Flexible Water Tanks

[Georgio]

So I'm looking to fit a flexible water tank up near the bow so a trangle shape would be best.

Plastimo offer a 120L trangular tank for around £65 while Vetus do the same for £172.

Now from the research I have done the Vetus tank does seem to be a little better made but the price difference is huge. I had a plastimo tank on a previous boat and it was fine.

Can somone give me a good reason to go for the Vetus one...?

Or is there a third option?

 

[Wandering Star]

Can't offer any advice but I'm interested in your replies because I want to replace my flexible water tanks. The original supplier of the Vancouver 28 (mines a 27) wants over £400 for a double skin replacement and as you say, Plastimo tanks are around £70 for a single skin version of the same thing. I've been told Plastimo tanks are fine but I'm interested to read the thoughts from others.

Cheers, Brian.

 

[VicS]

After a poor life from a single skin tank (about three years) I switched to double skin tank ... been in use now for the best part of 30 years.

 

[Aardee]

We had a 100L Plastimo single skin flexible tank which only lasted a few years before springing a leak. Just replaced it with a 75L Fiamma rigid tank (finished on Sunday ).

 

[Tranona]

The Plastimo tanks are double - inner bladder (replaceable) and outer protective cover.

I have had good service out of them, but would suggest buying a spare bladder as they changed the design and I could not replace my original so had to buy a complete new unit. However, given the difference in price you can buy two or more Plastimo for the price of one Vetus!

If you plan to keep the boat for a long time you might consider getting a custom made tank from Tek Tank. Expensive but the dogs wotsits as far as tanks go.

 

[Dipper]

I have the small 55L Vetus flexible water tank and it is well made. It seems better than the Plastimo one it replaced. One advantage of the Vetus tanks is that you can choose where to place the filler nipple yourself. The catalogue talks about the filler nipple being prefitted but the picture shows the outlet nipple already fitted so I'm not sure which way round it is. It doesn't really matter because they can be removed and are interchangeable.

If you do buy a Vetus tank, soften the area around the nipples with hot water if you want to remove/refit them.

 

[alahol2]

Have used Plastimo tanks on the last 2 boats and never had one burst. Just make sure you carpet the hole it is going to fit into.

 

[V1701]

PM sent Georgio...

 

[macd]

I had a triangular Plastimo double-skinned tank, well secured and protected. The inner tank split along a seam in the first season. Wouldn't go near one again.

 

[MM5AHO]

I was thinking to supplement the stainless underfloor tank we have with a flexible tank, but my co-owner thinks they make the water taste plasticy.

Is it true? does the water taste bad?

 

[Guardamar]

My plastimo also split.

I replaced it with a Duratank shaped "pillow" tank, made from the same material as hovercraft skirts are made of, including a polyurethene film that seems to stop the water tasting plasticy. I guess about the same price as Vetus. So far, so good.

 

[JohnTH]

Water tasting of plastic could be the hose that was used to fill the tank

73s de

Johnth.

 

[Georgio]

Well, the result of this thread is now sitting on my desk. A very nice fellow forumite told me about a vetus water tank (exactly the one I was looking at) on ebay for the same price as the plastimo version. I purchased it around lunch time yesterday and it arrived here this morning.

Seems well made and I look forward to having some additional water capacity onboard, especially as we now (as of last week) have two offspring to take away sailing.

 

[RAI]

Congratulations

For your new tank

And sproggets.

 

[Humblebee]

Fitting tip for flexible tank

Congrats on the new family and water tank purchase. Maybe too late to comment, but I fitted a flexible tank a few years back. I didn't pay much attention to routing the filler hose which extended almost to the bottom of the locker when the tank was empty. Anyway, as the tank filled the top rose and put quite a strain on the filler hose/tank join, splitting the weld at the top of the tank. Replaced the tank with a slightly smaller one, laid on its side, so as the tank fills the filler hose moves sideways, not from the bottom to the top of he locker. Seems to work and no leaks so far. I can manage with the slightly reduced capacity.

 

[PeterGibbs]

I was thinking to supplement the stainless underfloor tank we have with a flexible tank, but my co-owner thinks they make the water taste plasticy.

Is it true? does the water taste bad?

Good idea to fit a Whale in line-water filter for the cold supply to the galley - it's what I've done and a filter (£20) lasts a whole season. Just splice it into the line - no other fittings needed. Tastes of nothing - good excuse for an ale....

PWG

 

[DogWatch]

After a poor life from a single skin tank (about three years) I switched to double skin tank ... been in use now for the best part of 30 years.

We have similar experience with our plastimo double skin tanks, 30 years and going..

Though I did have to repair the galley tank a couple of years ago, I carried out a temporary fix utilising the dingy repair kit (it was only to get us through that summer!) but it still water tight. It had acquired about 8 leaks after I moved it (plastic gone stiff in any creases). So if I have to move it again I expect to be looking to replace I think.

 

[Feedman]

Would it not be worth considering alternatives to tanks & water supply, in favour of a Purifier (http://www.purewateronline.co.uk/nature-pure-1015-0.html)?

 

[BruceDanforth]

not for seawater

 

[LeonF]

My plastimo also split.

I replaced it with a Duratank shaped "pillow" tank, made from the same material as hovercraft skirts are made of, including a polyurethene film that seems to stop the water tasting plasticy. I guess about the same price as Vetus. So far, so good.

Guardamar I would be interested to know how you get along. Did you have to send them measurements? I did ask them for a quote and it was around £200 as I remember, so I just bought another Plastimo, but am now on my third. I had liners in my previous boat, a Sigma 33 with GRP tanks that had reverse osmosis. They were black polyester, single skin,and tough as anything. The first year I had the boat I forgot to drain the tanks while laying up, and they froze solid. Never harmed the tanks in any way.