harvey38
Well-known member
I recall a post (but can't find it) about a company that cut and fit fuel tank inspection hatches, I'm in Ramsgate so recommendations would be appreciated 
Fuel tank inspection hatch cutting.
- Thread starter harvey38
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Martin_J
Well-known member
In the Solent area it would be Chris at the "Clean Diesel Company"..
His website advertises diesel tank cleaning and the filtering of the diesel that was in the tank.
To do this he can quickly cut extra inspection hatches if needed.
Sorry I can't be of help for anything closer but perhaps there is a diesel cleaning/filtering company in your area that would do it (but don't specificity advertise the fact they can cut and fit extra hatches).
His website advertises diesel tank cleaning and the filtering of the diesel that was in the tank.
To do this he can quickly cut extra inspection hatches if needed.
Sorry I can't be of help for anything closer but perhaps there is a diesel cleaning/filtering company in your area that would do it (but don't specificity advertise the fact they can cut and fit extra hatches).
DownWest
Well-known member
Think it is Vetus who make round hatches with an expanding seal that fit a hole cut in the tank. Bit of DIY with a jigsaw?
Neeves
Well-known member
What do you expect to find that your CAV filter has not already told you. Our fuel tank is vertical, it sits in a deep locker and the tank has a recess through which the mast fits. The tank is white gel coated fibre glass and I cannot see to the bottom of it. We fill our tank using 20l cans with the diesel purchased from standard roadside petrol stations. After over 20 years of ownership we have not once had a problem with questionable fuel.
Our fuel tank has no inspection hatch.
Jonathan
Our fuel tank has no inspection hatch.
Jonathan
Caladh
Well-known member
rogerthebodger
Well-known member
What material is your fuel tank mode of, If it some type of plastic and competent DIYer could cut a hole an fit a cover to seal it.
Mine are steel so not as easy as GRP or HDPE
Do make the hatch big enough to get your head inside so you can inspect the inside properly.
Hatch does not need to be round IMHO rectangular is better, easer to work with
This is a hatch frame I used on one of my GRP tanks with a HDPE cover bolted down with setscrews through the inside of the tank top
Mine are steel so not as easy as GRP or HDPE
Do make the hatch big enough to get your head inside so you can inspect the inside properly.
Hatch does not need to be round IMHO rectangular is better, easer to work with
This is a hatch frame I used on one of my GRP tanks with a HDPE cover bolted down with setscrews through the inside of the tank top
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Thresher
Member
I agree. I put an inspection hatch on my fuel tank when I bought my boat 20 years ago and I have never used it. Now it's a source of leaking diesel if I overfill. Another job to do some day.
harvey38
Well-known member
It will allow the old fuel to be polished, part of a fuel sender and float to be retrieved, and forty years of detritus I can feel when dipping the tank to be removed.
Thanks for letting us know how YOU fill YOUR tanks, the make up of YOUR tank and that YOU haven't had a problem with questionable fuel. None of which assisted me with my original post
westernman
Well-known member
For inspecting the fuel tank why not an endoscope.
Something like this Endoscope de pipeline industriel Kentfaith, 8 lumières LED spécialement conçues pour iPhone, caméra serpent à interface éclair de 8 mm, adaptée pour iPhone14 13 12 11 X XR 8 7 6 séries iPhone prend en charge IP67 câble rigide étanche de 1 mètre
If it is to get the crud out, then suck it out through the fuel filler. That is how it got in there.
To wash the tank out, you can do that through the fuel filler as well.
What else would you want to do?
Something like this Endoscope de pipeline industriel Kentfaith, 8 lumières LED spécialement conçues pour iPhone, caméra serpent à interface éclair de 8 mm, adaptée pour iPhone14 13 12 11 X XR 8 7 6 séries iPhone prend en charge IP67 câble rigide étanche de 1 mètre
If it is to get the crud out, then suck it out through the fuel filler. That is how it got in there.
To wash the tank out, you can do that through the fuel filler as well.
What else would you want to do?
Martin_J
Well-known member
That's not easy if you have a horizontal tank with a baffle (or two) within it...
Crud can send up slimey/gooey and doesn't lend itself to a simple sucking out.
PBO had an article on this earlier this year..
Cleaning a diesel tank: a practical guide - Practical Boat Owner
And the Wema FLB tank inspection hatches they used are detailed on the Wema page...
Tank Flanges and Fittings
One can sail for many years saying their fuel filtering/treatment is doing it's job... then one day, just like ones best waterproofs failing, the fuel can go sticky and leave a goo in the tank.
Crud can send up slimey/gooey and doesn't lend itself to a simple sucking out.
PBO had an article on this earlier this year..
Cleaning a diesel tank: a practical guide - Practical Boat Owner
And the Wema FLB tank inspection hatches they used are detailed on the Wema page...
