Using Holding tank as a water Tank?

[davil]

from Amazon

Nautos Flexible water tank">Fresh Water Tank – 9.25, 13, 26, 33, 40 and 52 GALLONS - PLASTIMO
Visit the Nautos Store
4.4 out of 5 stars 25 ratings | 24 answered questions
Price: $95.00 - $189.90

[Tellie]

Originally Posted by boatpoker

Unfortunately Sharon and I won't be able to make it for tea next week.

LOLOLOL...Post of the week!

[Piratenorm]

Kinda reminds me of how Chitlins are made.

[Cheechako]

Unless I could manually scrub very well I would not do that. You can 'kill' the inside with bleach, but if the scum is still attached to the tank walls it's not a good thing! Even if it was smooth. If it's glass it's even worse. Bleach or whatever wont remove that.

[S/V Illusion]

Please tell me what the boat’s name is - I want to ensure we never have anything to drink on it.

[PineyWoodsPete]

Go for it! Your doggies will absolutely love it! And y'all can take a tbsp of Ivermectin TID to get all the little buggies surviving the Clorox...

[sailorboy1]

Originally Posted by squarpeg

So we have been considering switching to a composting head. That would leave our holding tank empty. This tank is built into the boat under a bunk. It is fiberglass. It also does not have great access to cleaning as there is a single "port" in it. Probably 40-50 gallons. I'd love to use it for fresh water but thinking if that would ever be possible? What do others think?

You knew the answer I bet! IF you were really considering the tank can be disinfected and that would just leave whether you truly would be comfortable drinking out of the tank knowing the story. Hopefully you learned about the bladder option.

[Cadence]

If the tank was laid-up with plain laminating resin it will leach MEK peroxide which you don't want to drink or get in your eyes. A couple of parts per million can cause blindness in the long term. Cutting out the top and using a bladder as mentioned above, sounds like your best alternatively. Save the top in case you later change your mind about composting.

[zstine]

I wouldn't use it for potable water without putting a bladder in and they aren't cheap. As suggested above, you could use it for grey-water wash down or perhaps for liquid holding from the composting head.

[squarpeg]

Good thoughts guys thanks, Probably consider putting a bladder in there.

[kmacdonald]

Not at the same time please.

[LLCoolDave]

To the OP, update your boat info. If you have a 32' boat you do not have a 50 gallon holding tank. It's likely 10-15 gallons and not work the effort.

[Montanan]

In a word:

YUCK!!!

[garyfdl]

Originally Posted by squarpeg

So we have been considering switching to a composting head. That would leave our holding tank empty.... I'd love to use it for fresh water but thinking if that would ever be possible?

Possible? Yes? Good idea? No.

Do you really want to risk of being in the middle of cruise in the middle of nowhere, or out to sea, and suddenly the entire crew becomes critically, possibly life threateningly ill? Vomiting... diarrhea...

If if the tank's built in, I'd also urge caution before attacking it with a Sawzall, etc; it might be a structural component.

[thinwater]

If it were a stainless tank how would the group feel? That sounds very reasonable, although the cleaning would still need to be meticulous. Shiny and passivated with citric meticulous.