Flexible Freshwater Tank Installation

[colbournee]

[Terkar]

Colbournee - nice! How did you get the old tank out, cut it up or out whole somehow? How big, gallons, liters is the new tank? Does the new tank empty from front or stern? Any type of guage sender on new tank?

Thanks Terry

[aspen1880]

wow. nice. that's the cleanest bilge I've seen.

[colbournee]

Diveguy show us how to remove the old tank out the side window! Just search on his post from a couple of years ago. New tank is 200 liters, bit smaller than the Al tank. It emptys from the stern unlike the original. No sender in this thank, that part of the reason why you need quick access just to check things.

[diveguy]

Nice install colbournee. I've had my bladder for four seasons now and no issues. When you winterize you can direct the water to the pickup corner by lifting the forward section. Once empty I flip over that corner so no water lays in the elbow. I then disconnect the line from the pump and blow in the end to ensure theres no water in the line.

[colbournee]

All my pictures are gone!

[aspen1880]

we all must move beyond the point of outrage and fully embrace complacency!

[yachtman]

Thinking of installing a plastimo bladder 52 gallon. Are you still happy with the install? Any pointers?

[colbournee]

So far so good, see if it survives the winter, I'm sure there is still a bit of water in it. Diveguy has had good success for a few years now I believe. That's the same one we have plastimo 52 gal. The space where the original tank was is a bit larger than what's required for the 52 gal plastimo so I put a bit of framing around it to reduce movement. I also cut out an opening in the bed for the water outlet fitting to drop down into the bed

[yachtman]

I read where when it's full it crowns at the top of the bag. (Which one would expect)

how many inches does it crown up do you know? Im putting mine in the cabin floor. i have about 3 inch clearance from the original 50 gallon aluminum tank im just hoping that wil be enough as to not push up on the floor. That wouldnt work if it did.

[jake_eizy]

Great info! I am about to do this to my 3270. Any tips or advice?

[colbournee]

Well my flexible Plastimo 52 gal freshwater tank lasted almost 5 seasons. It then started to develop small cracks in the inside bladder. Unable to fine an obvious cause. So I ditched it after a couple patches and replaced it with a 45 gal RV HDPE tank from eBay. It has built in water level sensors so I might order a sensor panel similar to the RV stuff.

[Steve, 1989 3870]

I added a 25 gallon Plastimo bladder tank under the master bed in the bow, it is triangle shaped. Installed it 15 years ago. Still working fine.

[builderdude]

Do you think the bladder failed because of poor build quality or it just took a beating in the boat?

[colbournee]

There was no obvious cause of the two small creaks in the inner chamber and no perforation of the outer nylon envelope. I assume it was not tough enough to withstand the movement of water within the bladder on a boat.