Trim tanks

N

nimrod

New member
ran across an ad on boattrader for a 22' Cruiser with "trim tanks".

...and a set of 26" long aluminum trim tanks with a stainless steel swim ladder. The rear trim tanks give the boat the added platform area for fishing and swimming plus better stability and control. Attached to the tanks are the custom made trim tabs. You can also store equipment in the tanks. The tanks are made of T 6061 aluminum.
Click to expand...

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I guess there's enough added buoyancy to support the 130hp honda too


jd
 
I wonder how this boat is in a following sea? Then I wondered why someone would actually do this and then slap a heavier outboard that the boat does not really need IMHO. Lastly, why are they selling it. Maybe it's just me but it looks kind of funky.
D.D.
 
And I thought our bow mount trolling motor was nearly out of line.....

I'll bet a few owners would appreciate those life lines at times.
 
That's one homely addition!!! Can't imagine that doesn't put some unwanted stresses on the transom not allowed for in the original boat design let alone all the attachment points that would be required. Vern
 
It definitely falls into the class of "just plain ugly" for me. No way to mount a kicker. But hey, just add a bracket across the back of the "trim tanks" and mount two or three. Reminds me of the Victorian era of womens bustles. Just about as pretty. There, I've insulted the man's boat and I'm sticky to it.
 
Trim tanks... so... if someone in the cabin moves from one side of the boat to the other while underway, do you need to adjust that level in the tanks? And, I assume it is water weight.

I've owned a sailboat that used water ballast, and it works... but all that weight at the stern? And a heavier motor?

The bimini top does look interesting.

Not for me, but someone obviously thought it was the right thing to do.
 
And, I wonder if the owner drilled holes in the transom at waterline or below to attach those ugly things? Bet he did, wouldn't that be fun to deal with. And it looks like they extend below the hull and are just waiting to hit something. I'm sure the owner was sure he had this great idea. Some people should be barred from using power tools! :wink: Buyer Beware!!
 
I hope the owner of this boat is not a member on these forums. I can understand how an owner could undertake something and later have 2nd thoughts upon completion. By that time, you are usually too far committed financially and time wise to stop. As long as it worked for them its fine I suppose.

Im sure that any prospective purchaser who might have been interested before might be having second thoughts after reading these comments.

Maybe a c-brat can buy the boat and bring it to the Friday Harbor gathering in May so that we can all have an up close look. :)
 
I took a look at the rest of the photos on the boattrader ad and the boat looks overall nice and well taken care of.

Hopefully the trim tanks addition works well functionally.

One thing for certain is if you purchase it, you will have more storage on your 22 than the next guy.
 
Agree with Dave, 6061 aluminum is not the best alloy for salt water. There is one other issue with the design--and looking closely at the photo, shows it my concern is probably real. The two tanks would throw up water into the space between the two tanks. Look carefully and you can see a "keel" type of plates welded down below the inside of each tank, which may be an attempted "fix" for this.

The other issue is the fastening of the tanks to the hull, and what material was used--If SS, is it isolated properly from the aluminum? Is there adequate support structure inside of the transoms? This would be a backing plate most likely--with a minimum of fender washers. Were the holes which the bolts (we hope not screws) were placed thru routed out and filled with epoxy to protect the core of the transom?
 
Kinda looks like those stanchions were an attempt to make the boat a walkaround. Sure makes it hard to fish from but maybe that's what the stern pulpits are for! Kinda spooky though! I too hope he's not reading this stuff!! Vern
 
I remind myself of Statler and Hilton, the two old crony puppets that sat up in the balcony on the Muppets TV show and did nothing but criticize and snipe at all the Muppets did. It's kinda fun!
 
I have mixed feelings about the blunt comments, mine included. I guess I view them not so much as just carping but cautionary advice to a potential buyer who looks on this site. Ugly is one thing, safety is another. Were I to buy that boat the first thing I'd do is remove the "trim tanks" and probably the Honda 130. For me that is too much weight and horsepower for a 22. Just looking at the picture I'd be leery of using the boat in the PNW as it is. The "Bimini" looks interesting though. If the owner is on the site here's the time to speak up and explain why the modifications were made and how the boat works with them and that motor.
 
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