IP 40 Holding tank replacement / repair?

Looking for help, comments, suggestions for replacing / repairing a leaking holding tank in my recently purchased IP 40. It seems to be leaking (weeping) from the bottom. Anyone have any experience with some sort of tank sealer or epoxy?

Thank you,

Robert

Robert:

I posted a response to your question on IPHOMEPORT. Here is another, take a look at the photo's journal at:


www.islandpacketphotos.com/view_ad.asp?Ad_ID=1496

and

www.islandpacketphotos.com/view_ad.asp?Ad_ID=1519


Tank Sealer? How about a new tank......

Bobby

To sv.graine , ewayne, et al.
My 1998 IP40 (bought in 2006) may have this same problem. It is so sad that brokers and sellers are not disclosing this common problem and just sneaking it on to unsuspecting new owners. Also the darn surveyors should know about this by now and check these aluminum tanks before completing their surveys. Can anybody tell me how much the Wellington Plastics replacement tank cost (before installation, etc.)? Thanks! If I contact them, can I have the name of your boat so they have a reference to the IP40 specs they already used?
Thanks again. Mark Hill

Hi Mark,
I replaced the holding tank in my IP40-71 last year. I used a source in Fla. and was very satisfied. I agree that surveyors should know about aluminum holding tanks and warn buyers. If you have other questions I would be glad to help. You can contact me directly at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Bob

Mark,

We replaced our holding tank back in July '10 and used a Wellington tank. The cost was $1155. We also had an Electrosense sensor (www.electrosense.com/) put in to keep track of how full it is. Works great and not too expensive.

On our boat the tank is located under the sole in the forward stateroom and also halfway under the bunk. I felt like it was too big a job to take on myself so we got the local pros to do it. Instead of cutting through the sole they went in through the bunk. Here's a blurb on our replacement (ip42035.blogspot.com/2010_07_01_archive.html), which continues on to the following month.

- Tom
La Vida Dulce, IP 420-35

For others following this string - so far I found out that Wellington Plastics (BC, Canada) charges $750 plus duty and shipping or up to $1200 with bells and whistles for the tank. Dura Weld in Lake Worth, FL also makes some that fit. IP wants quite a bit to do a factory refit and I won't disclose their price but it may include shipping and returning the boat (I am trying to determine that now). I suspect my local boatyard may be cheaper if less expert in IPs and am getting a quote from them too. Most pictures I examined show some of the fwd cabin sole being cut and removed. I will try to keep you abreast but I am going offline Jan.3 to go cruising again. I was hoping somebody would say you could slap bondo inside the tank and make it work for your time in US waters but no such luck I guess! Happy Holidays.
Mark Hill
S/V Down Island

Tom, tried to click on your blogspot link, but it said I needed to be invited. I don't have a Google account (which it also requires), but my wife does, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. Would love to check out the info on your replacement. Thanks, Pete

Pete,

Sorry about that. I had taken it off line because it was causing problems while we were trying to sell our boat. Hopefully I've made the correct changes and you'll be able to see it now. Let me know if you're still unable to access it.

Tom
IP420-35
"La Vida Dulce"

I replaced the holding tank on our IP 40 three years ago. Because we had previously owned a 350IP we were familiar with the issue of the AL holding tank and discovered the problem in the survey. At any rate here is what we did.

There are two problems with the original instalation. The AL tank and the 18' hose run from the aft head. So.... we replaced the front tank with a 20g 3/8" plastic tank (20g because I was in a hurry ant his was the biggest standard tank I could find) and put a 25g 3/8 plastic tank in for the rear head - thus elminating the long pipe hose run. BTW it takes 1.7 gallons of water to clear waste from this line , so thee lines always stink. Or you can pump them clear and fill the holding tank in in a few flushes. The new rear tank lives under the rear most port seatee and the plumbing (dedicated thru hull, macerator, valves, and deck pump out) is located in the space behind it. There is so mnuch room on an IP 40 that we can stand to lose one locker.

As an aside, I have switched to 1" waste line between both heads and their dedicated tanks. because it takes so much less water to clear the lines. Both heads are Raitan macerating heads with seperate raw water control.