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E-40 AbbyGale · Joined: 27 Jul 2007 Posts: 2 Location: St. Petersburg Fl

Next on my list is to replace my two fresh water tanks on my E-40. I'm looking for a supplier, hopefully in the St. Petersburg area, if anyone knows of one.

endvr32 · Posted: Tue Jul 31, 2007 10:05 am Post subject: tanks

Two things:

1) Practical Sailor just did a great review on tanks for boats and went into detail about the pro's and con's of using aluminum, steel, stainless steel, polyethylene, and fiberglass. It appears in the May 2007 issue. All said and done they still prefer aluminum.

2) Florida Marine Tanks <<http://www.floridamarinetanks.com>> in Miami provided the original water and fuel tanks for the Endeavour sailboats and are still in business. I know it's not St. Petersburg but . . .

Paul Uhl
Endeavour Owners Forum
www.endeavourowners.com

RV · Joined: 30 Jul 2007 Posts: 8 Location: Tierra Verde, Fla

Sunrise Marine Tanks 5715-C Pinkney Ave Sarasota 941-926-8265. I had them make me a fuel tank and V berth Water Tank for E38CC. Excellent job and very reasonable. Just west off Interstate 75

allenlofland · Posted: Fri Aug 17, 2007 8:55 am Post subject: alum, tankage

I sure hate to hear that Sad

I didnt see the article but if they are advocating aluminum tankage in Endavour type installations they need their heads examinined.
I come from a long line of boat builders both pleasure and commercial and we NEVER NEVER installed an alum, tanks with out thinking about replacement in a number of years and we never considered doing what some of the boat bulders did by allowing wet , abrasive materials against a tank.
For me, Fiberglass, plastic something non-ferris for my Endeavour.
and or any other boat that has tanksage installed such as the Endeavour 40-42's
Just my 2 cents worth Smile

_________________
Allen & Lynette Lofland
Endeavour 42 "Earendil"
St.Petersburg Florida

endvr32 · Posted: Mon Aug 20, 2007 10:16 am Post subject:

Allen,

You have to read the article to understand their perspective. They acknowledge that (salt) water and aluminum is a corrosive problem but overall the better solution. When I sold my E32 it was 25 years old and the "FUEL" tank never leaked. We kept the bilge as dry as we possibly could and raised it off the bottom of the keel. What PS is suggesting is using aluminum tanks for "WATER" storage which tend not to be located in the bilge and typically stay dry--as opposed to fuel tanks which are located in the bilge on most Endeavours. Our new C&C has aluminum water and fuel tanks located under the satee.

PS did address the aluminum tank in the bilge issue and suggested that the tanks be kept dry. One way they recommend to accomplish this was to Epoxy or 5200 a strip of Melamine to the bottom of the tank to raise it off the bottom of the bilge and (this was imortant) adhere it to the bottom in such a way as to not trap any water between the tank and Melamine. They figure that somewhere down the road it will have to be replaced again but that could be more that 20 years.

They did compare a variety of other materials and weighted the pros and cons of each. If I were doing it, I'd rebuild the floor and the tanks so that the the tanks could be more easily replaced in the future as the cost is in the labor--not the tank itself.

By the way, the water tank in our E32 was the fiberglass void under the v-berth--baffeled and glassed of course. javascript:emoticon(' Wink

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_________________
Paul Uhl
Endeavour Owners Forum
www.endeavourowners.com

bobfnbw · Joined: 10 Aug 2008 Posts: 75

Our plan is to have tanks made from plastic, Ronco Plastic tanks for our fresh water, and to make sure there is some air space under for drainage.
I would not put aluminum or stainless tanks in.
For fuel, aluminum is the best next to monel, and I don't know of anyone making those

freedom · Joined: 14 Aug 2008 Posts: 50

I still have the original aluminum water tank under the floor on my 42.

Replacement means pulling up the floor. If I get small leaks, I would rather not pull up the floor.

Anyone with experience using sealers on the inside of aluminum water tanks?

bobfnbw · Joined: 10 Aug 2008 Posts: 75

Pulling up the sole is not a problem.
First remove the 4 fasteners that secure the table to the sole. Then place the table on the settee without the cushion on it.
Then using a drill with a screwdriver bit, use a screw, and screw it into the bungs covering the stainless steel screws. The screw will pull the bung up, and then just remove the screws holding the sole down.
Once that is done, making sure all screws are removed, use a large screwdriver and a pry bar to pull up the sole. Mine was stuck down pretty good with goo, so it was a job pulling it up, but not impossible.

There are 2 tanks under the sole on the 40. Neither of which is removable. They either have to be cut out, or fixed in the boat.

The PO tried to fix the leaks using a half baked way, and it failed. Do it right the first time and its problem solved.

Bob

bobfnbw · Joined: 10 Aug 2008 Posts: 75

Well, I pulled out the "T" tank the other day, and found a 4" thick sludge of diesel fuel, oil, and water with a fair amount of debris.

using my trusty boat hook, I duct taped a kids toy shovel to the end and scooped out the sludge, then using 3M oil absorbant cloths, removed a lot of floating oil. 12 rolls of paper towels did the rest.

I intend to cut the top off the T tank, then have it localy welded to the level of the upper bilge, pump out the 60 gal of diesel I have in the main tank, the n remove it, fix it with marine tex and epoxy/glass, then when all is said and done, have 130 gal of diesel total between both tanks.

I have on order 4 poly tanks from Ronco, and these will be my water tanks, located in the upper bilge, under the salon floor.
total water capacity will be reduced to 117 gal. in 4 tanks. Which is more than sufficent, since I plan to put in a water maker in the distan future and 100 gal is enough for our use now, even with the fresh water flush toilet coming.

This has been a dirty job but proves that it can be done, inexpensively, without removing a large part of the outer hull, at high expense.