What tanks for keeping on sailboat?

[NW Dive Dawg]

At operations like LCBR, I think their aluminum 80's live fully exposed on the boat all year other than possibly for VIP and Hydro. But they do get a good daily fresh water rinse at the dock. Does your boat make fresh water?

 

[rx7diver]

On this first dive trip I am planning on having 4 tanks on the boat as we are getting older. One dive is usually enough for us so that should last us a few days then next time we hit a marina we will get them filled again. We are planning on being in the channel islands for 3 to 4 weeks. So don't really need to hit it hard every day like on a charter. Next year I will be adding a compressor but that is yet another rabbit hole to sort out.

I always imagined that a couple of low pressure cylinders (e.g., old-school HDG PST 72's) and an onboard Rix SA-6 Diesel compressor would be perfect for a couple taking a single-handed sailboat (~35 ft?) on an extended cruising and diving vacation. Of course, there are the issues of sourcing and then learning to maintain a serviceable SA-6...

rx7diver

 

[arkstorm]

Most resort boats where the cylinders are exposed to salt water on a daily basis and are treated with benevolent neglect at best carry unpainted aluminum 80's and they seem to do fine over time.

 

[Still Kicking]

Most resort boats where the cylinders are exposed to salt water on a daily basis and are treated with benevolent neglect at best carry unpainted aluminum 80's and they seem to do fine over time.

I bet a fair percentage of those boat tanks are "fizzing" at the neck. You wouldn't notice unless you looked closely underwater. The pressure loss is slow and the tanks are being used/filled daily so who cares? But if you didn't use them for a few days or a week, you might be surprised to find a half empty tank.

As I said, I see a lot of hull cleaner aluminum tanks treated with "benevolent neglect" and many leak from the neck. Sometimes a new oring and a cleaning helps, sometimes it doesn't.

 

[Tracy]

I bet a fair percentage of those boat tanks are "fizzing" at the neck. You wouldn't notice unless you looked closely underwater. The pressure loss is slow and the tanks are being used/filled daily so who cares? But if you didn't use them for a few days or a week, you might be surprised to find a half empty tank.

As I said, I see a lot of hull cleaner aluminum tanks treated with "benevolent neglect" and many leak from the neck. Sometimes a new oring and a cleaning helps, sometimes it doesn't.

It is easy to fix, there are tools made especially for it. It just isn't worth the time on a tank used daily.

 

[Still Kicking]

It is easy to fix, there are tools made especially for it. It just isn't worth the time on a tank used daily.

True. It usually fixes it ....but not always.

 

[Tracy]

True. It usually fixes it ....but not always.
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Just keep grinding. Never give up.