PSC 37 Water Tank Access Ports: An Update

[BirdBrain333]

As many of you know, I installed a couple of 6" access ports (brand = "SeaDog") in the tops of our two water tanks. Not long after filling first the stern and then the bow tanks I heard the distinct sound of water running and dripping. A quick look confirmed that water was coming out the through both of the access ports on the stern tank, despite the lids being well and truly screwed down. I tried a hammer and block of wood to screw them in further but the leaks continued unabated.

On the PSC 37 the bow tank is quite a bit higher than the stern tank and what seems to have happened is that the pressure *outward* on ports that were designed for water pressing inward (as in a boarding wave over the bow of a kayak) was too much for the pathetic little gasket and flange.

Grrrrrrrrrrrrr.

So, be forewarned if you are contemplating cutting access ports. Get ports that will keep water IN! In the meantime we simply turned off the bow tank and applied a generous "gasket" of silicone all around. So now the "removable lids" are not removable and I'll instead have to take out the whole port when it is next time to clean the tanks.

I guess it's called learning the hard way...... my specialty!

Jay

PSC Kenlanu, # 171 sitting through another NorEaster in Maine

[arisatx]

Jay:

I'm not familiar w/the Sea Dog ports but we augmented the simple plexiglass ports on our then PSC37 by using silicone sheets that we trimmed into gaskets. We got ours from McMaster.

re: the problem of the bow tank being higher - could you not address this by not drawing down on both tanks simultaneously at the manifold?

[cmcpheeters]

Ouch. I feel your pain!

For what its worth, my two tanks have beckson deck access plates installed. The plate housings are held in place with silicone but the inner part is removable by unscrewing. There is a gasket in the piece that unscrews. When I bought Luckness both tanks were leaking at the gasket - I bought new plates, kept the inner portion and used them in place of the older ones, and they have been good. I bought the clear plastic version of the plate hoping to be able to inspect without unscrewing, but that doesn't really work as moisture gathers and you can't see through them.


Cheers,
Craig.

s/v Luckness,
PSC 37 #234.

[BirdBrain333]

Thanks, Craig and Ted. I'm glad to know I'm not the only one for whom these ports have leaked. I like your solution, Craig, and will go with that in the future. As for drawing down both tanks simultaneously, when both valves are open then the water from the higher bow tank is trying to fill (overfill in this case) the stern tank. So we just use the stern tank first, then open both at the manifold which partly fills the stern tank and draws down the bow tank -- I think.

Thanks again, Jay

PSC 37 Kenlanu, heading off for two months of cruising Maine and Nova Scotia.

[brokesailor]

Do you put anything on the bolts themselves when changing out gaskets?