Test tank

[capt. spauldin]

It's bitterly cold today here in The Garden State, the wind is blowing, ponds are frozen, and Spring boating seems to be a long way off.

The weather means that any initial trials I might want to do for my latest project will have to take place in the bathtub. And that set me wondering...has anyone built a test tank? Does anyone have pictures, dimensions, techniques, or plans? For the sake of discussion, let's say an indoor or outdoor tank (doesn't matter which), excluding any that are based on bathtubs or kiddie pools.

Looking forward to learning about what might be out there.

Cheers,
Capt. Spaulding

[steveciambrone]

Nailed some 2x6s together to make a box, set it outside and got some plastic sheeting, filled with water. Checked balance, draft, and ran the steam plant to check duration. Pretty easy.

Thanks
Steve

[cos918]

Get a children blow up paddling pool. What i have got. There cheep enough


John

[patmat2350]

Yep, cheap wood frame and plastic sheet for checking ballast.

http://static.rcgroups.com/forums/attachments/4/9/6/5/9/a1544089-19-Img_6064a.jpg

[fooman2008]

off topic I know, but did the Imperial Japanese Navy have any other ships than Yamato/Mushashi? I mean they look great make great sea boats but criminey! they had something 200 combatant ships at the beginning of WWII!
Foo

[graphixman]

I have a deep sink in my basement work shop. I normally use it to wash up after working in the yard, but it's big enough to float some of my smaller boats. :cool:

Fred

[Prins Willem]

We had a stock tank at work I borrowed occasionally. It was galvanized steel so it was heavy. New ones are plastic. Tractor Supply has 50 to 300 gallon sizes. A tank like this can also double as a cooler for family picnics or tailgating. Will hold several cases of your favorite beverages.

[fooman2008]

if your boat was small enough (springer maybe) you could try a regular igloo cooler also.
Foo

[drakonis]

im just gonna buy a small pool so i have somewhere to practice manuevers.

[in-d-boat]

I needed something big enough for ballast testing, as well as testing for any water problems, motor poblems, and the like. Built this aluminum tank....5 feet X 2 feet X 10 1/2 inches deep. I have a drain that I put a garden hose on going to my floor drain to empty it out. Then just stand it on end to get it out of the way. The boat in the pics is a Vac-U-Tow. (cool little boat, by the way)

[tugs53]

This may sound really odd...but some time ago I had a big, homemade Bar-B-Q, that was made from a 45gal barrel, cut in half and welded together, end on end.
It was about 8' long, 30" wide, and about 15" deep; and made a great test tank.
It sat on a welded stand and had a wash-out drain plug at each end.

A true 'Dual-Purpose' unit :D

[toesup]

Looking forward to learning about what might be out there.



You mean you are not supposed to put a plastic bag over the drain in the road during a rain storm?...

Ohhhh... :o

[tweety777]

Hello guys,

I've used my inflatable boat for launching Well Enhancer, and will probebly use it for Seven Atlantic too.
Works pretty good.

Greetings Josse

[capt. spauldin]

Thanks for the replies and photos. Interesting stuff, from the low-tech/effective school of thought to the inspired-by-road-kill approach. Very nice. Anyone else have some ideas?

in-d-boat: fine set-up, and I agree -- Vac-U-Tugs are great little boats.

patmat: splendid battleship. My compliments.

Cheers,
Capt. Spaulding

[Hoghappy]

Get ya a red neck pool (tell the wife its for her to relax in after a hard day) and make sure you let it get good and green to simulate the real deal! ;)

[Greysquirrel]

I have an 8'x8' hot tub and it works great in any weather if there is no snow on the cover and that doesn't happen here to often, also for fun you can turn on the pumps for a little stormy sea action

[tghsmith]

go to one of the big box home improvement stores , they useally have several sizes of low flat tubs for mortar mixing.....

[rye 332]

are test tank

[seaphoto]

Here is the tank I made for my model ships, sitting in front of my workshop. I built it out of 1 X 10 pine planks, coated with fiberglass inside and out. There is a drain that can divert onto my lawn during the summer; the tank sits on cribbing made from landscape railroad ties that were sitting around my house when I bought it. Shims give the tank a slight down angle for drainage.

The biggest ship I have now is just shy of 8 feet, so I added about a foot and a half to have a bit of room to test the propulsion, and if I ever build anything bigger. It is deep enough to test submarines. It cost about $ 110.00 to build, with about half of that the fiberglassing supplies. I put a coat of paint on it every other year since it sits outside year round. In addition, by putting a piece of plywood on top it doubles as an outdoor workbench during nice weather.

