Stage 1

Water tanks installed (1)

Water tanks installed (2)

Water tanks installed (3)

Water tanks installed (4)

1st mate's hard at it

It's hard work this water tank fitting...

Spotted up a tree at the Marina...

Tanks were first constructed from 3mm ply, using the "stitch and glue" method, sized and shaped to fit the underfloor keel area. A 30mm x 30mm timber stiffener was epoxied in around the inside top lip of each tank and given a nice fillet for the inside glassing. This stiffener also provides a good 'landing' for the tank top after planing flat.

The tanks were then double glassed inside, using 600grm woven roving, 'wet on wet'. Nicely 'resin-rich', this ensures they are both strong and watertight.

One tank, using my car as an indication of it's size. (If you can call a Suzuki 'Jimny' a car, that is!)

Back to the garage and the outsides are glassed with 600grm. The tank tops are

made, holes for screw-in inspection panels cut and the whole thing pre-glassed

inside and out before fitting.

Back on board, the tops are epoxied in place, trimmed and the top joints all nicely glassed over. The interiors are epoxy primed and given 3 coats of white 2-part Polyurethane. The exterior gets the same treatment and they're ready to install and connect.