Fuel Tank Access Panel

[HS91_Mike]

I have a '91 Hydra Sports 2000 CC with a Moeller 80-gal permanent fuel tank located below the deck. The fuel tank has six aluminum support brackets that secure it to the interior of the hull. All six brackets broke and the tank has slid back about 2" in the hull. No damage - holes in tank, ripped fuel lines or disconnected electronics, no gas odors or puddles in bilge. To perform this rather simple repair seems to require some complicated access issues. I have a thru panel but a section of it goes under the center console. The panel is secured with a few screws and the seam is sealed with 5200. Does anyone know how far under the center console this panel goes? Standard Hydra Sport design spec (archived)??

If I can get the panel out, the repair is simple. However, if I have to remove the CC, then most or all or the mechanical and electrical connections are going to have to be disconnected in order to remove the console, correct? Any info or ideas is well appreciated.

Thank you, Mike

 

[jbcurt00]

Re: Fuel Tank Access Panel

I can't answer your Hydra specs question about that panel's length/attachment, or what you need to disconnect to remove the CC, but I'd be concerned about:

#1: How all 6 brackets broke? Esp if all at once, and why none were fixed before they all failed.

#2: What's going on below decks that allowed the tank to slide 2"

Typically there are fore & aft bulkheads at the fuel tank, have they been compromised? Or there was enough gap in front of the aft bulkhead to allow it to move that much?

A 80gal tank weighs about 360lbs when 75% full..... That's a lot of weight, that needs to be well secured. Unless you can see most (maybe even all) of the top of the tank, and have access to the stringers along both port & starboard sides of the tank to attach the replacement brackets/clamps I'm not sure the repair will be as simple as you think. But I could be very wrong...

Hope I am...

Best of luck getting it put back together soon.

Welcome to dry dock

 

[HS91_Mike]

Re: Fuel Tank Access Panel

They did not all break all at once. I have noticed in the past two years that 2 brackets were broken and was not smart enough to realize the severity of the break. The brackets do not fully support the tank. It has mounts underneath it that support the load of the tank, but the brackets are in place to secure it. Offshore wear and tear on a 20 year old boat will catch up. The tank is a Moeller 80-gal tank. The good thing is Moeller still sells an 80-gal tank that appears identical to the one currently under my deck.

That tank repair is simple. Emplty the tank and 6 alum brackets and 24 screws. Possibility that the mounts have been compromised and will need to be repalced as well. The problem is access to the tank. Removing the deck panel. I dont want to remove the console but my other option may be to cut the panel. IF the panel extends further 8-12" under the console then the entire console will have to be removed in order to remove the deck panel intact. That is what I am trying to figure out.

 

[jbcurt00]

Re: Fuel Tank Access Panel

Much more well thought out then It seemed, sorry.... quite a few oh, carp I just put my boat In the water its flooding, can I overlay my rotten deck and what kind of metal plate should I use for a soft transom questions lately.

Wish I had more Info about getting the plate up....

hope Its back In the water soon.

have a good week

 

[HS91_Mike]

Re: Fuel Tank Access Panel

I contacted the manufacturer (Hydra Sports) and the engineer I spoke with was familiar, but not that familair with the boat and couldnt dig up a spec. He was familiar enough to tell me how the deck was assembled, but wasnt able to tell me the diminsions of the deck plate. I was hoping someone in this forum had a small hydra sports similar to mine and might be familiar with the deck layout. Thank you again for your help.