Diesel Fuel Tank Inspection Port

[Don Crowther]

Keep the port water tank full. Some have moved the batteries to the port side as well. I just keep the port storage full of refreshments

 

[senang]

...Also, your tank probably has a center baffle which may mean you need two of these.

For a roto molded tank this highly improbable due to the fabrication process.

 

[Nodak7]

Nodak7 - thanks for the photos. That inspection port looks like something you would use on a metal tank - where did you source it from?
What I am considering is attached.

View attachment 188289View attachment 188290.

SW sorry it took so long to respond. I installed the Seabilt 8" metal plate. I looked at the plastic ones and was concerned about flex. These fit in nice and are sturdy. Plus there are lots of bolts to keep the gaskets sealed! Here is the website. They are a bit more expensive but when it comes to leaking diesel in the boat I thought it was good insurance! Good luck!

Seabuilt - Access Plate Systems

 

[Nodak7]

For a roto molded tank this highly improbable due to the fabrication process.

No they do not have baffles! I checked that out when i was doing mine.

 

[Allan12210]

THANK YOU - I have been trying to find this article. How in the heck did you fit down that hole in the starboard locker? My teenage daughter call it "the Pit."

Glad to help. Regarding fitting in the hole, I was always the skinny guy in high school and took a lot of grief for that. 50 years later and it finally paid off. It is indeed the "pit".

I put a couple of 6 volt batteries on the port side to even out the list. Keeping the water tank full helps too.

 

[MikeHoncho]

Might be easier and a lot cheaper just removing the fuel occasionally instead of a polishing system considering the tank is small. I would not use the access port on the right that you posted. I’d make a cut out access and use a gasket and cover panel secured with screws if I had to make more access.

 

[Patrikh]

The one above is from Fisheries Supply. The bottom section folds and then fits inside the tank through the hole you drill. Also, your tank probably has a center baffle which may mean you need two of these.

I have installed this a couple of years ago in water tank and fuel tank. Both tanks are in plastic and no problems so far. I open them every year for inspection of the tanks.

 

[swshogren]

That is easy. Get enough crew to sit on the port side of the boat.

Yeah - and add back in the port settee water tank, per design, that was removed by a previous owner!

 

[splax]

to get into the pit I step down onto what I think is part of the icebox then back down to the flat spot along the hull so you are facing the fuel tank

 

[janjandesailorman]

I found fuel tank inspection ports here: Cleanout Access Ports for about $40 for a 4" opening, 6" outside round aluminum port (with solvent-compatible gasket). A whole lot cheaper than SeaBuilt, hopefully will work well on my 34-38(?) gal Cat 42 tank, which had more rust-like stuff in the bottom.

 

[jmaitz]

I found fuel tank inspection ports here: Cleanout Access Ports for about $40 for a 4" opening, 6" outside round aluminum port (with solvent-compatible gasket). A whole lot cheaper than SeaBuilt, hopefully will work well on my 34-38(?) gal Cat 42 tank, which had more rust-like stuff in the bottom.

Am I off that $200+ for a 6 inch piece of aluminum is fairly high even in boat bucks?

 

[MikeHoncho]

make your own. How often are you really going to use it.

 

[Tally Ho]

I would not use a plastic screw in port on a fuel tank. You need a bolt on gasketed plate IMHO. Easy to make and probably readily available on line.

i would agree. I have 2 of those plastic screw-in ports on my water tank for cleaning and inspecting my tank. The are pretty good for water, but I would not rely on them for my diesel tank.
The come with little sheet metal screws that don’t hold well and don’t give a lot of clamping force. I drilled mine and used nut and bolts on the water tank.

Even then, not something I would rely on for diesel tank.


Greg