Tank cleanout

[telekitr]

Hello everyone...we are currently in the process of rebuilding our Passport 40 and are at the point of wanting to do a complete cleanout and scrubbing of both our SS water tanks and our Diesel fuel tanks. As these tanks are quite long, and with limited access ports, this poses quite a challenge.
Does anyone out there have any insight into how this is done, equipment used, techniques??? Any information would be greatly appreciated...

Thanks in advance....

Ernie

[sailingdog]

If you have limited access ports then you probably won't be able to clean the tanks very effectively. Most larger tanks are baffled internally, and the baffles will prevent any real attempt at cleaning them. One thing that may work is high pressure steam cleaning of the tanks... but again, it would be limited by your access to the tank interior.

Adding additional access ports would facilitate cleaning the tanks and also help with inspecting them in the future.

[RichH]

I have a 'Perryboat'.
Access ports can easily 'sistered' over cutouts on the OEM tank, easy to apply 'studs' for the new access plates by simply drilling and tapping through the OEM tank from the inside.
BTW .... I have a black iron fuel tank that I 'rebuilt' (in place), simply 'lined' the internals with FRG and epoxy (built a new tank INSIDE the OEM tank).

For potable water tanks, same process but use a NSF/FDA 'rated for potable water service' - a low amine epoxy. do websearch "NSP-120". Lining epoxies are simply 'rolled on', like a barrier coat. Used in a lot in commercial applications.

[sailingdog]

One epoxy that would be suitable for potable water tanks is CeRAM-Kote 54, which is specifically designed for lining potable water tanks.