SANDBLASTING & TANK COATINGS
Yacht Tank Sandblasting & Epoxy Coating / Tank Lining Specialists
At Coastal Tank, we specialize in providing professional abrasive blasting and epoxy coating/tank lining renewal to protect against hull and substrate corrosion. We have specially designed equipment and expertise to execute these services by entering through the tank manhole while maintaining the yacht interior clean and dust free. Our procedures eliminate the costly requirement of having to cut out hull plating for access to the tanks in order to carry out the work. We can achieve this by utilizing a powerful industrial vacuum which creates a negative air environment inside the tank for dust and spent abrasive media extraction.
While regular tank cleaning and spot coating touchups are essential for your tank maintenance plan, there comes a time when the tank lining system reaches the end of its effective lifespan. This can be determined by the amount of coating that is missing from the substrate, the extent of corrosion and the lack of adhesion of the remaining coating.
Typically, if more than 30% of the tank coating system is no longer intact, renewal of that system will be required by Lloyds or ABS class inspectors. In this circumstance, all remaining epoxy coating needs to be removed by abrasive blasting, also known as sandblasting. Consistence with scheduled tank cleaning, inspections, and coating repairs will help avoid costly metal repairs down the road due to corrosion and will also ensure seamless class inspections.
Besides removing the existing coating and corrosion, abrasive blasting brings the substrate to a near white metal SSPC / SP-10 finish. Abrasive blasting also produces a sharp angular surface profile on the steel or aluminum substrate which is required for the new epoxy tank lining system to form a strong mechanical bond with and achieve the adhesion it was designed for. The surface preparation and cleanliness are essential elements for a long-lasting tank lining system.
Once the tank has been stripped of all existing coating, blown down and vacuumed out, quality assurance tests will be completed to test the surface for: the presence of salts / chlorides, surface profile and ambient conditions. Once all parameters have been confirmed as in-range with product specifications, the new tank lining is ready to be spray applied using a high-pressure plural component paint pump. We utilize the Graco XP-70, which mixes the A and B parts on demand, ensuring the ratio stays consistent during application.
After the spray coats, final touch-ups are carried out as well as photos and dry film thickness testing.
Our Sandblasting & Epoxy Coating Service
We offer tank sandblasting and recoating services for vessel tanks including:
Fresh Water, Grey Water, Black Water, Ballast Water, Bilge Water, Swimming Pool, Jacuzzi, Technical Water, Deckwash, and all other coated tanks on board. We have the capability to service any type of tank on board your vessel.
Our Process
After a thorough tank cleaning, our team will inspect the condition of the protective epoxy tank coating and lining to note any deficiencies. We will partner with you to develop a customized sandblasting or epoxy coating repair solution to meet your specific needs. We utilize Lloyds and ABS approved high solid epoxy tank coatings. High solid or 100% solid epoxy coatings provide superior protection against corrosion as compared to a solvent based coating. This is because high solid coatings can be applied thicker. We also have the flexibility to use any OEM product of your choice.
There are several factors that will ensure a tank coating system performs as designed including surface cleanliness, surface profile, ambient conditions, quality of the spray equipment used, and ventilation during curing. We use the highest quality equipment available in the industry such as tier 4 compressors, newly outfitted blast pots, industrial vacuums, testing equipment, and a Graco plural component paint sprayer. The Coastal Tank team is dedicated to quality service and customer satisfaction. We perform quality checkpoints at each stage of the process and document the results for your records to verify quality and efficiency.