Fuel tank

[jibes138]

After all this discussion on fuel polishing, cutting a big hole in the tank to clean it, buying an access port cover, scrubbing, disposal of fule and absorbant mats, etc. etc. Why not just buy a new tank and install it? They cost about 200 bucks for an 18 gal. tank. Seems a lot easier than wasting all kinds of time and money on the alternates noted above. What am I missing in my reasoning?

 

[Stu Jackson]

Yes, you're right

and that's what most of our folks are doing. If it's old enough to need to have the insides cleaned out, it's old enough to warrant a "new body" too.

 

[Richard Bryer]

Re: Yes, you're right

Dont think so. I cut a hole in the tank of my 23 year old H34, cleaned it thoroughly, re-sealed the hole with a piece of Lexan for about $15. Yes it took me a few hours but getting the tank out of a lot of models will take that long.

 

[Stu Jackson]

Mebbe

Richard, you must ahve incredible access or/and you can get to the top of the tank.

I think each of us has to make a different decision based on access, removal-ability )) and other things.

You could get to yours. On mine, I can get to the side, but not the top, so I'd have to take it out anyway. Once out, at 22 years old, why not install new?

How'd ya get around the baffles through one hole? or two I guess with the sender hole, but that's not that big, is it?

 

[Dan Johnson]

Stu...

those of us with the Hunter 34's have fuel tanks that are of poly construction (probably roto-molded), triangular in shape and set in place before the hull and deck are mated. It's located in our starboard side cockpit locker that has an odd shaped opening into its depths (about 14"x16") that is too small to either pass the old tank out or put a new tank back through. I can't squeeze into it after a light lunch!

Some owners have gained access through the bulkhead that separates that compartment from the aft cabin to accomplish a replacement when absolutely necessary. It does require a good bit of carpentry work by someone semi-skilled to make it not look like a hatchet job and you're working in about 24" of verticle space.

There are no aftermarket equivalents for the original tank. However, unlike metal ones, there are no baffles inside to create cleaning problems so cutting it open and cleaning it out thoroughly can be done (best accomplished by someone dynamically heigth-challenged!). Cutting it open, cleaning it out, and resealing it, even with the expensive SS port like I used, is an economically viable solution.

From many of the different boats I've been on, the easily replaceable fuel tank is the exception rather than the rule. The history of leaky metal tanks is such that I'm glad mine's a poly one. One of my dock-mates has a center-cockpit Hunter with a metal tank located under the aft cabin bed deck--one of the easiest accessible tanks I've ever seen. Every boat is different.

 

[kloudie1]

H 34 Fuel Tank

Yes, the picture below is the poly tank in my H 34 .. The thing under the dockline.. Those are the dink floorboards on the side.. My fill hose is tied to the cockpit drain with a rag ( I am embarassed to see that here) to keep it out of the way so I can scooch down into the locker.. Not too bad to get in there and work on the top of the tank as Dan has done to put a clean-out port in it.. but the tank can't come out without major work. The tank was made by Inca Marine Products of Nashville TN..

 

[Stu Jackson]

We've had metal tanks since 1986, when they first started making our boats. Reportedly there were a few with failure prone plastic tanks.

Carpentry??? We just undo 12 screws and the aft cabin wall comes out and the whole tank is easy access except for what I mentioned before.

I agree, building that kinda stuff in so it can't be removed is a sign that the designer never had to sail or maintain the danged boat!

I'm glad we're one of those exceptions...

 

[omccall]

I have a Hunter Passage 42 and just started haveing fuel/engine shotdown problems. The filters were clogged with a "jelly" type substance. The tank is AL 72 gal with no access ports. Does any one know if this model has baffles in it? I would like to cot and access door in it for cleaning.

 

[Tim R.]

Even if you buy a new tank, cutting an access hole for cleaning is still good practice. I drain my tank every spring and clean it before refilling. It usually has hardly any growth and absolutely no moisture in it. This is from a 40 gallon tank with about 10-15 gal. sitting all winter. Vent open all winter.

 

[higgs]

My tank is stainless and would require removing a lot of stuff to get replace it.

 

[Dan Johnson]

Here's a pic...

of the top of mine. The access is through an opening of about 13x16 in the starboard cockpit seat.

Getting the old tank out could be done by cutting it up, but how would a new tank of comparable size be installed without gaining access through the aft cabin? Others have created openings from the aft cabin to the tank area, but that requires extensive carpentry.

 

[Richard Bryer]

Finally I remembered to take a picture of mine when I was down in that incredible shrinking hole where the fuel tank is on the H34! Here is a fairly poor picture of the Lexan cover sealed with Permatex. I put this on 3 plus years ago- i was amazed at the muck in the tank!!

 

[Dan Johnson]

Tank Muck...

I've cleaned (fuel polished) out four dock-mate's tanks this summer with my fuel polisher. Each owner was wide-eyed when the last quart or two of fuel was sucked out--the flow through the hose went from a burgandy to a black, with hunks of black stuff being sucked up in the final swishing around of the hose pick-up end.

None of them installed an access port, but two are givng it serious consideration where they can access the top of the tank. Cleaning out the muck is the long-term solution!

Can't believe how many tanks are so isolated that we couldn't run the pick-up tube through the tank fill hose due to the bends in it, but rather had to remove some fitting (fuel gage sender or pick-up fitting) just to gain entrance into the tank with a half inch PVC tube!

 

[kloudie1]

Mine could use it too, Dan ! Ya gonna be in the New Orleans area anytime soon??

 

[Dan Johnson]

Claude...

Two months ago I would have accepted your offer as I had a client over in the Garden District of "Nawlins". But, in the infinate wisdom of major multinational corporations in this economy, I no longer have the opportunity to pay a visit at no personal expense to me.

Bring you boat up to the Chesapeake next summer and I'll gladly do the job for free instead of my usual exorbidant fee. :dance:

 

[kloudie1]

Laughing.. Yes.. I understand about the business travel. In retirement, I am missing (not much though) travel to the Chesapeake area (former HQ was in Fairfax) and to the Pacific NW .. for business purposes. I always managed to find a little time to “walk the docks” ..

 

[Dan Johnson]

Not retired...

just temporarily put on the hard. I had customer sites all around the country and was able to "walk the docks" in many locations I would not otherwise have visited. I won't miss the Red Eye back from the left coast however, but will miss the pub crawls along Bourbon Street!