1987 300 Sundancer Water Tank Question?

[jpn867]

This past weekend was the first time I spent the night on my new boat. I ran out of fresh water quickly, I am sure much of the reason had to do with the amount of people I had with me but I decided to look at the tank to see if there was anything I could do to improve the amount of water I can hold. I removed the wall from the aft cabin and the tray above the tank in the port side storage compartment and can see the tank clearly. The fill tube and vent are on the port side but the supply line to the boat is in the front of the tank on the port side. It appears I can only use about 2/3 of what the tank is capable of holding because the way the tank leans while in the water. Does anyone know if it is possible to tap into the tank and put another fitting in the back of the tank where the water level is much higher? I was thinking of having a new tank made that will allow you to use more of the water in the tank but this seems like a very poor design if that is in fact how it came from Sea Ray. Any help or ideas would be appreciated.

 

[Iprof]

When we anchor out the two of us get over a week on the 40 gallons of fresh the boat will hold. I fill mine till it is running out the overflow tube on the side. The overflow tube is above the tank so the tank should be full. We use to run out of water or get close to it until we got better with water management on the boat. Never run the water while brushing your teeth, use the waterless soap to wash your hands after using the head, once the dishes are washed don't drain the water out, we use it to wash your hands or for the tea mug that we had just before bed time then drain. Point out to people don't run the water to get it cold like some do at home. Don't use the hot water that is still in the tank when you need hot water the first day out, boil what you need. The head on our boat does draw from the lake so that is not a problem but I know some salt water boats that draw from the water tank, that would be a problem for me.

Ken

 

[jpn867]

Water management is certainly something we will need to work on. I am in saltwater and my head draws from the tank. I took the tank out today and I am going to see if I can find someone that can put another fitting in tank where it is lowest while the boat is in the water. Not sure if that is possible but hoping there is a way to put a fitting in and epoxy it. I will see. My other thought is to have a tank made with the fittings in a bettter location. I hate that I am not able to use almost 1.3 of my tank because of where the fitting is. I believe this tank is around 30 to 35 gallon and i imagine I am only able to use 2/3 of it from the looks of the water level in the tank when i pump starts sucking air. If I can not come up with a solution I will just have to do much better on water management and possible bring along spare tanks of water for the weekends. Still looking for ideas or other possible solutions if anyone has come across this same problem. Thanks.

 

[88dancer300]

I have an 88 sundancer, and my tank is orig. and is 40 gallons. It sucks water from the bottom aft, starboard side of the tank. It goes through the bulkhead and into the bilge area under the aft cabin where it ties into the water pump. My vacuflush also uses water from the tank. Epoxy wont hold seal the fitting, if it is polypropolene or polyethelene. You should have the fitting spin welded in. I am having a new poopie tank custom made right now.

 

[jpn867]

Sounds similar to mine however mine pulls water from the forward, port side of the tank which is the highest point. If I spin the tank around it would be in the same location which would be perfect but then the filler and vent holes would be in the middle of my storage compartment. What type of place should I look to do "spin weld" I am not familiar with that? Thanks

 

[Iprof]

You could put a water bladder in the aft cabin storage under the starboard cushion, just for the head. A 20 gallon bladder would fit in there just fine.

Ken

 

[floriduramax1]

Sounds similar to mine however mine pulls water from the forward, port side of the tank which is the highest point. If I spin the tank around it would be in the same location which would be perfect but then the filler and vent holes would be in the middle of my storage compartment. What type of place should I look to do "spin weld" I am not familiar with that? Thanks

Call some of your larger RV shops to see if they have fittings and the adapter to put on a router.

 

[88dancer300]

Well I got the tank out. It has been leaking at the fitting that feeds the pump, and made a scummy mess under the tank. I cleaned the whole area where the tank sits, and gave it a coat of bilge paint. Also while it was all apart. I made a new floor section that goes on top of the tank. The models that have the generator, use this area to mount the water heater, and after 23 years of draining the water heater onto that carpeted floor, it was pretty rotted. The water heater bottom was junk as well, so I have ordered a new one. Also when washing the cockpit down, the water goes into that compartment further soaking it. I am making a gasket to seal it up. Also I am making a drain line that comes from the water heater, that will drain it into the shower sump when winterizing. (Sea ray should have done this from the start) Also now is definitely the time to replace the A/C raw water cooling line ! Heading out to get that now.

 

[88dancer300]

Well its been raining so far all spring, but I have managed to complete this water tank and water heater project. Tank is all good, no leaks, new water heater with all PECs fittings (still have to change the fitting at the bottom of the water tank to PECs) Cleaned and painted the whole area. Made a new shelf for the water heater to sit on, replaced all of the floor drain hoses above that area, added drain and pressure relief valve hoses from the water heated into the shower sump, made a splash shied over the water heater and made a gasket seal for the hatch above the water tank.

 

[Iprof]

WOW
Dave that look fabulous, I hope mine looks 1/2 that good when I am done with that area. I have a Xantrex smart charger that sits in the same area as the water heater, so I have lost almost all the storage.

Ken

 

[88dancer300]

Hey thanx Ken. What is the Zantrex charger? Is it very large? I still have the orig. charger mounted to the bulkhead in the eng. compartment, still works great.

 

[MasterFab]

Unfortunately, I found this thread a bit late in the game. My last boat was a 1986 300DA, and it had the exact same problem as yours - tank only emptied to about 1/3, for the same reasone you describe. The discharge fitting from the tank needs to be moved to the rear, starboard side of the tank. It will then drain completely to the pump. The simplest way to accomplish this is with a fitting relocation kit, available from Todd. I added a 6 inch inspection port in the top of my tank, then plugged the old discharge fitting. Then I drilled a hole in the tank at the new location, and added a discharge fitting. Reinstall the tank, and you are good to go. It also makes winterizing much easier...

Dale

 

[Iprof]

Dave it is a smart charger that will not boil your batteries when teamed up with the Link 1000. It is like a fuel gauge for batteries tells you how many amps are being used, how many amp hrs have been used and once you start to charge how long till the batteries are at 100%. I can get about 14 hours on my 2 golf cart batteries before I have to charge them while anchored out. I have a 42 liter freezer, my fridge, I like to make ice once a day also and of course the anchor light while anchored out and our reading lights that I have switched over to led lights. We also keep the VHF on until we go to sleep, we draw a constant 5.5 and when the fridge and the freezer kick in we draw another 2.5 amps on each. I have been thinking on doing a write up on installing a smart charger/inverter but I am a little busy right now. We have 25 people coming for dinner tomorrow and I must finish my swim platform by Wednesday and install Thursday or I go in the water without it for a week or so. I really don't want that to happen if I can avoid it.

Ken

 

[Iprof]

http://clubsearay.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=18499&stc=1&d=1303041940
To the original poster

I see by Dave's picture that the discharge for his tank is on the rear of the tank and towards the centre. Our boats are 1988, they must have moved the discharge on the tank.

Ken

 

[88dancer300]

I dont know why, they would have put that fitting anywhere else. Thats the lowest part on the tank.

 

[gck]

My fresh water tank is leaking on my 1987 SeaRay Sundancer. Does anyone have pictures or a detailed description of how to remove it? Any help is greatly appreciated.