1996 smkercraft Fazer (new to me) with issues

[tfb4me]

Hello to all, been a while.. Glad to be back. Anyway I bought a new to me project boat. Its a 1997 smoker craft Fazer 172. Anyway I got nosing about because the fuel gauge wasn't working. I opened the inspection cover in the middle of the floor and noticed the inboard fuel tank was FULL...So I removed the sending unit from the tank to see about getting a replacement. As it turns out that's not my only problem. The tank is full of water. Its a plastic tank. I'm not sure how water got in there but I am sure its in there. How can I go about testing the fuel tank for leaks? I'm thinking the drainage holes filled with leaves witch allowed rain water to back all the way up to the filer nozzle and in turn fill the tank with water. How can I test the tank for leaks? Any ideas at all? Also where can I get a new sending unit for the tank so the gauge works when I do get the water situation figured out? Any help in this matter would be much appreciated.. I should add I did siphon out all the old gas and water. The tank is now empty. I am also running the 70hp Johnson on a small portable tank until I can get it all Sorted out

 

[jigngrub]

Re: 1996 smkercraft Fazer (new to me) with issues

I take it you mean a below deck tank when you say "inboard"?

It sounds like you're going to get to take your boat apart first thing. I'd remove the decking and pull the tank and take it to have it pressure checked by a reputable boat shop if I couldn't find anything wrong with it.

Check right here at the iboats store for a sending unit when you get the old one off.

I think you're going to have an unpleasant surprise when you lift your decking to remove the fuel tank. Depending on how long your boat sat full of water, your floatation foam may be saturated/waterlogged. Saturated foam adds a lot of weight to a boat and slows it down, it also loses it's buoyancy and won't float your boat in case of an emergency. Core sample your foam to check for saturation.

 

[jbcurt00]

Re: 1996 smkercraft Fazer (new to me) with issues

To add to what Jig said, I'd be careful pulling the deck & tank. Might have fuel soaked foam too. If water can get in, fuel can get out of the tank.....

 

[tfb4me]

Re: 1996 smkercraft Fazer (new to me) with issues

I take it you mean a below deck tank when you say "inboard"?

It sounds like you're going to get to take your boat apart first thing. I'd remove the decking and pull the tank and take it to have it pressure checked by a reputable boat shop if I couldn't find anything wrong with it.

Check right here at the iboats store for a sending unit when you get the old one off.

I think you're going to have an unpleasant surprise when you lift your decking to remove the fuel tank. Depending on how long your boat sat full of water, your floatation foam may be saturated/waterlogged. Saturated foam adds a lot of weight to a boat and slows it down, it also loses it's buoyancy and won't float your boat in case of an emergency. Core sample your foam to check for saturation.

Thanks for the information..Im not going to pull anything apart until this fall. I have to have something to get around in for the rest of the summer. The boat sat out of the water for over 5 years. I had all 3 carbs cleaned the fuel pump rebuilt and all 3 coils replaced. I had to switch out the prop due to the last owner finding a rock the hard way, had the lower unit checked over and all is well, just the prop. The motor is a Johnson VRO 70 hp, anyway The water in the tank im almost 100% certain that its rain water then went in the fuel tank overflow. But im not 100% on that. I will pull the floors and tank this fall. How hard is the foam to do if it is indeed wet? Can it be any type of foam that I can put back? I have a friend the owns an insulation company, can he spray closed cell foam in the boat for me if I remove it all? Thanks for all your help
P.s yes it is a below deck tank. You will have to forgive my lack of understanding here..I have never owned anything larger then a 12 foot tinny with a 9.9, so this is all new to me

 

[Woodonglass]

Re: 1996 smkercraft Fazer (new to me) with issues

Yes the closed cell house foam will work for your boat. I have researched the characteristics of this foam and it's basically the same as what is typically used for boats. Removing it from your boat is a PITA, but it's the only way. There is no easy way to do it and it will not dry out.

 

[gddavid]

Re: 1996 smkercraft Fazer (new to me) with issues

I'm going to suggest you try something a little less invasive before you start pulling up the deck and removing the tank. Disconnect and plug the ends of you fuel fill and fuel supply to the engine, and disconnect the fuel vent line and cap it off with a fitting with a schrader valve. Then use a bicycle tire pump with a gauge on it to pressurize it to 5 psi and see if it holds pressure. All of your fittings will have to be very secure for this to work but it will tell you if you tank is leaking or not. As far as checking the foam, I would weight the boat first before I started sampling the foam. But that is my advice. And yes I am suggesting you pressurize a fuel tank so be carefull about ignition. It should cause not more hazard than a portable outboard tank that has been left in the sun with the vent closed.

 

[tfb4me]

Re: 1996 smkercraft Fazer (new to me) with issues

I'm going to suggest you try something a little less invasive before you start pulling up the deck and removing the tank. Disconnect and plug the ends of you fuel fill and fuel supply to the engine, and disconnect the fuel vent line and cap it off with a fitting with a schrader valve. Then use a bicycle tire pump with a gauge on it to pressurize it to 5 psi and see if it holds pressure. All of your fittings will have to be very secure for this to work but it will tell you if you tank is leaking or not. As far as checking the foam, I would weight the boat first before I started sampling the foam. But that is my advice. And yes I am suggesting you pressurize a fuel tank so be carefull about ignition. It should cause not more hazard than a portable outboard tank that has been left in the sun with the vent closed.

Hey thanks for the great ideas. What im going to do is go to the local landfill with the trailer only. Weigh the trailer then return with the boat. I should be able to get the weight very close anyway. Now how do I go about finding out what the boat should weigh? Also what does the 1986 Johnson 70 h VRO with power trim and controls weigh? I would need all this info to get the weight of the boat, correct? of am I going about this all wrong? Also if I so choose to do a core sample of the foam how big of a hole should I drill with a hole saw? will an inch and a half hole 3 inches down be enough? I will try to get some pictures the next time im at the boat..Wont be until next weekend

 

[Woodonglass]

Re: 1996 smkercraft Fazer (new to me) with issues

Do your core sample of the foam using a piece of 2" pvc pipe. Cut some "Teeth" into one end of it and put a dowel rod in the other end and "Twist Drill" it down into the foam until it hits the hull. Pull it out and you'll have your Core Sample.

 

[tfb4me]

Re: 1996 smkercraft Fazer (new to me) with issues

That is brilliant If I do say so myself.. Thanks woodonglass.. I knew I came to the right place!

 

[Woodonglass]

Re: 1996 smkercraft Fazer (new to me) with issues

Just Passing on what I've learned here on the World's Best Boat Restoration Forum

 

[jbcurt00]

Re: 1996 smkercraft Fazer (new to me) with issues

Now how do I go about finding out what the boat should weigh?

1996 Smoker-Craft Boats 192FZ Fazer

Also what does the 1986 Johnson 70 h VRO with power trim and controls weigh?

From elsewhere on the net:
The manual for my 1988 70HP VRO model Johnson specs at 248 lbs. with power trim and tilt. Without power trim and tilt it's 230 lbs.*

Hope this helps
-Dave

So rigged w/ the motor it should be just under 1600lbs (1325# dry & 248# motor) plus any other gear & rigging you have installed. You can compare a 1986 to a 1988 here to see how similar they are. I suspect very similar if they are both VRO 70's.