Flexible PVC Water Tanks - Any good?

[John the kiwi]

I am considering purchasing a flexible 100 litre tank for my 26 ft yacht.
Brand is Lauzas?
Can anyone advise a) whether the concept is good
b)whether the brand is any good.

Thanks in advance.

 

[johnalison]

We had flexible tanks on a couple of boats. They were absolutely fine, apart from when the first started leaking, and the second needed to be "burped" in order to fill it fully. Generally, no problem as long as they are properly held down.

 

[sarabande]

Lazilas, perhaps. Did someone mention that they had taken over Plastimo recently? In that case, I I hope their QC process has improved since the Plastimo ones I bought in 2007.

 

[VicS]

The first one I had was Ok for about two years . It was single skinned one. It was made by one of the well known life jacket manufacturers

The replacement is double skinned and must be over 30 years old now. It was custom made by a firm, not around now AFAIK, that made skirts for hovercraft

The second one is a pillow tank so as it empties it simply goes flat. Both inlet and outlet are on the top surface

The first was a shaped tank. It had no vent so as it emptied it collapsed and creased.. it always tended to crease in the same places and that is where it failed.

My feeling, based on my experiences, is that pillow tanks are fine to allow to collapse as they empty but that shaped tanks should be vented and supported so that they do not collapse as they empty.

 

[VicMallows]

Some people seem to get on with them, but after 2 failures (Plastimo tanks) in 4 years on my Sadler29 I fitted highly customised S/S tanks. Certainly one of the best upgrades I have done. The water always tastes good as well, which it certainly didn't previously.

But .....if anyone wants one, I happen to have a brand new Plastimo triangular tank which they supplied in error and never wanted back!!

 

[macd]

The Plastimo ones (PVC?) were rubbish in my experience. Flimsy, prone to split. Had another one made by the hovercraft company perhaps referred to above: very substantial material, well-made, durable. It's probably no coincidence that it cost 3x as much as the Plastimo one.

 

[Tranona]

Plastimo/Lazilas ones can be OK and you can get spare inners. Vetus are better quality but inevitably more expensive. Custom made ones end up costing nearly as much as custom stainless or welded plastic tanks, so unless you have access problems better in the long run to bite the bullet and fit rigid plastic tanks.

 

[Tidewaiter2]

Some people seem to get on with them, but after 2 failures (Plastimo tanks) in 4 years on my Sadler29 I fitted highly customised S/S tanks. Certainly one of the best upgrades I have done. The water always tastes good as well, which it certainly didn't previously.

But .....if anyone wants one, I happen to have a brand new Plastimo triangular tank which they supplied in error and never wanted back!!

Vic,
If no one else needs it, could I see if it will fit in our fore cabin triangle?
Might come in handy on our trip North this year as backup for staying out longer in the archipelagos.
I'll be down the boat on Wednesday and for the Fitting Out Supper-anything I can swop you for it that you need if it fits?
Dick

 

[MAURICE]

They are fine if you are just pottering about. But on my trip to the Med. ive needed to replace two and in the end got a Tek Tank. Brilliant solidly made and will I expect last.
Maurice

 

[Tidewaiter2]

I'm impressed with what i've seen of Tek-tanks- we had two squarish 50gallon s/s tanks under saloon berths, but forward one developed a leak on a seam- well it was made in 1993.If/when aft s/s tank goes, it's TekTanks for us.

After we took fwd tank out and through a friend whose employer went into liqdn., got some 20x 20l collapsable cube-like water carriers used by aircrews on cargo flights to places where safe drinking water an issue.

They have two handles, stack well when empty, are very useful, ok used on pontoons, etc, but are heavy/awkward to hoist up from dinghy to our deck level we found when stuck on St Marys mooring last year and remaining 50g tank running low.
However with one of those plastic hand or battery pumps to extract contents, a handy way of controlling/monitoring onboard consumption for cooking, washing, etc.

Our Redfox had a white very tough flexi water tank under the cockpit sole, which you could get out to flush/clean-that held about 20+ gallons+ a couple of cans served for 3 week trips. can't remember the maker tho'.

The Wayfarer just had 4/6x1gallon plastic cans strapped under the thwart and along the centreboard casing. Definitely KISS

 

[John the kiwi]

Thanks all for the feedback.
I do get the feeling that these flexible tanks would be a relatively short lived thing.
I think i will put my money to welded plastic or stainless steel.