Fresh Water Tank (August 1999)
The fresh water tank story is based on another mystery. At this point in time we had been sailing the boat for about twelve years. Almost every time that we sailed, involving a port tack in a good breeze, we would find fresh water, at most a gallon, in the bilge. We searched, many times, for the source of a leak. The evidence pointed to the starboard side of the boat, at the point of maximum beam. We checked this area of the hull and deck and could not find a source.
For some reason, perhaps to check the water tank, we had removed the bunk board under
the starboard cabin seat cushion. The water tank is directly
underneath this board. We saw that the water tank had damage to the outboard side, mid tank, near the top of the tank. This damage penetrated the tank and made it possible to leak water from inside the tank. We assumed that this damage had occurred before or during the construction of the boat. So, when we were on port tack and heeled, water would leak out and head for the bilge. Mystery solved! Since we did not want to attempt a repair to the polyethylene tank. we searched a found a new Kracor water tank with a capacity of 25.75 gallons that fit the space exactly. (see photo) We acquired and installed this tank. We have been pleased with this tank since 1999 and it has never leaked!
We also added support for a small, loose panel for access to the water tank clean out port. The forward section was replaced with a larger, loose panel; with finger hole. The gave much greater access to the forward space. This forward, loose, panel was also supported along its forward edge. The forward space was used to store the tool bag, engine oil containers and spare parts. These boards were painted, in the brown color, after fitting was complete
underneath this board. We saw that the water tank had damage to the outboard side, mid tank, near the top of the tank. This damage penetrated the tank and made it possible to leak water from inside the tank. We assumed that this damage had occurred before or during the construction of the boat. So, when we were on port tack and heeled, water would leak out and head for the bilge. Mystery solved! Since we did not want to attempt a repair to the polyethylene tank. we searched a found a new Kracor water tank with a capacity of 25.75 gallons that fit the space exactly. (see photo) We acquired and installed this tank. We have been pleased with this tank since 1999 and it has never leaked!
While we were replacing the water tank we thought that the space forward of the tank could be better used if the bunk boards were modified. We cut the bunk board at the bulkhead shown in the picture above and added an athwartship support for the aft section and a new forward section.
