(Re) Securing the rear water tank?

[KeelsonGraham]

Hi all,

I need to take out the rear water tank temporarily to do some work in that area. I see that it's currently secured using soldered metal bands - a la crate packing.

What's the best alternative to these for re-securing the tank??

[waughoo]

Mine was not secured when I got in there to do my autopilot work, however I have seen that some of them are based on others' photos on here.  I would think that webbing straps similar to that found for battery straps would be a reasonable solution, but I don't know how those would be secured to the platform (as mine was not).

[Jim Hardesty]

I used lashing straps, pulled them as tight as I could, threaded where old straps were and checked for sharp edges.  Left the buckles on top and rolled up the excess webbing. That was years ago. When I've been back there checked and still tight. 
https://www.harborfreight.com/set-of-2-1-inch-x-12-ft-lashing-straps-67386.html
Jim

[rmjohns]

I got a couple of the ratchet straps from home depot that are 1" wide and ran them in the same manner the original straps ran.  There are cut outs under the tank that let you run the webbing through and under the fiberglass water tank tray. So far no issues, but those straps should hold the tank no problem.

[ewengstrom]

Our aft water tank isn't secured in any way other than the two cables coming down from the pedestal and the plywood bulkhead in front of it holding it from sliding forward into the aft cabin. It obviously came from the factory this way and has now been this way for 34+ years and running.
If I were to take the boat off shore (highly unlikely) I would definitely attend to this as well as addressing the other three tanks (fuel, black water and the second water tank under the starboard settee) as they too aren't held in place with anything secure enough to hold them if the boat were to go inverted.

[Jim Hardesty]

I need to take out the rear water tank temporarily to do some work in that area. I see that it's currently secured using soldered metal bands - a la crate packing.

If you decide to use the lashing straps save yourself some work.  When you remove the original bands attach a tracer line when you pull the bands out.  Saves some fishing.

For those with unsecured tanks.  IMHO Strap them down.  A half tank of water sloshing around in even a moderate sea can't be a good thing.
Your boat your choice.
Jim

[ewengstrom]

Curious, it seems that perhaps Catalina chose to secure the various tanks around the boat in the MK2 MUCH better than they did in the MK1 boats. If your tank is strapped down (in either model) can you tell if it was done this way from the factory????
I'm not trying to be flip or negligent with my earlier comment about it being that way for over 30 years but to be honest, how many folks here with either model say they've had a tank full of water (or worse) get loose in a C-34?

[rmjohns]

I would say the straps on the MKii were from the factory. They used those metal bands used on heavy shipping boxes that are put together with a tool and there are cutouts in the fiberglass tray specifically for the bands to route through under the tray.

[Kyle Ewing]

Perhaps the straps are something done for CE A certification?  See thread at https://c34.org/bbs/index.php/topic,11317.0.html.

[KeelsonGraham]

To my mind having any sort of massive thing unsecured at sea is unthinkable.

[AndyBC]

My aft water tank is framed on 3 sides by wooden panels.  I don't know if it came from the factory like that or if a PO did that but seems pretty solid.

[waughoo]

My 91 looks like AndyBC's photo above.  No straps just a three sided capture and then the aft cabin bulkhead for the 4th side.

[ewengstrom]

Just for giggles I found these photos of the aft water tank setup on our 88 mk1. Given the sheer size of this tank it surprised me that it wasn't strapped down......but also noting how tightly it's surrounded on all sides, I realize it isn't going anywhere either.
Our older boats aren't set up anything like the MK2 I believe, but I'd be interested to see how this tank is secured in the different models anyway.

[KeelsonGraham]

This is my setup.