Winterizing with summer didsel in tank

[jon and michie]

Those ones I linked to are hydrophobic they will float on any water in the bilge and absorb any oil that is floating on the water. I put one in where the aft bilge pump is while I had a leaking stuffing box on the propshaft, it stopped the trace of oil that was being pumped out by the bilge pump. Stuffing box is now tightened up and is back to the recommended one drip per minute, most awkward access to get to the gland nuts on the port shaft, took a while before I managed to get them adjusted properly.

It's down behind and below the main fuel tank through this access hatch
View attachment 201567

The ones at work on board the rig in the spill kits are the same and these a really good

 

[Alicatt]

Those ones I linked to are hydrophobic they will float on any water in the bilge and absorb any oil that is floating on the water. I put one in where the aft bilge pump is while I had a leaking stuffing box on the propshaft, it stopped the trace of oil that was being pumped out by the bilge pump. Stuffing box is now tightened up and is back to the recommended one drip per minute, most awkward access to get to the gland nuts on the port shaft, took a while before I managed to get them adjusted properly.

It's down behind and below the main fuel tank through this access hatch
View attachment 201567

Forgot to add: at least they supplied the spanners to tighten them

 

[jointventureII]

The loose flapping earthing strip (at least, I'm assuming it's an earthing strip) has corroded away but.....why is it there in the first place? I didn't think petrol or diesel were electrolytes therefore galvanic corrosion isn't possible.
It appears to, at one point, have connected the inlet pipework with the exit pipework (not the aluminium baffles)



Ps this is what it's starting to look like - I'm extremely pleased given the horrendous access

 

[Corona Mia]

The loose flapping earthing strip (at least, I'm assuming it's an earthing strip) has corroded away but.....why is it there in the first place? I didn't think petrol or diesel were electrolytes therefore galvanic corrosion isn't possible.
It appears to, at one point, have connected the inlet pipework with the exit pipework (not the aluminium baffles)

View attachment 201594

Ps this is what it's starting to look like - I'm extremely pleased given the horrendous access

View attachment 201595

It may be because you can build a static electrical charge whilst pumping large quantities of fuel? I vaguely remember we used to do it
when I was on sea-going tankers…….but that was a long time ago!
I’m not sure if the small volumes on a pleasure boat would be a problem, and unlikely if it was diesel.

 

[jointventureII]

It may be because you can build a static electrical charge whilst pumping large quantities of fuel? I vaguely remember we used to do it
when I was on sea-going tankers…….but that was a long time ago!
I’m not sure if the small volumes on a pleasure boat would be a problem, and unlikely if it was diesel.

The boat was originally petrol (Bertram, built in 1969) but then converted to diesel sometime in the 1990s.

I was unaware of the static issue, I'll have a read up!

 

[Refueler]

The boat was originally petrol (Bertram, built in 1969) but then converted to diesel sometime in the 1990s.

I was unaware of the static issue, I'll have a read up!

I was going to ask if she was Petrol powered before .... with a metal tank - the earthing strap would have been to make sure any stray static was taken care off ... which can be caused by different metals .. tank - pipe fittings ... fuel lines etc ... and the action of filling tank.

With Diesel - its not needed.

 

[ss2016]

You always ground a light aircraft before refuelling because of static issues so I guess a petrol powered boat is no different.

 

[Refueler]

You always ground a light aircraft before refuelling because of static issues so I guess a petrol powered boat is no different.

Think you'll find ALL aircraft are grounded not only for refueling - but also to avoid static to passengers etc ... think of it flying through the air .. and all that static build up.
When I have flown out to ships by helicopter - static is a serious concern.

Tanker ships are grounded as well when docked regardless of the cargo unless of a totally safe non flammable nature.

 

[ss2016]

Refuler, that is an interesting comment.
We had 22 Jet Rangers to move employees around as a bus service. I used to use them perhaps twice a week for 3 years and never got a static shock. The pilot did nothing about grounding. Perhaps they automatically grounded through the skids? I am certain they would have had a grounding cable for refuelling though.
Tankers have a particular problem and its to do with the high speed flow of oil through the pipes. It can leave them with a very flamable atmosphere in the tanks.

 

[winch2]

As someone who's never owned a diesel engine and who has only ever run inboard petrol, this all very interesting.

 

[Refueler]

Refuler, that is an interesting comment.
We had 22 Jet Rangers to move employees around as a bus service. I used to use them perhaps twice a week for 3 years and never got a static shock. The pilot did nothing about grounding. Perhaps they automatically grounded through the skids? I am certain they would have had a grounding cable for refuelling though.
Tankers have a particular problem and its to do with the high speed flow of oil through the pipes. It can leave them with a very flamable atmosphere in the tanks.

Tankers have impressed current as well on the hull which Engineers are supposed to switch off. That and the static build up during voyage as well as the pipeline flows. The stupid part is the cable used to ground is well known to be too small a gauge anyway ! But still it gets clipped onto rail ..

The Heli bit ... rescue Heli's dip the lift cable in water before lifting victims ... but back to my bit ... the Heli's used to ground out at base .. but on ship deck - they didn't - relying on the deck paint I suppose ! But it was a topic mentioned at times by the operators ...
I know of a case where Heli could not land on deck - so cable was used ... the first guy to lift - when cable was handled - there was a shock ... guy was not too happy !! It was only time I ever saw it ... and I had Heli rides on / off ships many times ...
Most interesting was during Iran - Iraq war - by Bolkoi Military heli ... we were so low to avoid Iranian radar .. we wave hopped .... with a clear plexiglass floor ... !!

 

[jon and michie]

Think you'll find ALL aircraft are grounded not only for refueling - but also to avoid static to passengers etc ... think of it flying through the air .. and all that static build up.
When I have flown out to ships by helicopter - static is a serious concern.

Tanker ships are grounded as well when docked regardless of the cargo unless of a totally safe non flammable nature.

I am always told on my Survivals that if a Helicopter is sending down someone via the winch not to grab hold of them as they board as static is likely to be present let them land first- one to bear in mind if you need rescuing by boat.

@jointventureII - looking good on the tank cleaning front

 

[jointventureII]

I am always told on my Survivals that if a Helicopter is sending down someone via the winch not to grab hold of them as they board as static is likely to be present let them land first- one to bear in mind if you need rescuing by boat.

@jointventureII - looking good on the tank cleaning front

Thanks! I spent all today flat on my stomach, head bent down, trying to clean the remainder.

It's gotten as good as I can reasonably expect, but I've since found an original label on the tank top (from 1969). That means 56 years worth of crud has accumulated, but the actual tank surface is in remarkable condition.

I've managed to remove the baffles as the bottom inch or so, is completed corroded. I'll be cutting that section off before sandblasting them, cleaning thoroughly and reinserting.

I've still got to find a way to reseal the hole I've cut but that shouldn't be too complicated (apart from the access)