Fresh water tanks

larryeddington · Post by **larryeddington** » Wed Jun 08, 2011 2:30 pm

Can anyone see a problem of using NEW FOOD Grade 30 gallon barrels for the fresh water storage on my F28. Currently it has round ones that are of course galvanized 30 gal each about the same dimensions as the Barrels. My thought is that the plastic barrels are certainly tough enough and sanitary enough and the two bung holes can be adapted as needed.

Oh Yes the price is right

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g36 · Post by **g36** » Wed Jun 08, 2011 2:48 pm

i know tanks can cost but have you looked on ebay. my friends just bought to new 30's for a great price compared to new.

k9th · Post by **k9th** » Wed Jun 08, 2011 3:50 pm

Sounds to me like you already have an existing galvanized tank and are wanting to replace it with an appropriate plastic tank of about equal size - I was a bit confused by g36's answer.

My only concern would be pressurization. Do you use your on-board fresh water pump to pressurize the system or do you use shore water connected directly to the boat? My system bypasses the tanks when I am connected to shore water but I am not sure they all do that.

I would determine the pressure of the system you are using and make sure the tank is rated for that pressure with a safety factor of at least 2.

Other than that, I see no issue as long as it is supported properly and plumbed correctly.

larryeddington · Post by **larryeddington** » Wed Jun 08, 2011 4:41 pm

Yep I already have two 30 gal tanks galvanized one on each side of the boat. They are not pressurized, that occurs after the pump and the only source of water is the tanks filled from city tap, unpressurized and with overlfow.

I do intend to pressure the system but will have a valve to protect the tanks from city water or pressure tank water. If it check valve were to fail back up would only go out overflow anyway.

The reason to use the barrals is they are round and will fit exactly where the old galvanized ones were, most new ones are cubical.

Now gas tanks is a different thing and will use certified replacement my get aluminium as they will be round also, but that is for another day.

Thanks

prowlersfish · Post by **prowlersfish** » Wed Jun 08, 2011 6:05 pm

I do see any problem with using the barrels myself.

Big D · Post by **Big D** » Wed Jun 08, 2011 9:07 pm

K9th, tanks aren't pressurized, at least not in recreational vessels that I'm aware of.

When using dockside water, the check valve in the water pump will prevent the water from going into the tank. Having said that, the built in check valve on water pumps tend to fail quicker than an in-line unit that you can add to the line after the pump (pressure side).

Hope you can rig fittings to the barrels that will not leak. I think that will be your biggest challenge.

gettaway · Post by **gettaway** » Wed Jun 08, 2011 9:17 pm

whats the worse that can happen, the tanks leak and the bilge pump pumps out the water. you are already carrying the wieght, it wold ruin a weekend without water, but not a boat sinker

Big D · Post by **Big D** » Wed Jun 08, 2011 9:44 pm

Not a boat sinker but deffinately a nuisance....reffer to "water in bilge" threads!!

Allen Sr · Post by **Allen Sr** » Thu Jun 09, 2011 5:25 am

I did that on my F35 but I used the 55gallon ones. Minor modifications for me to install cause I went to a larger capacity but have had no problems at all. For the vent I drilled and tapped the tank and they work perfect.