Fuel tank - Page 3

SCSeacraft · #21 01-28-2005, 11:51 AM

While I agree that any chance to use the chainsaw to impress the neibours is great I really didn't have any problem with the foam in my 77'23.I replaced my tank with a 131 gal tank from FLA in one afternoon.My only advice is to have a shop vac handy cause you can quickly fill the bildge with foam shavings that will give your pumps hell later.
DHBIII

#22 01-29-2005, 09:51 AM

aluminum fuel tanks as a guide last 8 to ten years after that you are on borrowed time tanks should be epoxy coated with all hosing and ground connoctions replaced at same time

sailcat · #23 01-30-2005, 10:32 PM

Damn sawsall...

thedink9 · #24 01-31-2005, 03:23 PM

We'll we are on the Lookout for an updated status report.
Is the tank out? Did you blow yourself up in the process? Inquiring minds need to know especially when there is 3 feet snow on the ground and we can't get to out boats to work on them.

ocuyler · #25 01-31-2005, 04:43 PM

I can get at the boat to work on her. That's the easy part. Maybe my reluctance to actually do it probably has to do with the fact that it hasn't gone above FREAKING FREEZING in the last 6 weeks... [img]/images/graemlins/mad.gif[/img]

sailcat · #26 01-31-2005, 10:40 PM

I was only using it to trim off the foam. Thats a new tank.

FELLOW-SHIP · #27 02-01-2005, 02:59 PM

Today’s high in Fort Lauderdale is 75o the low is 63o but I did need to ware a jacket inside my office today due to the A.C. vent is directly over my desk and keeps on kicking on. Brrrrrrrr. I need to go out side to warm up.
FellowShip [img]/images/graemlins/crazy.gif[/img]

Runco · #28 02-01-2005, 09:41 PM

The flange on the deck did need to be trimmed back about 1/4" to 3/8" on both sides to make room to pull the tank out. There were two side brackets with long screws that went into the stringers. I cut those brackets the same time I was trimming the flange, they came right off with a good sabre saw. The flange still has about 1/4" to the hold down holes so there is still plenty of support. I then took a saw I bought at Lowes, looks kind of like a pruning saw and really sharp and cut between the foam and the tank all the way back and forth the length of the tank. I then took a piece of 3/8" nylon line and fed it thru the sending unit hole and out the fill tube and tied it off. We have a fork lift truck which I used to pull the tank stright up and out of the boat with a couple of friends guiding it out. Of course the tank was empty and clean of all fuel. The tank was 99" long by 28" wide and 10" deep for a total gal of around 144. I am putting a new tank in that is 96"x28"x10" for a total of around 110 gal. The area that the tank sits in was in perfect shape, fully fiberglassed and no rot. The toughest part was cutting away the foam from the sides of the tank but it took only about two hours from start to finish. Any other questions to help let me know. I would have responded earlier but have been away for a week.