1989 23WA Seacraft fuel tank replacemnt/maybe?

JohnB · #1 04-18-2009, 08:44 AM

Gary,
I have a 1989 Sceptre, and when I pulled the tank out last year, this is what I found. It wasn't leaking, and 95% of it was fine, but there was deep pitting where the foam that held water was touching the gas tank. I don't know if it would of gone one or 10 years, but the pitting was more than 1/2 way through. As for the junk, you might want to remover your anti siphon valve, you really don't need it on an outboard as long as the lines are all above the top of the tank. Those will give you fits if you have junk in the tank. I put a 148 gallon tank in mine, but I run a lot of long distances.

gss036 · #2 04-18-2009, 02:06 PM

I don't think there is an anti-siphon valve installed. There are 2 outlet/pickup tubes going into the tank. Both are within 1/4 inch or (probably) less of the bottom and nothing on the bottom of the tubes that I can see, they just look to be open. One of the tubes is plugged on top of the tank.
Where would the anti-siphon valve be located?
When I bought the boat new in 1989, there was a hose connected to the second connection and they just left it laying on the bottom of the hull with an open end. I removed it and put is a plug into the tank outlet.

Old'sCool · #3 04-18-2009, 04:04 PM

Where would the anti-siphon valve be located?

Typically inside the fitting closest to the tank. My understanding is that it's meant to prevent flow if inverted....like a flipped boat.

gss036 · #4 04-18-2009, 11:17 PM

JohnB, how did you get your tank out of your hull? These things are huge. I think mine will be like 91"X30"X10". How do you get the foam loose?

JohnB · #5 04-19-2009, 02:14 PM

I posted an abreviated version of my rebuild.
The link below shows how I used a threaded rod, and a 4x4 piece of wood to lift the tank out. It was a PITA.

http://www.classicseacraft.com/forum/showflat.php?Cat=&Board=UBB3&Number=52892&Forum=Al l_Forums&Words="The%20SeaCraft%20soap%20opera%20co ntinues."&Searchpage=0&Limit=25&Main=52084&Search= true&where=bodysub&Name=&daterange=1&newerval=14&n ewertype=y&olderval=&oldertype=&bodyprev=#Post5289 2

gss036 · #6 04-19-2009, 08:35 PM

Thanks for the post reply John, good ideas. I am just wondering if the tank will come out of the hull enough to lift
out with the engine mounted. I can only get my hull open up to the step up on the cabin, it does not go straight through like the yours, so there is about 3 feet there to contend with in being able to slide it back and up, if it comes lose. My tank has a lot of junk in it, I may just try to clean it out and then determine if i have a leak.
I did e-mail RDS and got a reply that some would contact me.
The boat is sitting slightly crooked on the trailer and with the trailer jack up, I have a low corner to collect any liquid. I was thinking about using a pressure washer and trying to get all the junk washed back to the corner and then use a hose to siphon out the water, does that sound like it would work. RACOR/Honda filters are too expensive to be changing weekly.

gss036 · #7 04-20-2009, 11:26 PM

I removed the caulked in panels today and was able to stick my nose in the "V" under the tank platform and I can smell gas, there is no sign of leakage, but the stink is there. I've got the tank ready to remove. The tank looked like it has been moving little bit as one on the "L" welded on brackets was broke and most of the screws were just finger tight where they had been wearing on the fiberglass in the stringers. The tank was about 80% free from the foam, worked the rest loose. Other than that, everything looks in good shape including the tank platform. Tomorrow I will try rigging something to lift and slide the tank. Right at the rear of the tank there is a 3/4" piece of plywood glassed into the stringers and the bait well fits snug to it, so really don't want to have to cut on that. I do have 5" at the top to be able to lift and hopefully the tank will clear. I think if I get it that far back, I will be able to clear the engine. Sure was an adventurous day for me since I have never been into the hull like that. I was able to work on some wiring for the float switch on the bilge pump and get the float working again. Sure a lot easier than working through the small hole in the engine well.