tightness of tank hold-downs?

[chriscd]

i am swapping an aft fuel tank for a water tank. i notice that the bolts that hold down the cross-bars that keep the
fuel and water tanks down are not snug. am wondering whether or not i should tighten them, or if they have been left a little loose to
allow for expansion of the plastic tanks. any thoughts on this?
my boat is a 2006 jeanneau so 49 performance model.
chriscd in southern california

Read more: tightening cross-bars that hold water and fuel tanks down. | Jeanneau Owners Forum

[Benz]

Instinct says make sure they are tight but not squeezing the tank out of shape. Last thing you want is a half-full tank leaping around back there.

[JPA Cate]

Sometimes, lighter, stiff boats tend to unscrew screws [it's a fact of life on our boat]. If yours has already shown herself to have this tendency, I'd go ahead and screw them all the way down. If they were properly installed originally, you shouldn't have to worry about over-filling, the tank may bulge a little. But if it has done so, and the screws or bolts don't tighten, well, as Ben wrote, in a roll over situation, you really do not want them to gather momentum before coming up against the restraints. It would be wise to make sure the threads are not stripped.

Sorry to leap to a negative outcome, but Jim taught me to ask, "what could possibly go wrong?"

Good luck with it,

Ann

[chriscd]

thanks to benz and ann. unless i hear differently on the jeanneau forum i will tighten those hold-down bars. chriscd

[meirriba]

As I see it you want the bars snug but not over-tight. The tanks should be not allowed to move in any weather. On the other hand, not over-tight, as you do not want to damage the tanks or bolts.