Enclosed Gas Tank evaluation

[bfowlermean]

Considering buying a 8 year old boat with enclosed gas tank - hasn't been used much for 4 years and am concerned that the tank may either have rot or need replacement. How does one verify that the tank is okay? Hopefully w/o pulling the tank out of the boat.

 

[Kev144]

Re: Enclosed Gas Tank evaluation

Considering buying a 8 year old boat with enclosed gas tank - hasn't been used much for 4 years and am concerned that the tank may either have rot or need replacement. How does one verify that the tank is okay? Hopefully w/o pulling the tank out of the boat.

Should be no problem with it besides hoses and maybe dirt on the bottom. I just bought a 89 Charger with a 70L tank. The hoses were old and cracking other wise tank was fine. NOt sure where the tank is located but if you can get to it, check everything including hoses for filling, ventilation and running to the motor.

 

[mrfixitman40]

Re: Enclosed Gas Tank evaluation

You have a couple options my Preference is presurizing it with smoke . the other would be vacuum test .

 

[tommays]

Re: Enclosed Gas Tank evaluation

There will be and ID tag on the tank DUE to there strange shape they do NOT take a LOT of pressure generaly around 3 PSI and i have never seen one with a Vacume rateing


What makes your worry about and 8 year old tank ? is there a lot of water in the boat


Tommays

 

[a70eliminator]

Re: Enclosed Gas Tank evaluation

I don't think you have much to worry about as far as rot, my boat is 17yrs old with enclosed tank. I can see a good portion of it through the fuel connection access panels and it is made of aluminum looks nice and shiny, the 4 yr old fuel residue will be your main worry I think.

 

[dingbat]

Re: Enclosed Gas Tank evaluation

What makes your worry about and 8 year old tank ? is there a lot of water in the boat

The "life expectancy" of an aluminum tank is only about 10 years. Especially if you have a "foamed in" tank.

http://www.brokeboats.com/badtanks.html

 

[Fish n Geer]

Re: Enclosed Gas Tank evaluation

Heck mines 24 years old.I am approching that step soon.Got to decide what to do about mine.Have no idea at this point how much gas was left in it.Looks like i will be removing the tank didnt really want to.Might as well replace the hoses while its all apart too.Although dont really see anything visually wrong with them.Just taking in consideration the age of everything.I am going to try and keep someones sig phrase in my head while doing this project.Why is there never enough time to do it right the first time but always time to do it again.Something like that anyway.Cha ching more money more money more money lol.
Sorry didnt mean to hi jack the thread just got me thinking about it.

 

[bfowlermean]

Re: Enclosed Gas Tank evaluation

Thanks everyone - that's a load off my mind - it's in a Starcraft SuperFisherman and was hoping it would be okay - now to drain all the gas (thanks note) and get some fresh stuff in there for the winter here in Maine.