gas tank
 

I have a 20 ft 71 safari with cuddy. it has an aluminum gas tank that's leaking. I would like to replace it. any info on whats the best way to do so would be a great help. thanks, bill

Are you not sure how to remove the tank? Should be pretty straight forward to remove. Remove the deck hatch. Undo the hoses and any straps holding it in. Getting those hoses off may require screwdrivers or a hack saw though.

As far as replacement I’d go aluminum or stainless although poly is very popular these days.

I cut the foam on my tank 19 years ago with a hand saw. Since the tank was slightly wider than the opening, I cut a quarter of an inch off the edge of the deck lip with an electric jig saw to 1) make it a little easier to saw the foam and 2) be able to get the old tank out .I fashioned a piece of flat steel with a 90 degree angle to work at cutting foam out from under the tank. A lot of work. I hear that a pressure washer works.

luckily theres no foam around the tank. I removed the cover and the tank looks bigger than the opening. I will be attempting to remove it this weekend. hope for the best. have been looking at west marine for a replacement also. thinking poly. would like to get at least a 25 gal tank. I think the one thats there now is 29 gal. I will be pressure washing the bildge with dawn dishwashing soap also.

tank diagram
 

I am not 100% sure, but I think the 1971 and 1972 Seafari tanks were the same. If so, my diagram with dimensions should help you - it is a 32 gallon tank in the 1972, so yours should hold about the same. The attached diagram was initially prepared by Bushwacker, who also had a '72. The tank should slide back towards the stern, then tip out and up.

Mine just slid forward, walked them up on angle and pulled out. Once I hade the hoses off and tanks emptied.

I have been trying to get the tank out . doesn't seem to want to slide back enough to get it out. do I have to remove the hoses for this to happen. im to the point that its to much work for my 74 yr old body. think im going to just try to sell the boat

I have been working on just my console, getting all the stuff off and filling holes and scratches to get ready for painting for about a week and a half now. I am getting around with two hiking sticks and sometimes a mobility scooter. I have made this my mission to get this done now and get a few more years out of her. Try and figure out what’s stopping the tank and getter done. Yes, the hoses have to come off to remove the tank. Don’t hurt yourself, maybe find someone to do it, otherwise selling it like that is a project boat. Just my 2 cents.

Replacing the gas tank can be a PITA for sure, I did the one on our 23' Sceptre a few years ago. It had been foamed in, and while I was repowering, putting in new controls, rewiring, etc., I wanted to at least check the tank for corrosion. Once the foam was removed we were able to hoist the forward end up, using ropes and pry bars (it's ideal to have a young friend help!). Then we rested the tank end we'd pulled up on a 2"x2" across the opening (see pic). Then more ropes and pry bar nudging, pulling forward, an inch at a time. We tied a rope to the fuel fill, and another to the aft mounting brackets - 1, 2, 3, ho! If it went in, you will be able to get it out with a little time and effort. The tank was not leaking, but upon inspection had numerous deep pits and the hoses were brittle, so decided to to pop for a new tank and hoses as part of the rehab. Put a smaller tank in because we were going from a thirsty two stroke to an economical four stroke (approx 1 mpg to 3+mpg).

ok I got the dam thing out. what a pain in the ass. ended cutting the hoses with a sawzall. got the clamps off but with just one hand reaching under into the bildge just couldn,t get the hoses off a 50 yr old tank nipple. after the hoses were cut it came out fairly easy. tank had holes on the side where the there was wooden blocks used to secure and centar the tank. stupid design

the hole

Great! Lots of options now - poke around and see what best fits the space and your intended use. Good luck, keep us posted.

Looks like "the holes" :)

Alright! Wow, 50 years.

im having a hard time finding something that will fit. everything has the fill nozzle pointing up. I need an elbow

Many of us have used Sunshine or AFP in Fl.

Maybe call Metan Marine up there for a Rec.
I imagine shipping would be spendy from Fl.

Speedy Tanks (Atlantic Welding) built mine recently. I used Sunshine in Fla before. Speedy is closer to you and would save some shipping. Both are top quality.

Stupid design- hey deerhunter
I suspect this remark was made out of frustration, like the times I told my wife give me a swift boot in the butt if I ever try to buy another whatever it was, after a difficult repair. So after 50 years you are complaining. I can’t imagine that Moesly or Potter would have thought SeaCrafts would last half this long, any more so than to think folks still listen to Elvis, the Beach Boys, Neil Diamond and the list goes on. Like me, you are old enough to remember when it was bragworthy to get 100k miles on a vehicle. Whereas a well maintained one today can last 200 – 250k. I am about to celebrate 46 years of ownership on my 1976 20’ Seafari, which has needed a tank, three engines and other repairs through the years. Best wishes on your tank selection and install.

hey terry no big deal.lol.like ya say im just frustrated. not complaining. im thinking of maybe trying to repair the holes on the side of the tank. the bottom and top and sides are still solid. just the spots where the wooden blocks were are corroded. anybody have any suggestions of what to use for aluminum sealing with gas

A new tank

I think you'll find that no reputable welders are interested in welding on a 50 year old gas tank. I had the same idea, just wash it out real good, hook up a couple of fans and let it air out for a couple of days... how tough can it be, right? Well, I talked to three well respected welders and each said it was an awful idea, and they wouldn't do it. My tank didn't have any holes all the way through, and wasn't leaking, but it had deep pits, which as I picked at them with an ice pick grew larger and deeper. I considered trying JB Weld epoxy, that's marketed as appropriate for patching automobile gas tanks. But the nightmare of developing a leak and having the bilge fill with fumes interfered with my sleep. Your call, but a new tank and hoses will give you years of peace of mind.

Designed it exactly how I wanted it, including a threaded "stick hole" to check gas levels if the gauge stops working. We typically only run short distances, and I like to have fresh gas, so moved from a 75 gallon tank to a 40, cost $400 delivered to my door. I actually picked up range, because the new 4 stroke gets close to three times the mpg of the old two stroke.

Call luthers welding in Bristol ri for a new gas tank
401-253-5550

Another good option is Eric Kent, KentFab, in Pembroke, MA, at 339-244-4531.
Eric did the tanks for my 23' plus a bunch of other work. Very high quality and
very good to work with.

I ended up buying a 17 gal poly tank. should be here next week. hoping it fits. im loosing 10 gal of capacity . won't be able to go to the backside of the vineyard anymore.

Couple of options on range for you

Portable fuel tank you hook up
https://www.amazon.com/Scepter-08669...nVl&th=1&psc=1

Or gas cans.
https://www.homedepot.com/p/Garage-B...B351/307464272

We take gas cans out all the time to have spare fuel onboard.