Water Tank Baffles

[bobupanddown]

I have a Beneteau with two 200 litre built in water tanks. They are great for long distance trips but as soon as they are less then full the water slops around inside making sleeping very difficult unless it is flat calm. Has anyone found a source for "baffles" that could be retrofitted or have any suggestions on stopping the "slopping?

 

[Bajansailor]

What material are they - S/S, aluminium, fibreglass, plastic?

You would have to chop the top off to put in baffles - and they would have to be welded or laminated in. And then weld or re-laminate the tank top.
If going this route, would be a good idea to incorporate an inspection hatch in the tank, to facilitate any further inspection or work inside.

 

[DaveS]

Just a suggestion for an easier approach, which you may or may not have room for. If you have space above (and perhaps around) the tanks you could try covering them in thermal insulation - the kind like layered bubble wrap and silver foil is particularly clean and easy to handle. This should muffle quite a lot of the noise as well as keeping your water colder.

 

[bobupanddown]

The tanks are fibreglass and already have an inspection hatch about 8 or 9 inches diameter in them. I was thinking of something that could be put in through this hole. such as foam. The idea of insulating them may work but they are very close to your ear when laying in the bunk.

 

[Bajansailor]

I am wondering if you could make up a sort of lattice framework of a few longitudinal and transverse panels (eg fibreglass) that all slot together, to fit inside the tank? Each panel strip would have to be a size that could fit through the inspection hatch - put them in one at a time, and slot it into the ones already there. Difficult I know, because you would have to do it mostly by feel, but might be possible?

Otherwise, would agree with suggestions above re just adding sound insulation to dampen down the noise of the water sloashing about.

 

[William_H]

A real problem as it would not be easy to fit usefull baffles. Simple answer is to use only one tank and keep the other empty or totally full.
I suspect that it would take a fairly well fitting baffle to make much difference to water movement.
A wild idea is to insert and inflate wine cask bladders to perhaps limit or modify the water movement while floating on top of water.

Another thought is I suppose you are right in blaming the water tanks. My little boat is very noisy with water lapping under the stern which is out of the water with no one in cockpit.

So a sound barrier might be the best bet unless you got a baldder type water tank to go inside the tanks. good luck olewill

 

[Cruiser2B]

Already beat to it, but I would go with a bladder tank - you have easy access through the inspection hatch. Since they would be non-vented, there'd be no sloshing. You could even consider spray foaming the inside of the old tanks to cover up any sharp bumps and further reduce the noise.