Fuel tank failure

[Chuck C]

So I went to check on the boat recently and found a bilge full of fuel (gasoline) - UGH!!!!  The marina contracted with a company to pump it out the next morning (at considerable expense to me), and one of the techs identified a small hole in the Stbd tank due to corrosion.  

It's my understanding that, unlike diesel tanks, gas tanks can't be repaired/patched, so it looks like I'll need new tanks made. So, I'm looking for suggestions for: 1) someplace that will fabricate new tanks and 2) a yard to do the work.  

After reading various boating forums, it sounds like I may have two options:  Either cut the tanks apart (after purging of course) and replace with a series of smaller tanks, or pull both engines and R&R the old tanks with similar new ones.  Either way, this looks to be a large project.

The boat is a 1985 40' Sundeck, and I'm located in the Puget Sound region.  The boat should still be usable running on the one good tank via crossover valves, so I can travel.  

Any and all suggestions welcome, thanks in advance!  

I'll cross post this on the forum as well as the Facebook page.  

Chuck

[Rico Adams]

Hi Chuck

Sorry to hear you are having tank problems. Know the feeling. 

I used Coastline Equipment (https://coasteq.com) in Bellingham to fabricate aluminum tanks when I replaced mine on my 48. They were great to work with. Luckily the tanks had already been replaced once before so were already split and came out in one piece. 

Rico

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On Apr 22, 2023, at 12:37 AM, Chuck C <chuckc...@hotmail.com> wrote:

So I went to check on the boat recently and found a bilge full of fuel (gasoline) - UGH!!!!  The marina contracted with a company to pump it out the next morning (at considerable expense to me), and one of the techs identified a small hole in the Stbd tank due to corrosion.  

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[Chris Hartsfield]

I would second Coastline. Great to work with. 

Whatever you do make it so the engines don’t have to be removed in the future. 

For example I recently had to change one in our 26. To get the tank out I had to cut part of the deck support in the engine room. After the tank was removed I glued, screwed and glassed the cut piece back in place. I then had the tank made so it could be removed easily if it ever fails again. That change did reduce the amount of fuel I could carry but not enough to worry about. 

Good luck.

Chris 

Sent from my iPhone

On Apr 22, 2023, at 5:13 AM, Rico Adams <ricoan...@comcast.net> wrote:

Hi Chuck

To view this discussion on the web visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/tollycraft-boating-club-forum/6DEB266B-3630-4F65-8B8E-288F75136E80%40comcast.net.

[Chuck C]

Thanks very much gentlemen!