Anyone know how thick the top of the plastic fuel tanks are? I can't seem to find Alan's instructional on installing an inspection/clean out port on these tanks and don't remember if he noted how thick the top of the tank was where he installed the port.
86 Hunter H-31 Fuel Tank
- Thread starter wufibugs
- Start date
Ahoy,
Here's the link under Hunter Modifications>>34
http://hunter.sailboatowners.com/in...mid=267&cat_id=31&aid=8144&page=article&mn=34
It was somewhere between 3/16"-1/4" thick. Pretty easy to cut through.
Regards,
Allan
Here's the link under Hunter Modifications>>34
http://hunter.sailboatowners.com/in...mid=267&cat_id=31&aid=8144&page=article&mn=34
It was somewhere between 3/16"-1/4" thick. Pretty easy to cut through.
Regards,
Allan
I was thinking of attaching my cleanout port cover by installing aluminum or stainless molly anchors to hold down the 6" aluminum cover that was formerly an aircraft strut cover. I am also thinking of drilling out the cover to accept my fuel level sender.
Mounting the level sender to the plate should be fine. The rest of the mounting is dependent on the gasketing and preventing leakage. Fuel might be able to follow the threads up from your molly or even threaded inserts. Most sealants don't stick well to the high density polyethylene tank. The rubber sheet gasket that came with my inspection port kit was made of BUNA rubber....compliant and fuel resistant. With two layers it forms a compression seated sandwich to keep the fuel inside the tank.
Good feedback, Allan. I'll make sure the anchor heads are recessed flush with the surface and make a pair of gaskets out of 1/16" nitrile rubber [buna N] material. I should be able to find fuel resistant permanently flexible gasket material at an auto supply for the screw threads.
Another option is to just purchase a new tank. You will not need to worry about properly installing the inspection plate either. I doubt that you are going to seal that poly tank without a device like Allan used.
If you are going to take that boat to Mx. you are going to need a much bigger tank anyway.
http://www.northerntool.com/shop/to...gt;Auxiliary, Transfer + Skid Tanks-_-3490201
or
http://www.ebay.com/itm/like/161123098295
If you are going to take that boat to Mx. you are going to need a much bigger tank anyway.
http://www.northerntool.com/shop/to...gt;Auxiliary, Transfer + Skid Tanks-_-3490201
or
http://www.ebay.com/itm/like/161123098295
Wufibugs...
The safest way to put an access port into your fuel tank is to use a product made for that purpose. Other solutions may work but would give insurance, CG, and surveyors heart stoppage.
Once you have an opening, you can install a tank sender with its appropriate gaskets and be safe all around.
See pix on my H34 installation...
The safest way to put an access port into your fuel tank is to use a product made for that purpose. Other solutions may work but would give insurance, CG, and surveyors heart stoppage.
Once you have an opening, you can install a tank sender with its appropriate gaskets and be safe all around.
See pix on my H34 installation...
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Dan, I would simply love to have the wallet required to follow that rule. Unfortunately, I have to look at alternatives that are both safe and affordable. My point in posting was to seek the advice of others to ensure that "may work" means "accomplish my purpose safely". The challenge is finding components that won't corrode, are fuel resistant, and won't leak. I believe the cover I propose will look pretty much like yours except that one would have to remove the sender when using it as a clean out. I don't believe the inside of the tank has seen light since 1986, but I will be sailing to ports in Mexico more than the PO, so 25 year intervals between cleanouts may be optimistic. I'm hoping that regular use of biocides should keep this awful task to a minimum.
As to surveyors, Windmistress and I are pretty much wedded until my Lotto ticket comes in, and that can't happen until I buy one.
As to surveyors, Windmistress and I are pretty much wedded until my Lotto ticket comes in, and that can't happen until I buy one.
Wufibugs Iunderstand your points about "love to have the wallet required to follow that rule" & "have to look at alternatives that are both safe and affordable". In trying to achieve this however as Dan says you need to also look at what CG, and surveyors have to say and what it does to your insurance policy. I found that after evaluation the easiest and cheapest for me was to go with the Seabuilt unit. I did install the fuel sender in the middle of it. Good luck
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