Fibreglass/bleach/diesel bug/dettol

[Fascadale]

I have a fibreglass integral diesel tank.

I have the time this year to do a better than usual biannual clean up, bug kill.

Will it damage the tank if I fill it with a bleach/water mixture for a few days or would a dettol mixture be better. I really want to kill those bugs.

The tank cannot be removed from the boat and the only way I can think of of getting steam into it is by using the wallpaper stripper.

There is an inspection panel on the tank so access is possible albeit head first down the lazarette.

Thanks

 

[gjgm]

I have a fibreglass integral diesel tank.

I have the time this year to do a better than usual biannual clean up, bug kill.

Will it damage the tank if I fill it with a bleach/water mixture for a few days or would a dettol mixture be better. I really want to kill those bugs.

The tank cannot be removed from the boat and the only way I can think of of getting steam into it is by using the wallpaper stripper.

There is an inspection panel on the tank so access is possible albeit head first down the lazarette.

Thanks

One of the mags is reviewing bug kill products next month, I think.

 

[Bilgediver]

I have a fibreglass integral diesel tank.

I have the time this year to do a better than usual biannual clean up, bug kill.

Will it damage the tank if I fill it with a bleach/water mixture for a few days or would a dettol mixture be better. I really want to kill those bugs.

The tank cannot be removed from the boat and the only way I can think of of getting steam into it is by using the wallpaper stripper.

There is an inspection panel on the tank so access is possible albeit head first down the lazarette.

Thanks

Tell us more! Do you really get a bug problem as often as this? DO you find residue in your filters? Are the bugs the dark coloured variety or the light coloured variety? What fuel treatment do you use? Where do you get the fuel and if diesel what type?

Is your built in tank constructed so one side is the boat hull?

One factor the bugs really like and make the most of is to have water in the tank. This comes from two sources, ie taken on board with the fuel from a contaminated source or water condensing from the atmosphere which is drawn into the tank as it breathes in and out due to varying climatic conditions. This water content should be removed as much as possible.

Usually a bug problem can be controlled by the use of an appropriate bug treatment however no all treatments work with all bugs so may have to find the one that works for you.

You say the tank is integral fibreglass. Is there any chance its inner suface is not perfect and thatit is never actually 100% cleaned? Is there any special surface protection inside the tank?

One of the Boating magazines is currently preparing an article on the bug problem and will be using information provided by some forum members. This article may be of help to you when it appears.

 

[FishyInverness]

We are just distributing a new product, non-chemical solution, the Purafiner Diesel Conditioner.

Details can be found here : http://www.purafiner.com/

 

[pcatterall]

I have just inspected a yacht where the twin fuel tanks appear to along and integral too the tanks. My moisture readings were high in those areas.
Several questions arise:-
Can moisture penetrate the hull and get into the deisel (I am now told that even epoxy treatments will not totally prevent this.
Can deisel adversly affect the hull? So 'osmosis' is eating away from out side and deisel is attacking from inside!
Do manufacturers treat the tanks in any way?

 

[Fascadale]

Tell us more! Do you really get a bug problem as often as this? DO you find residue in your filters? Are the bugs the dark coloured variety or the light coloured variety? What fuel treatment do you use? Where do you get the fuel and if diesel what type?

Is your built in tank constructed so one side is the boat hull?

I'm not sure whether it is a bug problem or a general sludge issue.

I cleaned out the tank not long after I bought the (35 year old) boat and in the process removed about 2cm of sludge from the bottom of the tank.

I repeated the process two years later and there was a lot less.

It strikes me as being reasonably sensible (and not too difficult) to do the job every two years

The diesel come s from a variety of sources, local supermarket or the nearest garage usually, sometimes red but often not.

Some crud in the primary filter, colour uncertain.

The tank is in the lazarette, molded onto the rear of the cockpit, but not in contact with the outsides of the boat, a Van der Stadt design.