Peggie Hall wrote:
Tank has a
small lkg IWO a vent o-let,
A what????
:-) A weld-o-let being a welded tank outlet fitting, the weld-o-let
serving the vent (a vent o-let, you no lika da contractionG?).
but R/R time window is short (5 days).
Hey...lack of planning on his part doesn't necessarily create an
emergency on anyone else's part! 
Very grateful your expert input, Peggy. Jovially consider that none of
it is new, and particularly that not all, or even most, emergent short
repair windows are the consequence of poor planning. Without
unnecessary elaboration, we have several tentative interim repair
options to weigh. My UT's of the tank earlier (now yesterday) fail to
find evidence of generalized deep pitting or widespread wastage (IWO of
what areas may be UT'd in situ), dictating further inspection before
any conclusion may be drawn (even though we'd both expect it to be
quite deteriorated otherwise if it had been used much - it wasn't).
It's also the general order of the day for weld-o-let welds to locally
pit or waste faster in typical tanks & pressure vessels.
I'm seeking a coating recommendation involving a product more readily
found around the boating scene, as simply one part of only one option
that is not yet ruled out. Were I in a commercial yard husbanding a
chemical tanker, I would know exactly what to have applied & how, but
such coatings are not packaged in tiny cans for boater use. I could
have an industrial marine coating saleman send me a free sample that
would be perfect, but the critical path timeline will not permit this.
Gently, while I cannot knowledgeably speak in terms of the boating
world and its ways, even as a part-time boater myself, this sort of
thing arises & is dealt with on a daily (and nightly) basis in ship
repair and is the rule more than the exception. We learn to think
outside the box for very surival, and emergent deadlines are serious
(though we ourselves try not to be), not symptoms of poor planning or
laziness, but the opposite and demanding seasoned innovation. So this
is why I have posted and what I seek. :-)
The Owner & I have a combined 80 years of responsible ship repair
background, Peggy. Relax a little.
It's true that a rush delivery of a new tank of approximate & workable
dimensions may be possible and that is already concurrently pursued; we
may be old but we ain't dead yet. But I'm not looking for a coating
option for plastic. 8-^) Well, yet. :-)
In any case I disagree that the old tank, even if found to be beyond
interim repair, should be thrown into a dumpster right after removal.
As related, it has been carefully fabricated for best & fullest fit.
It will be measured & drawn for eventually fabbing a 316L tank at
convenience as the Owner's preferred future installation. Someone did
an outstanding job of fabbing a small tank from the wrong material; we
don't throw away the good part of another's effort with the bad of
their ignorance. Instead, we come up with the best interim fix we can,
and then do the job *really* right. We don't regard epoxy putty
(Marine-Tex) as an interim shoreside repair of any metal tank, either,
but a voyage one.
But I do have a sense of humor on USENET. :-)
Thank you again for your comments & time.
BstRgds,
Frank
Al tank will be
pried out of its foamed-in place position via the usual Chinese
firedrill that requires in AM, & taken ashore.
We are contemplating
the *option* of cleaning the tank, assessing its condition...
A waste of time...'cuz if it's leaking anywhere, what you're gonna find
is a tank that's a about to spring a bunch more leaks.
and if not
significantly wasted, welding and/or doubling the leak, blasting or
otherwise prepping it's insides, and coating it with an appropriate
epoxy or other suitable coating in order to exend its service.
Not worth the effort.
My advice: Slap some Marine Tex on the existing leak--it won't hold
permanently, but it will for a few weeks--to get through the impending
"emergency"...then take the time to find a fit a replacement tank. 'Cuz
to do it right is gonna require new hoses and at least some
investigation into plumbing mods.
Plan B: Go ahead and pull the tank out--but if you do, just take it
straight to the dumpster. Put a portapotty onboard to keep him legal
till he can take the time to do it right...'cuz there's a lot of truth
in old adage, "do it right the first time, or expect to do it over."
--
Peggie
----------
Peggie Hall
Specializing in marine sanitation since 1987
Author "Get Rid of Boat Odors - A Guide To Marine Sanitation Systems and
Other Sources of Aggravation and Odor"
http://www.seaworthy.com/store/custo...40&cat=6&page=