Deisel Tanks

[dj43]

Hi All
After first weekend run out this year,Ipswich to Brightingsea and back, found deisel leak on starbord feul tank.as had problems with water in feul before,looks as though did not get it all out (no drain cocks on tanks) boat is a sealine F43,tanks are made from aluminium,and are 10% larger than standard according to original invoice,Is it possible to replace tanks with engines still in place, would it be worth chancing both tanks,oh and batteries did not hold charge any recommendations of suppliers of both would be great help


boating don't you just love it!

 

[kashurst]

I used to have a sealine 410 (essentially same boat) I don't think you can get the tanks out without removing the engines, unless you remove the sofa on the starboard side and cut out the floor (not recommended). Where on the tank is the leak? - it may be possible to patch or plug the leak by drilling out the leak point and either tapping it and fitting a bolt in the hole with suitable sealant or if it's too big an area make a patch to go over it and again drill and tap the 4 corners and bolt/seal the patch over the weak spot. Regarding batteries I usually just go to my local motor factor and get some lorry batteries. (140Ah Varta's seem to last well) To get the battery out of the engine bay I used to take off the air filter assembly right back to the turbo inlet. Have plenty of wheatabix for breakfast and you should be able to lift it out. good luck

 

[rafiki_]

Could you cut a bit out of the top of the tanks, and fit a bag inside? These can be made to order through motorsport suppliers. This would save you having to yank the motors etc out.

 

[dj43]

I used to have a sealine 410 (essentially same boat) I don't think you can get the tanks out without removing the engines, unless you remove the sofa on the starboard side and cut out the floor (not recommended). Where on the tank is the leak? - it may be possible to patch or plug the leak by drilling out the leak point and either tapping it and fitting a bolt in the hole with suitable sealant or if it's too big an area make a patch to go over it and again drill and tap the 4 corners and bolt/seal the patch over the weak spot. Regarding batteries I usually just go to my local motor factor and get some lorry batteries. (140Ah Varta's seem to last well) To get the battery out of the engine bay I used to take off the air filter assembly right back to the turbo inlet. Have plenty of wheatabix for breakfast and you should be able to lift it out. good luck

Hi Kashurst
Thank you for your reply, the leak is dripping of the tank platform so suspect it from the bottem, existing batteries are varta so will get one out and see what spec they are,I will have my wheatabix first.

 

[dj43]

Could you cut a bit out of the top of the tanks, and fit a bag inside? These can be made to order through motorsport suppliers. This would save you having to yank the motors etc out.

Hi rafiki
There is no room at top of tank,without taking all the furniture out and floor up,think I will get some quotes to remove engine,thank you for your reply

 

[Divemaster1]

Hi All
.......... found deisel leak on starbord feul tank..........Is it possible to replace tanks with engines still in place.......

Not sure where the tanks are (outside of engines ??) .... here is one of my stories replacing stb tank.... perhaps a bit PBO ....but done...

http://www.ybw.com/forums/showthread.php?t=194575

 

[dj43]

Not sure where the tanks are (outside of engines ??) .... here is one of my stories replacing stb tank.... perhaps a bit PBO ....but done...

http://www.ybw.com/forums/showthread.php?t=194575

Hi Divmaster1
Tanks are on outside of engines, so no room to work on them,thanks for the reply,phoned sealine today,advice was take engine out ,and cut up floor,could have been worse,cut side of boat out and extract tank,they are going to get back to me when there is somebody there that no's about the F43

 

[volvopaul]

Hi a friend has just bought an f43, when we did inspection there was diesel at rear of port tank, yes ally tanks always seem a better bet than mild steel but over the years as water sits in the bottom it eats away at the tank just like an anode and eventually it leaks.

Yes we looked at the task and its engines out or at least as we looked at the future job we would make some kind of frame inside the boat and lift up the engine to extract the tank then lower it back into place while the new tank is made.

Go for stainless when you do of even plastic as thats where sealine are these days with tanks.

 

[dj43]

Hi a friend has just bought an f43, when we did inspection there was diesel at rear of port tank, yes ally tanks always seem a better bet than mild steel but over the years as water sits in the bottom it eats away at the tank just like an anode and eventually it leaks.

Yes we looked at the task and its engines out or at least as we looked at the future job we would make some kind of frame inside the boat and lift up the engine to extract the tank then lower it back into place while the new tank is made.

Go for stainless when you do of even plastic as thats where sealine are these days with tanks.

Hi paul
would there be room to extract tank with engine lifted,or do you mean remove engine completly,how much work is involved in removing an engine,would you remove patio doors ect
many thanks for the reply

 

[volvopaul]

Hi we looked at all options, what we thought was to lift the motor, extract the tank and place it back on its mounts while the tank is made, as an hiab can go through the door quite easy and lift the motor up to ceiling height then allow the tank to be pulled out theres not much point in taking out patio doors just to sit the motor in a workshop when theres nothing wrong with the motor.

When boats are taken apart like that they never go back the same, water leaks and all so best left alone.

Theres a great man in Newark we have used to lift many engines in and out, also Boarhunt recovery services at Fareham are regularly used by marine companies for lifting etc on the central south coast, so dont worry it can be done!

 

[dj43]

Hi Paul
Sorry If this is a daft question,would the boat need to be lifted out of water ,or could the work be done left in.
merlyn

 

[andyc]

Hi Kashurst
Thank you for your reply, the leak is dripping of the tank platform so suspect it from the bottem, existing batteries are varta so will get one out and see what spec they are,I will have my wheatabix first.

I would say it it unlikely it is leaking from the flat sheet aluminium.More likely where the joints have been welded.Sometimes when welding you get to the end and stop and the weld shrinks and creates a tiny crater that is much thinner than the rest.Passes the pressure test at production but after 10 years of sitting with fuel in it, It can break through and drip.The slow drip will eventually become a fast drip.

Alternatively if the boat has been out in chopy stuff, the tank can move enough for it to damage mountings.

Im sure the tank could be tig welded.Possibly a bit too dodgy to do it in situ unless there is plenty of space. If you can move the tank enough to find the leak,and it is not a split, maybe you could use Demcon ally putty.It would have to be really cleaned up first, although not sure if it is suitable for a fuel tank.

Not an F43 but same size.I dismantled the fitted settee,cut a hole in the floor,dismantled the various tubes etc and removed the 600 litre starboard tank . It took a day to get it out.I had the tiniest of pinholes welded in about 1/2 a second and am about to put it back in.Mine was a manufacturing defect that would never have been picked up.
Boats,Arnt they fun.