[ocuyler]

Lost2a6,

When we removed the tank on my 23CC, we became conserned that the stringers held water becase the screws holding the tank hatch went into the stringers and the seal had been comprised, probably for years. We drilled some 1/2" weep holes in the bottom of each stringer in the rear. There was a lot of water. I took someones suggestion and drilled 4 - 2" dia. holes low in the stringers and left a shop vac running in each hole for 1/2 hour each and probably netted 10 gallons of water, plus maybe another 5 or so by gravity. That's at least 100 pounds.

The foam around the tank was saturated as was the plywood in the fuel tank cover panel (which we re-cored). There's another 20 pounds.

In the case of a center console, this may back fire and may tend to tilt the boat ass-ward slightly, but we'll see this spring.

I agree with Brian that water may be trapped forward as well and should be investigated, even if you have to drill some holes.

I don't like the idea of adding weight unless its the last resort.

[ December 19, 2003, 09:51 PM: Message edited by: Otto Cuyler ]