Manufacture of tank access panels
After a reminder of Duracell's previous modifications to turn the liquid ballast tanks of a racing yacht into real drinking water tanks for a cruising boat, Matt gets down to finalizing the details of the ballast tanks. The construction of the galley will soon render them inaccessible, so the first thing to do is to install the inspection hatches needed for maintenance and leak testing.
To keep the hatches watertight, Matt opts for bolted, rather than glued, circular hatches. This meant integrating inserts into the tank ceiling, and creating a perfectly flat surface so that the gasket could be tightened properly to guarantee a watertight seal. The process is optimized as the 16 panels are installed, and the result is satisfactory.
The hunt for leaks
Then came the moment of truth. The estimated volume of the tanks is 2,800 liters, or over 2.5 tons of added water. Matt anticipates this by adding candles under the bulkheads to take up the weight, and makes no secret of his anxiety. Unfortunately, a leak in the same place on the starboard and port sides spoils the party. It's not a major leak, but Matt will have to plug it before he can go ahead with the Duracell layout.
