Need to get to built-in gas tank on a Hurricane deck boat

[JimMM]

I have a Godfrey 22 foot Hurricane 226 Fundeck and need to get to the gas tank which is built into the boat under the deck in the rear port corner. The area of the deck above it is a storage locker.

One, the gas line coming from the tank is deteriorating and needs to be replaced.

Two, I'd like to get to the tank to make sure it is clean, or clean it if it's a mess. I've got a Racor water separator/canister filter between the tank and engine, but I'd still like to get to the tank to inspect it. The fill/vent assembly faces the rear of the boat, so suddendly backing off the power, as when a skier falls, causes the boat's wake to hit the back of the boat, allowing water to enter the gas vent. I'd like to get below deck to reroute the vent line or put some kind of loop in it so water can't get in.

Has anyone figured a way to get to the tank short of cutting holes in the deck or is there another way to accomplish the above? I was thinking of cutting out a section of deck so I could put a door/hatch of some kind to cover the hole later. How much distance is there between the bottom of the deck and the top of the tank. I'm afraid of cutting into the tank if I use a saber saw to cut the deck.

I vacuum pumped a lot of water out of the tank but I don't know how much other gunk is in there.

 

[Scott Danforth]

Re: Need to get to built-in gas tank on a Hurricane deck boat

since the tank was probably installed before the cap was installed, you may have to reverse the assembly process.

cutting a deck is usually done with a circular saw with the blade set just so that it is almost thru the decking. however my guess is that you dont want to destroy the decking. is there a round inspection hatch above the tank sending unit and connections? all of my boats have had the ability to get to the tank sending unit and hose connections.

 

[JimMM]

Re: Need to get to built-in gas tank on a Hurricane deck boat

Thanks, Scott. There was a plastic cover in the back to hide the fill and vent hoses that angled up from under the deck to the fill/vent fittings on the back of the boat. Unfortunately, the hole in the deck the hoses come through is a foot, maybe more, aft of the tank because the hoses are angled at about 45 degrees. I'm going to have to cut the hole bigger to get over the tank ... or make another hole. Can't get a flashlight and mirror into the existing hole because the filler and vent hoses are in the way.

 

[Scott Danforth]

Re: Need to get to built-in gas tank on a Hurricane deck boat

buy another inspection hatch and make the hole the same size as the inspection hatch.

 

[JimMM]

Re: Need to get to built-in gas tank on a Hurricane deck boat

Good idea. I'll look over what's available at the local boat store. What I might do is cut the hole first, making sure it's big enough to do what I want and then get a hatch that covers it.