Custom Water Tanks

[Noreastern]

We are asking for quotes on two fresh water tanks. Both are right angled about the same size one being 32.5" length on top the other 29". Both width are 12" and height 19".

So far we have gotten two quotes one for $2100 and the other for $900. Both are 3/8 polyethylene with NPT fittings for fill, vent and supply fittings.

What I am asking is why the large price difference? Picture is the mock ups we made for fit check.

[Cheechako]

helluva question. whose quoting them?

[sandy stone]

Not an answer to your question, but if you go to Ronco Tanks' website and look through their (exhaustive) catalog, I'll bet you find something you can use for a lot cheaper.

[Horror Hotel]

Ronco has 500+ different tanks, and if a few gallons could save hundreds of dollars it might be worth it.

[HopCar]

"What I am asking is why the large price difference? Picture is the mock ups we made for fit check."
That is odd. Ask the folks who quoted you and let us know.
I recommend Ronco Plastics as well. I know they will do custom tanks, are they the ones quoting you?

It might be cheaper to get fiberglass or aluminum tanks made if Ronco doesn't have anything you can make work.

[boatpoker]

Originally Posted by HopCar

"What I am asking is why the large price difference? Picture is the mock ups we made for fit check."
That is odd. Ask the folks who quoted you and let us know.
I recommend Ronco Plastics as well. I know they will do custom tanks, are they the ones quoting you?

It might be cheaper to get fiberglass or aluminum tanks made if Ronco doesn't have anything you can make work.

May want to google "aluminum toxicity" before going to aluminum

[Doug Brown]

It sometimes depends if you are ordering direct or thru a dealer.

I forget which way I did it, but I found out later that I could have saved something like 40% if I would have ordered it differently.

Same identical tank, made by Ronco, but a huge price difference (I got to pay the huge price......)

They also have a couple of different grades of tanks as I remember. They have a "standard" duty which is about 1/8" thick, a heavy duty that is about a 1/4" thick.

If you want the thick heavy duty tank, it's like what Julie Robert's said in Pretty Woman: "It's gonna cost you..."

[laika]

Not saying you should do this, but worth considering: Atom Voyages - Integral Watertank Construction

FWIW

[Badsanta]

Could it be the shipping or the difference between rotomolded or welded.

Sent from my SPH-L710 using Cruisers Sailing Forum mobile app

[nimblemotors]

I'd think one could make them from epoxy/foam or epoxy/wood for a few hundred bucks,
with just flat surfaces, maybe much less cutting a 4x8 sheet, but i'm a diy kinda guy.
Here is an example:
The Contessa Corner - A site for Contessa owners, sailors and dreamers.

[Ryan H]

Heck, why not just order the plastic welding kit from Harbor freight for 80$ and build them yourself? I built my main tank out of a polyethylene camper tank I cut and reshaped with a simple soldiering iron. The whole thing cost me about 20$ for the hose fittings, although It would have probably been much easier and saved me some time with the plastic welding kit.

[Greggegner]

I built my own using a plastic welder. It is doable but requires some practice and maybe some rework. Suggest building a fixture to hold the large pieces in position.

[Cheechako]

I ordered a thick wall welded small plastic tank in 2008, amazingly cheap, cant find the name of the place that made it... something like Tank Depot.... but they sell only pre made as far as I can tell.... but some name like that. The prices I see you have.... you ought to be able to get them in stainless.... not that it is better.
As far as your question goes... there is no justification. Maybe they priced them with a setup charge and dumped it into the price of one tank..ask them.
Why not buy two of the cheaper one! it's only a couple inches shorter right? That'll fix those guys!

[s/v Beth]

Just pulled the Al tanks from my Valiant. 120 gallons- now there's a set of tanks! Going with Ronco I think. Ordered from them before (07) and got excellent tanks. Does anyone find the plastic taste offensive (or dangerous)?

[Cheechako]

I dont have a taste problem with the poly tanks. Fiberglass is another thing entirely. Aluminum? yuck. Do your old tanks have that milky white stuff on the inside... especially on the top?