Cruisers Forum
 


Reply
  This discussion is proudly sponsored by:
Please support our sponsors and let them know you heard about their products on Cruisers Forums. Advertise Here
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread Rate Thread Display Modes
Old 10-05-2009, 05:37   #1
Registered User
 
Alan N Crichton's Avatar

Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: Cape Town South Africa
Posts: 59
Main fuel tank leak

My vessel is fitted with a 30l day tank which is filled from the main tank in the keel. I purchased her from the builder one month after launching however I whenever I am on a starboard tack at +15deg of heel I find diesel in one of the port compartments under the floor boards. After months of searching I finally have establised , by pressurising the tank, that the leak is somewhere near the top one third of the tank. Upon draining and opening the hatch into the main tank I find that the GRP hull serves as the containment vessel. The surfaces are coated with what looks like thick blue gelcoat.

Suggestions as to what I can recoat the inside of this tank with to ensure leak free containment ?

I have attached two pictures for clarity - A view down into the first section of the tank showing the inside contour of the hull and a view into the second tank.
Attached Thumbnails
Click image for larger version

Name:	IMG_9221small.JPG
Views:	260
Size:	47.1 KB
ID:	8078   Click image for larger version

Name:	IMG_9227small.JPG
Views:	261
Size:	34.5 KB
ID:	8079  

Alan N Crichton is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-05-2009, 14:24   #2
Eternal Member
 
Chief Engineer's Avatar

Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: North of Baltimore
Boat: Ericson 27 & 18' Herrmann Catboat
Posts: 3,798
If you purchased this boat from the builder, why are YOU repairing it?
Chief Engineer is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-05-2009, 14:45   #3
Registered User
 
Inthewind's Avatar

Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: Charlotte harbor, FL
Boat: Morgan OI 414
Posts: 251
Maybe you could fill the compartment that the diesel is leaking into with some kind of liquid, perhaps water mixed with a colored dye. That way you may be able to determine exactly where the leak is. I would say you would have to grind the gel coat off down to the fiberglass. Then re-glass and then re-gelcoat. Good luck.
Inthewind is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Tags
fuel, fuel tank

Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search
Display Modes Rate This Thread
Rate This Thread:

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are Off


Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
Perkins 4-108 Fuel Leak dolcesails Engines and Propulsion Systems 4 22-05-2009 14:13
Diesel tank - slow leak kipwrite Construction, Maintenance & Refit 3 05-03-2008 18:42
Find and repair leak in fresh water tank jenifox Construction, Maintenance & Refit 2 03-02-2008 14:58
Gas tank leak around sendeing unit gasket phorvati Engines and Propulsion Systems 12 26-10-2007 09:25
Fresh water tank leak lannen Construction, Maintenance & Refit 4 09-10-2003 17:55

Advertise Here


All times are GMT -7. The time now is 00:51.


Google+
Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.8 Beta 1
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.
Social Knowledge Networks
Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.8 Beta 1
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.

ShowCase vBulletin Plugins by Drive Thru Online, Inc.