Project: Fuel Tank Replacement
You can see why it was a good idea to replace the the old fiberglass fuel tank. It didn't leak much, but the leak was bad enough to cause a diesel smell throughout the boat. | |
Getting the tank out wasn't easy -- it was fiberglassed in on all four sides -- but I managed thanks in part to my Rotozip tool. Notice the exhaust hose on the top of the tank. It was so brittle, I was able to punch holes in it with my thumb. | |
I decided to replace the tank with an 11.5-gallon tank by Tempo. It's a little smaller than the original, but not much. | |
I built the new platform out of 3/4-in marine-grade plywood. Here, I've just fiberglassed in the vertical piece. | |
I screwed the top piece to the three side pieces, then fiberglassed it it place. | |
Like the old tank, the platform is fiberglassed in on four sides. | |
I added another layer of fiberglass to the front of the platform. This layer went over the platform's top and, along the hull, extends beyond the first layer. | |
For all of my fiberglassing projects I used epoxy resin. | |
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To make it look pretty, I painted my work with Interlux's Bilgekote. | |
The Tempo tank didn't flat enough to allow the metal hold-downs to reach the platform top, so I added four shims. | |
Here's the tank, snug in its new home. | |
Getting the fuel fill line attached to the tank took some problem solving. This solution works -- at least it did through its first season of sailing. | |
A wider view. Notice the new exhaust hose. | |
I also replaced the old plastic fuel fill with this new stainless steel one. |
Next project: Prop shaft overhaul...