Tank Flanges and Fittings
One can sail for many years saying their fuel filtering/treatment is doing it's job... then one day, just like ones best waterproofs failing, the fuel can go sticky and leave a goo in the tank.
DownWest
Well-known member
harvey38
Well-known member
Thanks but both tanks have 750l capacity and currently about 600l in each so I don't have the capacity to drain and polish, being stainless, I certainly don't have the correct cutting gear.
DownWest
Well-known member
They have the cutter listed too. But, unlikely you have a drill that will turn slow enough to cut SS. Still, was just suggesting an alternative to getting a company in, likely to cost way more than the bits for DIY.
B27
Well-known member
Would it not be possible to agitate the fuel and polish it?
I don't understand why cutting a hatch in a nearly-full tank is helpful.
ISTM that if crud is not removable by agitation and polishing, it's probably not going to be removed by the engine's fuel system either, so is not actually a problem.
I was chatting to a chap who used to be a super-yacht skipper, he's learned a lot about diesel problems. He was laughing about my concerns of a little bit of water in a 40 litre tank.
If you must cut hatches, an 'SDS' drill (hammer off!!!) will turn a pretty big hole saw in stainless.
Or use a carbide tip in a tank cutter.
I suspect the trap for the unwary is that a lot of SS tanks are distorted and some of these hatch gismos won't seal properly except on a flat face?
sailingmartin
Active member
Harvey 38. I’m sorry I can’t help with a name but don’t be put off from having it done. I had terrible problems with diesel bug which was so thick it didn’t make the primary filter, blocking the valve from the 180 litre tank when stirred up by a rough weather trip. Fixed in Palma by a specialist company. Good luck.
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Neeves
Well-known member
It will allow the old fuel to be polished, part of a fuel sender and float to be retrieved, and forty years of detritus I can feel when dipping the tank to be removed.
Thanks for letting us know how YOU fill YOUR tanks, the make up of YOUR tank and that YOU haven't had a problem with questionable fuel. None of which assisted me with my original post
But then in your parsimonial original post you mentioned none of this, you did not mention what YOUR tank was made from, nor why you wanted an inspection hatch (which if you read the replies - hatches are not mandatory.. We we're left to guess why you wanted to cut a hole, guess what the tank was made from - you expect too much - but many who start a thread are no different - beggars belief.
If you want help provide the fullest detail - and don't complain when someone takes the trouble to guess what you might actually want - its not their fault if they get it wrong - you made the omission.
Jonathan
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harvey38
Well-known member
Jonathan,
I simply asked for some information, the reasons for why I wanted that information is irrelevant in the first instance.
Others posted suggestions for which I am grateful so it was only polite to explain why I need hatches cutting, there was no need to guess anything, if you were genuinely interested then ask rather than a rather abrupt opening line. I made no omission, maybe you made an assumption!
Your ramblings however provide no useful information as to where I may find the posts I refer to nor a possible contact that may travel to Ramsgate.
I hope you have a good evening
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Snowgoose-1
Well-known member
Please don't get disheartened. His vibrations are probably low at the moment. We all get it.Jonathan,
I simply asked for some information, the reasons for why I wanted that information is irrelevant in the first instance.
Others posted suggestions for which I am grateful so it was only polite to explain why I need hatches cutting, there was no need to guess anything, if you were genuinely interested then ask rather than a rather abrupt opening line. I made no omission, maybe you made an assumption!
Your ramblings however provide no useful information as to where I may find the posts I refer to nor a possible contact that may travel to Ramsgate.
I hope you have a good evening
Like yourself , I have inspection hatches for a variety of things and not only for liquids. Paid off many times.
.
rogerthebodger
Well-known member
In post 6 I showed a frame for an inspection hatch I used on a GRP tank. The same type of frame can be used on a stainless steel tank which tend to be quite thin thus can distort and needs a stought frame to correct the distortion.
The hole can be cut with a small angle grinder with a cutting blade and very little accuracy is required in te rectangular hole in the tank.
If you are going to polish the fuel after and crud made by the cutting would be filtered during the fuel polishing process.
I know as I have drilled and cut into my steel fuel tank and filtered the swalf out later.
If you don't have the skill any competent DIYer could do the job or a local engineering company
Where are you located a w may be able to suggest a local company you could approach of a skilled forum member. Not me asI an not in the UK
The hole can be cut with a small angle grinder with a cutting blade and very little accuracy is required in te rectangular hole in the tank.
If you are going to polish the fuel after and crud made by the cutting would be filtered during the fuel polishing process.
I know as I have drilled and cut into my steel fuel tank and filtered the swalf out later.
If you don't have the skill any competent DIYer could do the job or a local engineering company
Where are you located a w may be able to suggest a local company you could approach of a skilled forum member. Not me asI an not in the UK
PaulRainbow
Well-known member
See post #1
