Gas Tank Awareness

[JoeCrow]

I have a 1986 19.5 Bayliner cuddy
The transom is remarkably sound and last year I replaced the Tired 125 Force with a new 125 Mercury
The boat is GREAT
But like most Bayliners that age I have a leaky gas tank
I would like to cut the flooring and replace the tank
I'm assuming the plywood on the floor is 1/2" and hope to set the saw to 1/2" and cut out around the tank without an earth shattering kaboom
To accomplish this without hitting the tank and having catastrophic results
I'm trying to find out the dimensions of the tank
Any ideas on it's dimensions?
Or any easier suggestions to remedying the problem?
Thanks,
Joe

 

[This_lil_fishy]

Re: Gas Tank Awareness

If the tank is leaking, it won't matter...the bilge is full of fumes. I'm not sure how people cut that out without blowing up...other then hand tools. Been lucky enough to never have to do one I guess.

Ian

 

[joed]

Re: Gas Tank Awareness

You need to do something to make the tank safe. One option I have heard is to drain the tank and then put some dry ice in it. The dry ice displaces the gasoline vapours with CO2 which will not explode.

 

[Fl_Richard]

Re: Gas Tank Awareness

If the tank is plastic or aluminum it wont spark when you hit it with the saw blade. If its steel.......

I'd empty and rinse the tank completely, then rinse out the bilge until you cant smell any fumes then cut away.

The dry ice idea sounds plausible too..

 

[Mark42]

Re: Gas Tank Awareness

I've cut up large tanks by filling with dry ice. Takes a while to get all the crushed ice in there. But it does work.

For a boat tank I might fill the tank fully with water and then cut the floor out. Can't hurt to hose out the bilge too beforehand. And a powerful fan blowing air into the boat will help a lot to dilute any vapors to below their flash point.