After painting my bilge, replacing the keel nuts, valves and hoses, shaft seal, etc. I discovered there is still a port water tank leak. When filled to capacity, the water was bubbling out of to top plywood lid. Once the water in the fill hose empties into the tank, the leaking stoped. Probably been leaking for years...
The port tank is molded-in-place fiberglass with a plywood top screwed and glued down, with 5200 or similar. The screws do not want to back out so the top likely will need to be cut out and then replaced with a new top, possibly plexiglass for easier inspection.
The starboard side tank is newer, rotomolded plastic tank, likely replaced 30 years ago.
I'm just not up for another huge project at the moment, I went ahead and cleaned the gap and layed a few strips of fiberglass in epoxy resin over the area (see second image above). No, definitely not a permanent solution, but it's holding the water in the tank for now and not causing any damage. I'll look for a new rotomolded tank and replace it in the near future.
After watching several YouTube videos, I have a few random thoughts and a possible replacement plan.
- Drill and install an inspection port
- Clean the tank
- Fiberglass and epoxy patch leaks from the inside
- If horrible, find a replacemnt tank
- Use the jig saw to cut around the lid
- Remove screws
- Chisle out remaining lid
- Remove glue residue
- Build new lid
Tools
- Utility knife
- Jig saw
- Putty knives
- Hole saw
- Rubber band (thick)
- Cutting disk/grinder/Dremel
- Screw extractor
- Clay (to help isolate the source of leaks)
YouTube and other helpful links:
