Water tank clean-out

[Tom Patterson]

My wife and I just became the proud owners of a 1987 Catalina 34 tall rig. She is in beautiful condition, however, the previous owner seldom used the water tanks. I have filled and drained the aft and starboard tanks several times and am ready to sanitize them. I have also removed the 4" clean-out on the starboard tank and removed whatever was used previously to seal it. I have read on the forum that I need to use a non-hardening thread sealer but I can't find a reference to a specific brand(s). One of the sailors on our dock suggested Vaseline petroleum jelly but that seems way too easy! Any suggestions/tips would be greatly appreciated.

[KWKloeber]

Tom I'm not familiar with the 34 tanks but if access ports are like on my 30 SuperLube gel (ptfe) is a good thread lube but not so much a sealer.  I've used Teflon tape on access ports.  It comes in the wide (1") version.

[Stu Jackson]

Rector's Pipe Dope would work, too.

[britinusa]

Tom, on our C34 Tall Rig Fin Keel 1987, I just unscrew the cap and just screw the cap back in place, no dope.

Paul

[Jim Hardesty]

I don't have a cleanout on my MKll.  But other boats I have seen use an o-ring or rubber like gasket.  As it's on the tank top just need to keep dust and dirt out.
Jim

[scgunner]

     Tom,

       I also use Teflon tape, I'm not a big fan of using chemical sealants around my drinking water. Or like Paul you can use nothing, it will leak a little but not significantly, mostly on heel and anything that leaks just winds up in the bilge.

[csimmerling]

I've always worried about drinking the water from my '86 tanks. Did you replace yours on your 87, or are they original? Maybe I'm just paranoid. I bring a separate 5gal container for drinking water.

[Stu Jackson]

I've always worried about drinking the water from my '86 tanks. Did you replace yours on your 87, or are they original? Maybe I'm just paranoid. I bring a separate 5gal container for drinking water.

cs, you may have seen this:

Fresh Water System Recommissioning 101 - Peggie Hall's "Cocktail" Rotten Egg Odor http://c34.org/bbs/index.php/topic,5836.0.html

[csimmerling]

I have, thanks for the reminder. I was thinking about the tanks themselves though (sort of related to the BPA craze) . Peggy doesn't really discuss that, it's just about the water.

[Tom Patterson]

Thanks for all of the suggestions and tips. I'll probably go with either the Teflon tape or the RectorSeal #5 pipe thread sealant. As far as I know, the tanks are original and we don't plan to replace them.

[Stu Jackson]

I have, thanks for the reminder. I was thinking about the tanks themselves though (sort of related to the BPA craze) . Peggy doesn't really discuss that, it's just about the water.

cs, that's simply not true.  If you read the link you'll see she comments on tanks and complete tank refills.  What she discusses is the entire SYSTEM, water, tanks and hoses.

[Ron Hill]

Guys : The MK1s starboard tank cleanout is a standard 4" tapered thread PVC cap. 
I always use a bit of pipe dope and screw it on tight !!


A thought