Connecting a water tank.

[Soozie]

I bought my boat back in September and am planning to start working on her to make her a live aboard this year. There is a water tank already in place, and it needs connecting, including creating a filling point. The previous owner has fit plumbing pipes along the the inside of the boat. Does anyone have any advice on how big a job this is likely to be, how hard it will be for a newbie, and where best to get tools and equipment. Any general tips gratefully received ?

[Alan de Enfield]

47 minutes ago, Soozie said:

I bought my boat back in September and am planning to start working on her to make her a live aboard this year. There is a water tank already in place, and it needs connecting, including creating a filling point. The previous owner has fit plumbing pipes along the the inside of the boat. Does anyone have any advice on how big a job this is likely to be, how hard it will be for a newbie, and where best to get tools and equipment. Any general tips gratefully received ?

 

Have you done anything like this before ?

 

Normally obtaining tools and materials is not difficult but currently most builders merchants are closed and you are not allowed to travel to get 'stuff' anyway.

 

What will be more even more difficult will be obtaining the skills needed.

[David Mack]

What material is the tank made of? Are there really no connections fitted to the tank already?

[blackrose]

As jobs on boats go push-fit plastic plumbing is very easy. It's just like lego. Water lego.

 

Cutting holes in tanks and decks to put in the correct fittings and connect the tank to the deck might not be so easy if that's what you need to do.

 

This image might help you to see if what the previous owner has done with the pipework is ok - assuming you have a calorifier (labelled C-warm water storage heater in this picture).

 

 

Edited April 18, 2020 by blackrose

[Chewbacka]

18 minutes ago, Alan de Enfield said:

 

Have you done anything like this before ?

 

Normally obtaining tools and materials is not difficult but currently most builders merchants are closed and you are not allowed to travel to get 'stuff' anyway.

 

What will be more even more difficult will be obtaining the skills needed.

Toolstation and screwfix both do on-line home delivery for tools etc.

Plumbing is not that difficult but you will find it a lot easier if can get advice, the tricky part is working out who’s advice you can trust........

[blackrose]

As far as fitting the tank goes, you really need to get on someone else's boat who has a similar tank (stainless steel for example) to see how the filler and the outlet/feed to the pump have been fitted. This will give you a better idea of how to do it. But whatever you do don't start the job until you have the knowledge and a plan.

[Soozie]

My partner is a tradesman, he used to work for a guy who he did his apprentiship with renovating houses. Between us we have a good set of practice skills. Never done a boat though. We are aware of the situation with lockdown, we are in planning stages and have a good set of and access to tools. The diagram above is very helpful. We are basicly looking for good hints and tips. We will have to drill a filling point in the boat. The tank is plastic in a black wrapping, guy we got the boat from said it had been made for the boat. 

[blackrose]

4 minutes ago, Soozie said:

My partner is a tradesman, he used to work for a guy who he did his apprentiship with renovating houses. Between us we have a good set of practice skills. Never done a boat though. We are aware of the situation with lockdown, we are in planning stages and have a good set of and access to tools. The diagram above is very helpful. We are basicly looking for good hints and tips. We will have to drill a filling point in the boat. The tank is plastic in a black wrapping, guy we got the boat from said it had been made for the boat. 

Ok, you sound like you will be fine if he's a tradesman with tools and skills. Just remember it's not a house. I've seen lots of tradespeople getting it wrong because they try to do jobs as they would in a house.

[Soozie]

Just now, blackrose said:

Ok, you sound like you will be fine if he's a tradesman with tools and skills. Just remember it's not a house. I've seen lots of tradespeople getting it wrong because they try to do jobs as they would in a house.

That's exactly why we are asking extra advice. We know it's not a house and will probably cause us a head full of grey hair before we are through. Hoping his skills are transferable though ??

[blackrose]

Just now, Soozie said:

That's exactly why we are asking extra advice. We know it's not a house and will probably cause us a head full of grey hair before we are through. Hoping his skills are transferable though ??

Yes, I'm sure they will be.

[Tracy D'arth]

Lets have a picture Soozie, that tank sounds a bit unusual.

 

For a plastic tank, the easiest tank outlet connector is Hep2O,   Toolstation or Screwfix.  Don't miss out the pipe inserts!

 

 

★★★★★ ★★★★★( 1 )

Product code: 82028Hep2O Tank Connector 15mm x 1/2"

£2.68

ex. VAT £2.23

Each

 

[blackrose]

My tank outlet is in 15mm diameter pipe, but if I were doing it again I'd choose 22mm on the low pressure side of the pump. I often hear my pump straining to get enough water through the 15mm feed.

[Soozie]

OK going to get my permitted daily walk to [he boat tomorrow and will chuck pics on the thread. Hoping it won't be an impossibility. 

[Alan de Enfield]

Apologies, it appears that despite you asking in your original post :

 

1 hour ago, Alan de Enfield said:

...........  and where best to get tools and equipment               

You do already have tools and some good skills available.

 

 

20 minutes ago, blackrose said:

My partner is a tradesman, he used to work for a guy who he did his apprentiship with renovating houses. Between us we have a good set of practice skills. Never done a boat though. We are aware of the situation with lockdown, we are in planning stages and have a good set of and access to tools.

 

[Soozie]

Yeah, I should have stated we have a good tool kit, probs need to add to it though. 

[Chewbacka]

Whilst there is not much about plumbing in the Boat Safety Scheme (BSS) you may fall foul of the rules if you start boxing in gas pipes or modifying the gas system or electrics.  So while it may be a bit early for this, being familiar with the BSS requirements is good, and as most of us have lots of free time, here is something to read -  the checklist the BSS examiner will be using when you need to get your certificate.

 

https://www.boatsafetyscheme.org/media/268789/ecp-private-boats-ed3_rev2_apr2015_public_final.pdf

[Alan de Enfield]

12 minutes ago, Chewbacka said:

Whilst there is not much about plumbing in the Boat Safety Scheme (BSS) you may fall foul of the rules if you start boxing in gas pipes or modifying the gas system or electrics.  So while it may be a bit early for this, being familiar with the BSS requirements is good, and as most of us have lots of free time, here is something to read -  the checklist the BSS examiner will be using when you need to get your certificate.

 

https://www.boatsafetyscheme.org/media/268789/ecp-private-boats-ed3_rev2_apr2015_public_final.pdf

Probably a good time to point out that as a liveaboard boat it will fall under the GSIUR (Gas) regulations so it is worth becoming familiar with them, and who is authorised to do gas work.