Bouba
Well-Known Member
The fuel filler will probably have to go but the others I don’t think will help
Fuel tank leak
- Thread starter Bouba
- Start date
Bouba
Well-Known Member
They found the source of the leak… four holes in the bottom of the tank…caused by corrosion. They pumped the fuel out and found no water in it but there is a ‘reservoir’ in the gelcoted liner that holds several litres…and they will test that next
Mr Googler
Well-Known Member
A notch in the joist makes sense. Big bit of c shape stainless bolted on after perhaps. Ready for the next time ??
Bouba
Well-Known Member
The tank costs over three thousand euros…but their plan is to weld a plate or replace the bottom
Bouba
Well-Known Member
They were also saying that
petem
Well-Known Member
Could the tank be repaired in situ? Cut the side off and see where the damage is?
petem
Well-Known Member
How do they know where the damage is?
Bouba
Well-Known Member
The tank is unbolted and there is wriggle room to look underneath… perhaps they used an endoscope ( I brought mine with me just in case)
DavidJ
Well-Known Member
What’s it fixed to at the top?
Looks like a beam.
Will that detach or can it be ripped out and replaced.
Was the tank put in at the hull stage before the “top” was put on?
Looks like a beam.
Will that detach or can it be ripped out and replaced.
Was the tank put in at the hull stage before the “top” was put on?
LittleSister
Well-Known Member
Why has the tank corroded? For it to fail so early in its life something exceptional must be responsible, I would have thought.
Is the quality of the material it is constructed from suspect (in which case patching it would not be wise)?
Is the quality of the material it is constructed from suspect (in which case patching it would not be wise)?
Bouba
Well-Known Member
That looks tricky…I’m sure the welder would prefer to tackle it from the outside on his bench
Bouba
Well-Known Member
The floor joists are part of the superstructure which of course is lowered onto the boat once the tanks are all in….but with modern boats, the construction is very lightweight and the superstructure is integral to the boats rigidity
Bouba
Well-Known Member
There is at present only speculation….water in the fuel, seawater in the bilge, anode failure leading to electrolysis, construction defect…at the moment it’s anybody’s guess
Robin
Well-Known Member
What material would a new 3000 euro tank be and is that a factory quoted price.? How much for a plastic made to measure and corrosion proof copy from someone like Tek Tanks.?
LittleSister
Well-Known Member
Would removing (and replacing afterwards) the engine beds allow the tank to be removed without taking out the floor joists?
Bouba
Well-Known Member
That is (as far as I know) a like for like factory replacement.
Any tank custom made that size will be pricey (although I don’t know how pricey). But I would be surprised if a repair wasn’t the cheapest option…of course that is assuming the cost of the fibreglass work in the removal isn’t prohibitive
Bouba
Well-Known Member
I was wondering that also but it is of course a critical part…even chopping off the corner would probably be enough…but it’s not something that I want to discuss with them just yet incase they do it and hold me liable
limecc
Well-Known Member
Just catching up on this interesting and diverse thread and thought I'd leave this here:
Robin
Well-Known Member
I would be concerned that if one factory one rotted then so could another unless the root cause found and eliminated. A plastic custom made one would at least be corrosion proof whether from water in fuel or electrolysis. A repair might well be cheap short term but costly longer term if it then simply rots in another place . Even might effect resale value.
stelican
Well-Known Member
Maybe cut top tank in situ then use old tank as a pattern for new but slightly lower.
Might be an after market for smaller tanks
Might be an after market for smaller tanks