Metal Holding Tank... replace?

[seacowgirl]

Hi everyone!

Currently completing a small(ish) refit on our sailboat. We have a metal black water holding tank, any thoughts on whether it's worth replacing with a plastic one? We are trying to limit expenses as much as possible, so don't want to replace if not necessary. The tank appears to be in ok condition but it is old...



Thanks so much!

[coopec43]

If it is doing the job why replace it. But being metal I'm sure it will eventually corrode.

I made up my own tanks (water and black water). The white tank is the black water tank.

I made up a male mold, fiberglassed it heavily all around, cut it in two, coated each half heavily on the inside with high build epoxy then fiber-glassed both halves together again. (Without the high build epoxy the smell would come straight through the f/g)


I'd think twice about using plastic for a black water tank.


Plastic holding tank smells on the outside?


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Stainless Steel Black Water Tank -- Good or Bad?


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19 May 2023 — Replace the tank Urine is so corrosive that it will turn even a 316 stainless steel tank into colander, typically within about 10 years, a bit ...



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[coopec43]

My black water tank (It's the white one in the foreground)

[coopec43]

Originally Posted by seacowgirl

Hi everyone!

Currently completing a small(ish) refit on our sailboat. We have a metal black water holding tank, any thoughts on whether it's worth replacing with a plastic one? We are trying to limit expenses as much as possible, so don't want to replace if not necessary. The tank appears to be in ok condition but it is old...



Thanks so much!

Just wondering if you found any of those links at all helpful?

[seacowgirl]

Originally Posted by coopec43

If it is doing the job why replace it. But being metal I'm sure it will eventually corrode.

I made up my own tanks (water and black water). The white tank is the black water tank.

I made up a male mold, fiberglassed it heavily all around, cut it in two, coated each half heavily on the inside with high build epoxy then fiber-glassed both halves together again. (Without the high build epoxy the smell would come straight through the f/g)


I'd think twice about using plastic for a black water tank.


Plastic holding tank smells on the outside?


Cruisers Forumhttps://www.cruisersforum.com › forums › plastic-hol...

1 Aug 2021 — If you can't smell anything on that rag, that section of hose is ok...but if you can, that hose has permeated. If they all pass the test, but ...

poly holding tank life expectancy? - Cruisers & Sailing Forums

25 Nov 2019 Black water tank smell - Cruisers & Sailing Forums

11 Sept 2022 How to get chemical taste out of new black water tanks.

19 Aug 2008 Stink from Holding Tank! - Cruisers & Sailing Forums




Stainless Steel Black Water Tank -- Good or Bad?


Cruisers Forumhttps://www.cruisersforum.com › forums › stainless-st...

















19 May 2023 — Replace the tank Urine is so corrosive that it will turn even a 316 stainless steel tank into colander, typically within about 10 years, a bit ...



Is my water tank contaminated? [Video] - Cruisers Forum

15 July 2020


Aluminum Sewage Holding Tanks - Cruisers & Sailing Forums

12 Feb 2012


Blackwater Holding Tanks - Cruisers & Sailing Forums

13 Nov 2016


getting rid of hard sediment in a black water tank. - Page 2

Thanks so much for this insight and resources, I really appreciate it; was very helpful. Looks like you made some great tanks for your boat, very impressive!!

[sv_isara]

I know that this is frowned upon however I coated my 316 stainless black water tank in two coats of fiberglass. I coated the interior pickup tubes as well after sandblasting the inside of the tank. At the end of the day the entire tank could erode and it would still be leak free. Delamination won't be a problem since I coated the entire tank so it's like a double layer tank. The only erosion that could cause trouble would be the pickup tubes inside. Very cheap option if you can remove the tank