Bad Fuel Tank (D)

[oregoncycle]

First time back after being off the water for 20 plus years..
So I have a leaking fuel tank (steel) tossing out the thought of leaving it in place and fitting inside of the exsisting shell another tank. Anyone out there given this a try?

[rw58ph]

Originally Posted by oregoncycle

First time back after being off the water for 20 plus years..
So I have a leaking fuel tank (steel) tossing out the thought of leaving it in place and fitting inside of the exsisting shell another tank. Anyone out there given this a try?

You might want to see/try reparing the tank first since you going to open the tank either to repair or install a smaller tank. I cut a hole into the middle 400 gallon tank, big enough to crawl into. Hired a welder to repair weld the tank in place.

However, if that failed my plan B is to use the old tank as a frame work, support to install multi smaller tanks inside the old tank.

[Orion Jim]

Personally I find it hard to compromise when my life could depend on it. If it had four wheels instead of a keel I'd be willing to try anything. Boats are another matter entirely, but that's just me.

[pbiJim]

I've had good luck with a multi-part tank repair product called tank cream. It takes about 3 days to go through the whole process, but both times I have used it, results were perfect. Neither tank ever gave me another problem. Step 1 was a mechanical cleaning. Step two was a solvent wash. Step 3 was to apply the horrible white goop. Step 4 was to vent it for a few days while it hardens.

[GordMay]

Originally Posted by pbiJim

I've had good luck with a multi-part tank repair product called tank cream...

KREEM Tank Sealer seems to be intended for smaller tanks
➥ Kreem | Fuel Tank Liner

[pbiJim]

Originally Posted by GordMay

KREEM Tank Sealer seems to be intended for smaller tanks
➥ Kreem | Fuel Tank Liner

Yep, that's the stuff I was talking about. The last time that I used it was about 15 years ago. I forgot that they spelled it with a K.

[HappyMdRSailor]

Originally Posted by GordMay

KREEM Tank Sealer seems to be intended for smaller tanks
➥ Kreem | Fuel Tank Liner

Wow... OK... Beating Gordy at any technical answer is next to impossible... But beating him with the "welcome to CF" line?? I don't think he's on his game!

First.. WELCOME to CF Oregoncycle!

People put bladders old in their tanks all the time... with mixed results... Some love it, some have nothing but problems... Do a search for threads on bladder tanks...

[shorebird]

If you have access enough to place a smaller tank within the old one, it shouldn't be much of a stretch to cut up, remove, and replace the old tank.

[minaret]

If your tank is too large to replace without taking half the boat apart, consider doing what I did. Use the original steel tank as a mold to build a fiberglass tank in place. Works great. The whole process is depicted in my Nauticat 52 Refit thread.

[zeehag]

my formosa had a steel tank once upon a time. it held 120 gal of diesel fuel. when the person w2ho changed it out replaced it , they placed a smaller 44 gallon truck tank inside the space for the old tank, which left a lot of space unused. there is no way without ripping up my boat to replace the larger tank. makes it very difficult to accomplish long passages. no they didnt leave vestiges of old tanks in place.
please consider what minaret said, as you will ultimately desire ability to sail farther and have more options as to destinations due to fuel requirements

[shorebird]

Any tank repairs or replacements may come up later during a survey, and may effect insurance, and/or resale. This may or may not concern you, but consider checking with your insurance company, if you have one, what they would allow.

[oregoncycle]

Thanks so far for all the varied opinions about this. I have no plans in reducing the fuel storage by any more the 10%, any more than that would have me moving on to Plan B. The boat has two 45 gal tanks and access to the one that has a leak with out tearing up the guts could be from one end. The plan B is to add another fuel tank
that would fit in the space right below where the current tank resides. Giving up the use of the leaking tank. Plan C (got 23 left) would be to hack out the old tank and replace with a new tank.