Water tank blisters.

[tyce]

My fixed water tank is covered in blisters - loads and loads of the blighters.
However non are cracked or leaking, I am guessing I am not the only one suffering this affliction.
In the back of my mind is the fact that I may be slowly poisoning my family with the chemicals leeching out of the blisters so was thinking of fitting a flexible liner.
Do you think I am worrying unduly and should just give the tank a clean and pop the lid back on or should I go down the hassle route of fitting a flexible tank.

 

[captainboo]

My built in tank also had a few blisters. I scrubbed the inside to clean it. Dried it throughly with a dehumidifer and then painted it with a two pack epoxy paint designed for floors but also used for the inside of water tanks! Tastes ok through a filter and haven't noticed any side effects yet!

 

[LittleSister]

I had a couple of blisters in a GRP water tank many years ago and wondered the same as you. My recollection of the advice I managed to track down was that while the blisters are intact it is safe (the blister is a result of water 'absorbtion'), but when it bursts the content released it is poisonous (how much so I could never establish). However this should be immediately apparent from the taste of the water (perhaps not if you have a huge tank, I wonder).

I decided to leave it as it was for the time being, but watch out for any change of taste (i never used any filters), and then I'd tackle the problem. I took to ensuring that the water tank was empty when ashore for the winter (previously left full until temp started falling towards freezing) in order to slow the rate of development of the blisters. No problem had arisen when I sold the boat a couple of years later.

 

[theoldsalt]

I, like many other forumites, never consume the tank water but use a separate carry container (or bottled) for drinking water.

 

[ghostlymoron]

I've always drunk tank water, usually unfiltered, so have most of my mates. Its OK in tea/coffee but tastes a bit skanky on its own. Some boats worse than others.

I, like many other forumites, never consume the tank water but use a separate carry container (or bottled) for drinking water.