hose fittigs but rather with the wall of the tank where it bears against a raised section of the fiberglass hull liner. The wall seems to weep at the point where it is slightly deformed by the nice, smooth, rounded liner. It only does this when we are pounding through big seas, with the leaking side to leeward.

The alternative solutions (and our concomitant questions) seem to be:

1. replace the tank. Does anyone know who made CD tanks and if they are still available?

2. patch the tank--presumably by gluing a sheet of the same plastic on top of the leak. What material and adhesive are required?

Thanks for any and all help!

Ann and David Brownlee
"Windrush" CD 27
Havre de Grace, MD



dbrownle@sas.upenn.edu

[Jay Ankers]

We have the HDPV tanks in our CD-30 that are an opaque white. They can be welded by a plastic shop by cutting a groove where the crack is and filling it with HDPV...just like welding steel. Ours cost about $50 to fix because the shop had a minimum charge...but I am sure you could get it done for less. The work was done in SC last year so I the name of the place won't help.

BTW: We are now on the Bohemia River across the bay from you...See you on the water some time.

Jay Ankers
"Per Diem"
CD-30
Chesapeake City MD



jankers@pii-cgmp.com

[John Nuttall]

Hi,
You can get "plastic welding" done inmost good ski shops. They do it to repair ski boots and ski bottoms (p-tex). Try the shops in Newark DE, or Danziesen & Quigley in Cherry Hill, NJ. [Aspen might be more fun, but a new tank's cheaper than the round trip ticket !!!]
Good Luck.............



nuttallj@msn.com