Gotta hate ehtanol.........

[RS]

I might be a better idea to not fill it so much. That way you won't be soaking the gasket in fuel.

[Bryan A.]

I hear you on the Ethanol. I am having the same problem on my 73 20SF. Stock tank and hatch. Problem is I did not put the pie holes in when I recored my hatch. Any chance you could provide some measurements on there location for me? I was planning on doing the same thing. There is no rush, I am working on the other boat right now. I won't hold it against you if the boats are different for some reason. Thanks in advance.

[Jon G]

If you don't fill it right to the top of the fill, up here in the fridgid north, all winter the tank makes water and you will get GALLONS of water coming out of the tank in the spring. Every time the temp goes up and down(dialy) condensation forms inside the tank and it makes alot. I didn't top it off two years ago had 3/4 of a tank all winter and had to empty my racor three times !in the first half hour of running the boat and got a full seperator of water every trip for a month. If I top it off I get NO water in the spring. The ethanol in the gas is going to cause lots of problems in boats esecially since it atracts water like a magnet! maybe its time to move to florida?

[Jon G]

Bryan I can give you a measurement to where mine is, the tank builder made me an exact copy of my original tank so at least you will be close, I'll measure tomorrow and grab a pic for you too. When I measured I was a little off and it worked out good because If I was right over it I would not have been able to get the sender out. I could just get the screws out and the sender came right out, my worts case was cut the hole bigger and put a larger access in.

[Bryan A.]

Thanks. Much appreciated. I have been playing with fuel levels and as Jon said, if I don't fill it all the way it does not leak. I am 99% shure that it is the sender gasket. I look forward to the pics and the dimensions. Now I need to warm up the rotozip.

[RS]

If you don't fill it right to the top of the fill, up here in the fridgid north, all winter the tank makes water and you will get GALLONS of water coming out of the tank in the spring.

That's a myth. How do I know for sure? I've stored empty for the last 15 years and never made any water. My two brothers do the same, with the same result. You probably had it coming in from a different source when you had the problem. Do you change your gas fill o-ring annually?

BTW, we all probably live less than 100 miles from you, here in the frigid north.

Hope to see you on the water.

[ocuyler]

I have to agree with Rodger. I have always stored empty (4 boats, 2 summer cars, lawn equipment, hovercraft, forklifts) and have never had any issues. IMHO, the marina wants to sell you that 200 gallons right at the end of the season.

[Jon G]

Thats what I thought too, I have alaways stored it full but two winters ago I left it 3/4 and had nothing but water in the tank in the spring. I have seen the outside of the tank sweat like crazy when I was installing it over the course of a couple of days.Upper 20's at night high fortys in the day I'm talking hot cold over the winter, I can't expalain other wise how I have never had any water in there and when I left it not full I had lots. I had so much infact that it got pulled right throught the racor and my Suzuki primary filter had a half inch of water in it too. Good thing I stopped to check it after running it for a little. I thought it was bunk to until the old Blazer I had stopped running one day and I talked to the old owner he siad did you drain the water out of the tank? I said waht? Thats what I put screw in the bottom for. This old Blazer would sit around with a 30 something gallon tank and make water like crazy. Sitting for two months you pulled the screw out of the bottom of the tank and you would get a half a bucket of water out of it before any gas came out. I did this many times belive it or not. Maybe empty is better than half I dont know all I know is the only time I have had trouble is when it wasn't topped off. Heck the origional gasket lasted twenty seven years before it gave up, it even looked like it was a piece of a rain coat cut out and put under the sender. Maybe thats what I should try

[gss036]

I use to get quite a bit of water in my 115 gal aluminum tank until an old friend/boat mechanic told me to leave the cap off of the gas tank and stuff a paper towel in it to keep out the bugs, etc,. It works great for me since I trailer my boat and store it inside my pole barn. I still get some condensation on the outside of the hull, but heck our humidity rate here stays around 80% most of the time.