Painting a hull

[Bushwacker]

Those vents are there for a reason (bilge ventilation), so I wouldn't remove them. I believe it's a USCG requirement to ventilate the bilge unless the gas tank is foamed in, because SeaCraft has always had bilge vents and non-foamed tanks, at least in the Moesly and early Potter days. Don't know about the later models - they may have gone to the foamed-in guaranteed-to-corrode tanks with no vents style of many modern boats!

BTW - I wouldn't crawl under that boat with the way those cinder blocks are oriented! At least turn them vertical so all the load is in compression. The way you have them sitting, you're trying to BEND the top surface, and concrete has virtually NO strength in bending! Cinder blocks are much weaker than most folks think. If you have any more of the solid concrete blocks or wood blocks, it would be much safer to use them! At least wood deforms before it fails; concrete is brittle and fails without warning!

[jorgeinmiami]

Thanks for the advise I will do that.

Also I have some wood shims between the blocks and the boat

I also will have no foam next to the tank, I have seen to many where the water eats up the tank

[jorgeinmiami]

Well I pulled the tank since I was tried of sanding. It came out pretty easily and not like the stories I've seen here.
It in not in bad shape but the places it is pitted is where the foam was in contact with the tank,. Most of the plces that there is damage is along the sides and again the top where the foam was on the tank. I wonder if the is anything I can apply to the pitted area to help it for a while.
I'm going to see what a new tank costs and go from there although I am leaning to a new one, but either way no foam

[jorgeinmiami]

Too cold ( by South Florida standards) to work on the boat.
Am going to shop for the primer and paint tommorrow.
Also am going to see what to do with the gas tank

[Blue197320]

there is a place next to where i work called sunshine marine tanks. they will build u a gas tank. ill get u the number tomorrow if u like.

[chrisvazquez1]

would you be interested in selling that console? i have a 20' ma with the original console but it is the smaller original console. anyway if interested feel free to contact me at 305-797-0252

[jorgeinmiami]

not really I plan to use this one

[jorgeinmiami]

Well in beween the rain and the cold I got the tank ready to reinstall.

I took off the old foam and lightly sanded the affected areas and painted it.
It cam out better than I expected.



Now I do not plan to refoam and the tank has 6 flanges that I can use to attach to the sides of the coffin.
There is some space that I can use to place some starboard that way it stays in place and no wood to rot.

now what can I place under the tank to keep it off the bottom and hopefully let any water that does get in drain and dry out?

[BigLew]

Jorge,

This is one of the most complete and straightforward discussions or installation/replacement of aluminum tanks I have found. I recommend you read it twice and make notes. Then plan your install. Good luck; keep us posted.

http://www.yachtsurvey.com/fueltank.htm

[jorgeinmiami]

Biglew thanks for the link

Yesterday I used some glass to fill in the holes on the transom. Prior I used some thickened epoxy and wood dowels and I went to finsh with glass prior to sand.
I mixed according to directions and applyed some cut pieces of cloth. Well it was cold here last night (mid 30's) and today I went out to inspect and it was still tacky. I then placed a light next to it and within 30 mins it was now dry to the touch.
This cold weather sucks and really hampers the little progress I am able to get done. I can just imagine the things you guys up north were it really gets cold have to go thourgh. But they say that by the weekend it's back up to the 80's