Adding Cleanouts to Aluminum Fresh Water Tank

[Pitou]

I'm looking for suggestions:

I've got some sort of tan paste type solid that builds up in my filter screen before reaching the fresh water pump. The filter is doing its job preventing any of this from getting down stream. My first inclination is to remove the aluminum tank and replace it with a poly tank and be done with the issues of aluminum tanks as that would be the right way to go. Short of that I'm thinking about adding two 8 inch clean-outs either side of the center baffle and trying to give the tank a thorough cleaning.

Any suggestions on types of access ports to use and what that paste could be caused from?

[Tree]

Are you sure it's not just natural water sediment in the filter Kevin? We get a lot where I live and can only assume that it's sand in the water yet down on the boat 25 miles away it's a different colour. It's mostly lime scale but it does have a ever so slimy feel to it before it goes hard ( inside of house water tank for example )

[Pitou]

Could be the water, but the 28 had a plastic tank and I never got this before. Still using a water freshener with each fill called Aquabon as well. Same marina with no changes except for the the boat and type of tank.

Still think I'm going to open it up for this year and add Clean-outs. Once I'm inside I'll probably learn something ... or nothing at all!

[Tree]

Fingers crossed. Be careful what you use as many harsh cleaners could attack the aluminium, especially the welded joints. I clean our filter every 3 months or so, it's quite surprising how much muck is in it considering it's just water and yet I treat the tank to a light bleach solution twice a year.

[jointventure]

Kevin,
do you use pink antifreeze to winterize - I found is forms a brownish residue.
I have since changed to winterizing by adding 2 gal. of the cheapest vodka.
Flushing the system in the spring leaves a pleasant order and if so inclined drinkable.

[Pitou]

John -

I like your style!

I think the brownish residue you're describing is similar if not the same as my issue and two years later it continues to plug the screen filter. Possibly some sort of aluminum oxide.

I use the pink to winterize the water system, but "do not" pour it into my water tank and I have no issues from doing it this way.

The previous owner used pink and poured 6 to 8 gallons into the water tank through the deck fill and pumped it through his system from there. I have a feeling that is where the issue lies. He also never bypassed his hot water tank which I do by going through the ritual of removing the pedestal table for access.

This is the inspection port that I was thinking of installing:
http://www.defender.com/product3.jsp?pa ... 3&id=49161

Stay Well!
Kevin

[DougSea]

Hey Kevin,

Sorry I'm late to this party!

Did you ever see my post on my water tank issues? See here: viewtopic.php?f=7&t=6643&hilit=water+tank+aluminum

I put in a pair of 4" ports, one on each side of the baffle. Here's a photo from before the engine room reassembly.

25339082256_2a97fff182_o.jpg

[Pitou]

Hey Doug -

Thanks for your post and jogging my memory of your previous project that you undertook. It's nice to have you back.

I vacillated on which way to go as far as replacing the tank with a new custom poly tank or adding ports either side of the baffle as you have suggested and ended up doing neither with other projects surfacing to the top.

This year I opted to do a complete electronics MFD, Radar and an additional standalone Sounder and transducer which required some shifting of things around at the helm panel. I also had a custom one piece stainless dry/wet exhaust elbow made by Marine Exhaust in FL in order to raise the spillover height and to make the wet elbow portion self draining. I added a surge tube as well. I added a trolling valve to the shifter on the gear too!

These projects took over my time, thus putting the water tank dilemma off until to next year's layup. Looks like I'll be swapping out the pump screen every few weeks this coming season. Next year ... !

[gerber30]

Can you post some pictures on the exhaust system?

[Pitou]

Can you post some pictures on the exhaust system?

I just finished this project the end of last week and need to organize some pictures first then planning to start another thread in the TE forum or Maintenance forum.