[fooman2008]

When I get my BB built the test tank is going to probably be the local canal down the street. Or maybe just say the heck with it and test it on the lake where it is going to live any way. Length 17ft 9 in disp 1600 lbs.
Foo

[capt. spauldin]

Great photos and ideas. Keep 'em coming.

seaphoto: you've started me thinking...

fooman:I had to read your post twice to take in the dimensions you mentioned. Do you have a thread going about the BB?

Cheers,
Capt. Spaulding

[nick_75au]

The thread inspired me so here it is, built from an old pergola thanks to my cousin (in law) and fence paling's, with a sheet of polyethylene to seal
8 foot long 3 foot wide 12 inches deep when completely full. Started yesterday evening finished this afternoon. Its real bonus is being able to work standing up :D
Nick

[pops52]

Nick,

My Wife would have that full of flowers as soon as I turned my back. :)

I must think of a way to prevent this when I build mine.

[capt. spauldin]

Nick:

Nice to see the results of inspiration. Well done. Quick questrions re the poly sheet: thickness? is is laid in, or attached to the sides?

Cheers,
Cap Spaulding

[nick_75au]

Hi Cap Spaulding,
Not sure on the weight of the poly sheet, its fairly thick though, something like pond liner thickness, single layer sort of put in like wrapping a present from the inside. I used a few staples to stop the plastic falling in around the edges, the edge wrapped in a timber strip and then nailed would be better.

Pops,
The wife wants to use it for a veggie patch :eek:

Regards
Nick

[steamboatmodel]

Hi Nick,
"The wife wants to use it for a veggie patch "
I think you will have to keep a boat in it perminatly.
Regards,
Gerald

[der kapitan]

Just like Greysquirrel, I have a hot tub, but wouldn't want to use it for a test tank, because it's at a constant 100 degrees---. :p

I use my 8' x 17' backyard pond for any testing. Its only drawback is that I often have to relocate some of the water plants---. :)

[Ghost 2501]

i use the standard bathtub :)

[Greysquirrel]

I just use the hot tub for float tests and to check for leaks, why would the temp. be an issue, what problems down the line could I encounter?
I also have a water garden and at this time of year it would not be a problem but in the summer month I also would have to move a lot of plants around, but it sounds like an Idea I can use.
I also have large laundry tubs in the basement that I can also use to check leaks etc.

[Ghost 2501]

yeah 100f, I only use 100c water for making drinks from.

squizzie, temperature doesnt affect things that much, I have sailed in summer when its 20 to 25c, and when its around freezing in winter with ice on the water. and sailed in water 90f in a swimming pool without problems.

[iDENTITi]

So.. I think I may have convinced the better half to let me get a 8-12ft swimming pool.. Not too expensive and only about 3ft deep. Perfect test tank.

[TugboatTom]

For smaller boats the bathtub seems to do the trick. But I have a kiddy pool for larger ones.

[pops52]

Rub-a-Dub-Dub.........Towboat in da tub......

This is what I have and it is totally inadequate. Thank goodness it's Spring and the outside water is no longer thick.

[capt. spauldin]

Pops52: I agree -- I find that that the waterline is almost impossible to see when the hull I'm working on is in the tub.

Which raises a question...what about a a good-sized test tank (say, 6' long by 1' wide by 10" deep) with one of the long sides made of plexiglass? Has anyone made/seen such a thing?

Cheers,
Capt. Spaulding

[toesup]

Which raises a question...what about a a good-sized test tank (say, 6' long by 1' wide by 10" deep) with one of the long sides made of plexiglass? Has anyone made/seen such a thing?

Isnt such a thing known as a 'fish tank'?... :confused:

[capt. spauldin]

toesup: you clearly have a point...but the thinking behind my post is this; fish tanks can be expensive, particulalry in the sizes that would be required for an effective test tank. It probably would be much less expensive, and much more satisfying for someone with a hobbyist's frame of mind, to make his/her own. Moreover, it would be cool. :)

(plexiglass, liner, wood, silicone, screws...sounds interesting)

Cheers,
Capt. Spaulding

[nick_75au]

I have an aquarium book that refers to larger fishtanks from plywood, front panel cut out for a single pane of glass. Acrylic would work as well. I can dig it up and post details if interested.
Nick

[drakonis]

fish tank smish tank. i bought a 10'x30" pool new in box for $15 off craigs list. :p