This can't be good!!!

[studlymandingo]

I was noticing a gasoline smell near my house yesterday, started investigating and it was coming from my boat!!!

Don't know the situation yet just that I opened a dry hatch just aft of my fuel tank and sure enough there was about a quart of gas in there. I have a below-deck aluminum tank that is under my center console, I can see both ends of it, and it looks in great shape. It is quite a production to get full access to it as I have a t-top that is a permanent mount. I am hoping to be able to take the deck off the top of the tank to see what is going on. I'm hoping it is a leaky 20 year-old hose and not a leaky 70 gallon aluminum tank.

Keeping my fingers crossed!!!

 

[QC]

Re: This can't be good!!!

Well that sucks . . . you can't trace back from the hatch? Does the hose run anywhere near there? Gravity fills the hatch area regardless of the leak source?

 

[Texasmark]

Re: This can't be good!!!

Dhadley knows all about this maybe he will pick up on it.

On some tanks there is a vent below decks with a ball in it. I think it's called an antisiphon valve or something like that. Get him to elaborate on it.

Could be that too.

Being in St. Pete and 20 years, you may be onto a bad tank, but the aluminum they use for them 5052 or 60XX or better ought to fight corrosion for a long time.

Or maybe your gasket on your fuel gauge on top of the tank.....naw. That wouldn't put fuel in the bilge.

Good luck,

Mark

 

[studlymandingo]

Re: This can't be good!!!

Well, removed the console today (not exactly what I wanted to be doing on a sunny Saturday when it's 84 degrees). Pulled out the aluminum tank which was no easy task. It is not the original for sure, it was custom made for the boat out of a very heavy gauge aluminum. got it out and sure enough- pencil-sized hole in the very bottom! I guess I'll either be looking for a new tank or looking to get this one cut and repaired. I guess now is a good time to replace the fuel line and run some new wiring as well.

 

[Coors]

Re: This can't be good!!!

have radiator shop clean in, and weld hole
.

 

[studlymandingo]

Re: This can't be good!!!

I'm definitely going to look into the repair. The belly tanks that will fit where mine came out are quite pricey!!!

The tank looks great except for the area where the hole is. I assume the shop can just cut out the crappy part and weld in a nice new piece. I will then epoxy the outside of the whole thing to help prevent this from happening again.

 

[studlymandingo]

Re: This can't be good!!!

Here is the picture of the ugliness. The inside of the tank is spotless, clean and shiny. A lot of the brown scale in this photo is just surface crap; the problem area is where the white is located. I'm hoping this can be cut out and repaired.

 

[Bondo]

Re: This can't be good!!!

Man,..... That Sucks..........

I've about givin Up Faith in Aluminum Tanks,......They've danm near as Bad as a Steel tank.......

I think I'll keep looking for Plastic Tanks for my Project,.....
It's just such an Oddball size.....

 

[scoutabout]

Re: This can't be good!!!

Lousy luck -- but better than having it let go miles from shore with a full fuel load I guess.

I sent a car tank out for repair a few years ago and they finished up by encasing the entire thing in some kind of plastic sealer. That worked great and outasted the car!

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: This can't be good!!!

check these guys out. have great reputation. don't know if one is near.

http://www.gastankrenu.com/

 

[kenmyfam]

Re: This can't be good!!!

It can be repaired quite easily by the right people with the right equipment as long as it can be cleaned up properly to begin with to get a good base metal. It can then have a patch welded over the bad area. Company I used to work for repaired aviation aluminum tanks on a regular basis. (being close to the airport helped) however they MUST be properly prepared before any welding takes place. Proper evacuation of all vapours etc or you have a bomb waiting to go off and pressure tested when the repair is completed.
Do Not Try This Yourself though

 

[studlymandingo]

Re: This can't be good!!!

I would say all of the fumes are gone. She is BONE DRY at the time I pulled it out yesterday. I have the shop vac connected to the filler now and the sending unit is out so it's pulling air through it as we speak.

Looked into the link you sent Tashasdaddy, closest place is Kentucky; shipping would be killer there. I'm thinking there will be someone around here who can do the repair. Plenty of marine yards down the street from my house; I've gotten to know a couple of guys in the area. I am pretty sure someone will steer me in the right direction.

I'm going to give the entire exterior a good cleaning today so any other areas will show up. If I can get it repaired, I will give the whole tank a good, thick epoxy coat before she goes back below deck. I would think that would slow down the corrosive process for a few years; similar to what scout was talking about.

Hopefully this won't break the budget!

The upside is: I'm waiting for my hydraulic steering to get here; this definitely gives me more room to run the hoses. I'm going to replace the fuel line and maybe run a feeder wire in case I have anything else that needs to go from helm to stern in the future.

 

[Nova II 260]

Re: This can't be good!!!

Bummer, but at least you found it on land. Looks like salt water corrossion. (Interesting article on fuel tank failures.)
Have you looked into polyethylene tanks. Price seems fair. Don't know your space limitation or gallons size but maybe 2 small tanks? Just a thought.

 

[Reel Poor]

Re: This can't be good!!!

Studly that shop vac can ignite the gas fumes it's pulling out of the fuel tank.

FWIW Whoever does the repair does not need you to try and evacuate the fumes from the tank. During the cutting and welding process they will flood the tank with carbonminoxide to rid the tank of oxygen, eliminating the chance of igniting the fumes. No oxygen = no KABOOM.

 

[studlymandingo]

Re: This can't be good!!!

I got the verdict today... Prognosis terminal; same story from 3 different welding shops. I guess I'm in the market for a new fuel tank. That just blows the budget for the jack plate; maybe next season. The hoses came in for my hydraulic steering system, still no steering system though! Anyone know a good place to get a deal on a belly tank?

 

[Reel Poor]

Re: This can't be good!!!

I have bought a few tanks from RDS Manufacturing. They are in Perry Fl.

rdsaluminum.com

 

[studlymandingo]

Re: This can't be good!!!

What do you think about poly tanks vs. aluminum? I've contacted RDS and the aluminum tanks I've priced are about a hundred seventy five bucks or so more than the same sized Moeller Poly tanks. There is a 55 Gallon Moeller that I found for 400.00 including shipping. Going to have to plunk down some jack this week for a new one though; the sea, she's calling to me!!!

 

[Reel Poor]

Re: This can't be good!!!

Don't know anything about the poly tanks. :%

 

[Nova II 260]

Re: This can't be good!!!

You had a 70 gal. tank. Couldn't find any that size in polyethylene. That's why I mentioned installing 2 smaller ones. If you must have that much fuel in one run. How about a 50 gal tank and some extra storage?

 

[studlymandingo]

Re: This can't be good!!!

Tanks Nova8)

I'm looking at a 55 gallon belly tank. I think that will be sufficient; I only take a couple of really long trips and I will consider the 55 gallon in conjunction with a temporary bladder tank for the gulf stream crossing.