Our personal
boat is a 1975
Morgan OI 51. This is our second
Morgan of similar vintage that developed a
fuel tank leak at about the same approximate age. Surely someone else has experienced this. If so, please share your discoveries and solutions.
Here is our
current scenario:
1. About two years ago I discovered a strawberry milkshake solution in the
water separator bowls. Maybe unrelated but maybe not. We are in the yacht services industry, so I polished the
fuel and carried on.
The starboard tank seemed to be worse. Port tank was possibly contaminated from
fuel return going to port tank. I can align valves to direct the return to either tank. Another detail of which I am not certain is that the problem seemed worse with starboard tank topped off. Thus, I pointed my finger more at the STBD tank.
2. Since then, a fuel smell has developed below decks.
3. My
bilge is pumped into the
centerboard trunk. The
cockpit scupper drains also are piped into the trunk. One day we were sailing at about eight knots which had us heeled over. Fuel backed up into the
cockpit through the drains. This is how I discovered fuel is definitely in my
bilge. Since fuel is lighter than
water, the fuel obviously remained trapped and contained in the center board trunk area instead of sinking or pooling around the
boat.
I believe the
tanks are constructed of steal. I can access the tops of the
tanks which appear to be in good serviceable condition. Of course the tanks are located low and mostly if not completely below the waterline.
We otherwise are very pleased with this boat. It has been
refit and updated as needed and is close to new condition in most aspects. Therefore, I would really like to correct this problem and keep the boat. Before I remove the tanks, I would appreciate input from anyone who has experienced a similar situation and successfully
solved the problem. If I do have to eliminate these tanks or take them out of
service, I'm considering going back with less tankage and locating a new tank above the waterline. I am a big fan of fool proof systems like sight glass gauges. Plus, I want to see the new tanks. I would like the benefit of identifying and correcting any problem easily and quickly.
Thanks for your input,
Darien