Sewage tank disaster

pernoll

New member
Joined
6 Mar 2005
Messages
37
Location
The Ionian islands/Levkas/Preveza
home.online.no
When fitting out 11 years ago, we thought that stainless steel, best grade, was the best for our sewage. On a sail to Tunisia we discovered a leakage, from the air ventilator. It had just disintegrated. Further examination of the tank showed corrotion and a multiple of leakages, specially in the area of sewage/air.

Last year we made a new tank in glassfibre with several coats of expoxy inside. However, the tank was made in two parts and glassfibered together. Probably the seam was not properly covered by exposy. Now we start to feel that nasty odour.

We've heard from other sailors that its possible to get tanks, "welded" as oneoff, in polypropylen, that should sustain the aggressive fumes.

Any advice on how to proceed, is much welcomed /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif
 

HeadMistress

New member
Joined
9 Sep 2003
Messages
872
Location
USA
Visit site
Tek-Tanks in the UK is indeed your best source...they make top quality plastic tanks. Their website is at http://www.tek-tanks.com/Pages/frameset.htm The correct material is polyethylene, not polypropylene.

However, unless you're actually seeing signs of leakage--not just experiencing odor--your tank may not be the culprit, but permeated sanitation hoses or a leaking seal in your y-valve or overboard discharge pump instead. So before replacing the tank, make sure it IS leaking...if you can't find a leak, test your hoses as follows: wet a clean rag in HOT water...wring it out and wrap it around a low section of the hose...leave it till it cools...remove it, smell it. If you can smell the odor on the rag, that hose has permeated. Test every hose...use a clean rag each time. If they have permeated, the only cure is new hoses. And don't only replace those pieces that are the worst...replace 'em all. If you don't, you'll never completely get rid of the odor.

And btw...your story of the disintegration of you steel tank is an excellent illustration for others of the reason why no metal should ever be used for waste holding.
 

Careka

New member
Joined
18 Apr 2005
Messages
3
Visit site
Hvis du kan få in en plast-tank så er det jo mye bedre en den du har i dag.
Det må vel finnes tanklevrandører i italia også.
Takk for infoen om denne siden
Hilsen han i Okka By.
 

brett01

New member
Joined
21 Jan 2005
Messages
6
Visit site
We use a flexible taank made by Turtle-Pac - now five years old and not a touch of odour - easier to fix in place as I did not want to disassemble the furniture. Otherwise ahve seen roto-moulded ones made to size and order in turkey - very good.
 
Top