Water Tank Hose Connection Access.

[DH]

My arms are too short to get to the nipple from the water tank where there is a small leak. I suspect the nut on the water tank is loose, or the hose connecting to the nipple is loose. Has anyone cut another access port to get to this area,  and if so where did you cut it and with what. And any other details would be appreciated.

[bmiller]

I feel your pain.

One of these:



and one of these:



A little planning and patience and all will be well.

[jimyoung]

Take pictures and post... I am thinking on adding a watermaker to mine and will have to cut my water tank down to 30gal if I do so previews of your trials and tribulations will be welcome.

Good luck!

[bmiller]

Why would you lose tank capacity?

[skip1930]

The hole saw can usually be rented or borrowed from ACE Hardware.
The inspection port, West Marine. And some of these can be fitted with a storage bag under the cap.

skip.

[bmiller]

Skip is right, you can rent the hole saw and chuck at most decent rental shops. The inspection port you buy will have a cut diameter listed. Just go rent the right sized hole saw, do some cypherin and cut the hole. I'd lay the ring right where it should go and double check there's no obstructions. Then go for it.

Or buy me a plane ticket and I'll fly out and do it. I have all the tools so you'll save a ton on new tools or rentals!!!!

[jimyoung]

bmiller,
"Why would you lose tank capacity?"
Because what I want to do is put the unit just forward of the v'berth locker. I assume, because I have never lifted the panel that is above the watertank, that the water tank is triangular in shape, so I will need to move the base of the water tank forward about 8 - 9 inches. Bad thing is I loose holding capacity, good thing is I loose no storage space and no worries about running out of water, My wife really likes not having to "be mindful" of the fresh water usage when we are out having fun so I am thinking it should be an easy sell.

[bmiller]

I think you're opening a big can of worms. The tank is a glassed structure. Why not use one of the side storage lockers under the berth? That way you don't lose capacity or mess with the glassed in tank.

[jimyoung]

You may indeed be right if the water tank is glassed in.  As I said I haven't opened the area yet.... I was sort of hoping the tank would lift out. Anyway I just acquired a pontoon project boat so the water maker will have to wait a while.

[Allure2sail]

Hi Jimyyoung:
I tried to get into the water tank compartment on the parts boat last year and it just was not going to happen. I took out all the screws on the triangular cover and it would not budge. I think it is either glassed in or sealed up with 5200 at the factory. It would not budge, even with a pry bar!! I saw in a much earlier post that the tank is not removable, that it is placed in the bow earlier in the construction of the boat. Even if you did get the V shaped cover off to access it you would have to cut it up into pieces to remove it As an engineer I can only use two words that would to describe this tank setup "BAD DESIGN" !!! One would only hope that one if these never springs a leak in the tank itself. If you really truly need to see what it looks like in there I'll get out the sawzall and cut a section out of the v berth and take some pictures of what is in there..