Should I replace the 12-gallon tank with a flexible bladder on my sailboat?

[ChloeS]

I’m trying to decide if I should replace the original 12-gallon plastic holding tank on my 28-foot sailboat with a flexible one. The rigid one is cracked at a fitting and is a nightmare to access, but I’m worried a bladder might be harder to secure properly and could lead to other issues.

[Brian_P]

I swapped in a flexible bladder last season. The 12 gallon rigid tank was cracked at the fitting and a nightmare to reach anyway. With the bladder, access is much better, and I could secure it with the same mounting points. I’m still watching for long term wear, but so far it feels cleaner and less likely to drip around the fitting.

[Stephen.W]

I tried a flexible tank once and it smelled funny after a few weeks; the expansion and contraction seemed to loosen the seal and it kept shifting. I ended up going back to a rigid tank and added braces to keep it from moving.

[Brandon.B]

I keep thinking the crack is a symptom more than the problem. I patched it, planned a full replacement, but the access stays tight and the pump line is a hassle. If I could tilt the tank or open a little hatch, maybe the whole rig would feel different.

[LaylaP]

Could the real problem be the access to the fittings rather than the tank type?