When we opened up today there was fuel in the bilge. Our boat is a C310 #23. The engine was completly dry, and when we traced the hoses back to the tank, there were trails where the fuel leaked. All input and output hoses and connections from the tank are dry and clean. There is some fuel seeping from the base of the tank, where it is glassed in. I had a mechanic look at it and he thinks one of the welds may be leaking. Has anyone had a problem like this? I am a few months inside my 5 year warranty so I hope to get some help from my dealer and Catalina. I can't imagine it would be good PR to have a boat burn to the water line while under warranty. Any ideas on how to get the diesel smell out of the boat. Thanks John
fuel tank leak
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Look in the Yellowpages
For a fire and smoke damage restoration company. They use chemicals that neutralize and deodorize. They may be of some help. FYI, diesel is a combustible liquid, with a much higher flash point than gasoline, which is a flamable liquid.
For a fire and smoke damage restoration company. They use chemicals that neutralize and deodorize. They may be of some help. FYI, diesel is a combustible liquid, with a much higher flash point than gasoline, which is a flamable liquid.
John J; The average life span of diesel tank is 12 to 15 years and your tank is well within that life span so your mechanic is probably right. Obviously, the first thing you should do is pump the tank dry and you can do that with a small pump you can purchase at West Marine. Depending on how full your tank is (mine had 15 gals when it started to leak) it could take a couple of trips with a 5 gal Jerry can. There are outfits that clean and polish tanks at most marinas who could do the job easier and quicker plus they will dispose of the fuel - probably putting it in their tanks. After that, out comes the tank for repair. Hopefully, it is not glassed in. i can't imagine Catalina glassing in a tank but who knows. Most are held by 4 screws and they come out pretty easy. That diesel smell is hard to get rid of but eventually it goes away. Take all the cushions home for a good airing and scrub down the bilge.
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