Reply
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread Display Modes
 
Old 06-27-2018, 10:44 AM   #1
Guru
 
Steve91T's Avatar
 
City: Huntersville NC
Vessel Name: Abeona
Vessel Model: Marine Trader 47’ Sundeck
Join Date: Sep 2016
Posts: 898
Anyone opened an inspection cover for a fuel tank?

We are under contract with a 1987 Marine Trader 47 with original tanks. The boat hasn’t left the slip in a couple of years. Right now the owner is having it brought back to sea worthy condition. The mechanic took it for a sea trial but clogged the injectors because they ran it before polishing the fuel. Those are being sent out for cleaning.

So the fuel guy will be polishing the fuel hopefully this week. This boat has two 300 gallon tanks with large inspection ports with a dozen bolts each. Not only do I want the fuel polished but I want someone to open those ports and look inside to make sure in the inside of the tanks are clean. I’ve heard stories of fuel being cleaned but it still leaves all the crap that was growing on the sides of the tank.

The problem is this isn’t my boat yet and the owners are paying for repairs so far. Is there any risk of opening those ports?

Just wanted to ask for opinions here first.

Thanks
Steve
Attached Thumbnails
656496D7-C032-4443-9FE3-B7BF306E5E30.jpg  
Steve91T is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-27-2018, 10:58 AM   #2
Guru
 
O C Diver's Avatar
 
City: Fort Myers, FL... Summers in the Great Lakes
Vessel Name: Slow Hand
Vessel Model: Cherubini Independence 45
Join Date: Dec 2010
Posts: 12,835
Certainly would want to pump the fuel out before opening the ports.

Unlikely the injectors were clogged. Should be atleast 2 filters before them. Probably a clogged filter.

Ted
__________________
Blog: mvslowhand.com
I'm tired of fast moves, I've got a slow groove, on my mind.....
I want to spend some time, Not come and go in a heated rush.....
"Slow Hand" by The Pointer Sisters
O C Diver is online now   Reply With Quote
Old 06-27-2018, 11:00 AM   #3
Guru
 
Steve91T's Avatar
 
City: Huntersville NC
Vessel Name: Abeona
Vessel Model: Marine Trader 47’ Sundeck
Join Date: Sep 2016
Posts: 898
Yes, step 1 would definitely be to make sure the fuel level is below the ports.

The report I heard is they were blowing a lot of black smoke and wouldn’t make rated RPM
Steve91T is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-27-2018, 11:01 AM   #4
TF Site Team
 
Larry M's Avatar
 
City: Jacksonville
Join Date: Nov 2008
Posts: 11,683
We had 2-350 gallon tanks on Hobo with similar inspection ports. No problem opening them up. I did replace the gaskets not wanting to trust 25 plus year old compressed ones.

I think you’d be smart to have them opened up. Hobo’s fuel had been “polished” previously before this picture this picture was taken.
Attached Thumbnails
44E0DB0F-4A60-44E7-A852-827881755B79.jpeg  
Larry M is online now   Reply With Quote
Old 06-27-2018, 11:35 AM   #5
Guru
 
O C Diver's Avatar
 
City: Fort Myers, FL... Summers in the Great Lakes
Vessel Name: Slow Hand
Vessel Model: Cherubini Independence 45
Join Date: Dec 2010
Posts: 12,835
Quote:
Originally Posted by Steve91T View Post
Yes, step 1 would definitely be to make sure the fuel level is below the ports.

The report I heard is they were blowing a lot of black smoke and wouldn’t make rated RPM
I could be wrong, but didn't think black smoke was from a fuel restriction. Is the bottom and running gear (props etc) clean. Fouled props, plenty of fuel and lack of air from lost rpm might generate black smoke. You would be amazed at how little growth it takes on props to lose rated rpm.

Ted
__________________
Blog: mvslowhand.com
I'm tired of fast moves, I've got a slow groove, on my mind.....
I want to spend some time, Not come and go in a heated rush.....
"Slow Hand" by The Pointer Sisters
O C Diver is online now   Reply With Quote
Old 06-27-2018, 11:37 AM   #6
Guru
 
AusCan's Avatar
 
City: Adelaide
Vessel Name: Kokanee
Vessel Model: Cuddles 30 Pilot House Motor Sailer
Join Date: Jul 2012
Posts: 3,218
On a 30 year old boat you're almost guaranteed to find a layer of muck on the bottom of the tanks. It would be worth opening and cleaning. One warning though. When I cleaned mine it started leaking. The heavy layer of gunk was all that was sealing the corroded bottom of the tank.
AusCan is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-27-2018, 11:55 AM   #7
Guru
 
High Wire's Avatar
 
City: Cape May, NJ
Vessel Name: Irish Lady
Vessel Model: Monk 36
Join Date: Dec 2007
Posts: 4,966
Good thing the owners are paying. Smells like an Easter egg hunt. Make sure they don’t leak before you accept. Meaning full tanks on closing. You may have to pay for the fillup. Changing the in service Racor should have told the story. Any diesel mechanic would know that before condemning the fuel tanks.
Bottom growth needs to be ruled out.
Black smoke is usually air restrictions or overload.
You are having a survey correct?
High Wire is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-27-2018, 11:55 AM   #8
Guru
 
Steve91T's Avatar
 
City: Huntersville NC
Vessel Name: Abeona
Vessel Model: Marine Trader 47’ Sundeck
Join Date: Sep 2016
Posts: 898
Quote:
Originally Posted by AusCan View Post
On a 30 year old boat you're almost guaranteed to find a layer of muck on the bottom of the tanks. It would be worth opening and cleaning. One warning though. When I cleaned mine it started leaking. The heavy layer of gunk was all that was sealing the corroded bottom of the tank.
Well that’s another thing that I’m worried about. Kinda want to figure that out before it’s mine, but I feel the owners aren’t going to allow cleaning for that reason
Steve91T is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-27-2018, 11:59 AM   #9
DDW
Guru
 
City: San Francisco
Join Date: Apr 2018
Posts: 3,094
Black smoke can also be injectors. Gunk in the tank shouldn't get there through the filters, but an old boat sitting for 4 years, cleaning the injectors probably should be done, black smoke or not.
DDW is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-27-2018, 12:49 PM   #10
Guru
 
Xsbank's Avatar
 
City: Pender Harbour, BC
Vessel Name: Gwaii Haanas
Vessel Model: Custom Aluminum 52
Join Date: Sep 2013
Posts: 3,791
Not running for 4 years? Better get it at a darn good price.

I just noticed that the overflow tank should be mounted higher than the reservoir to avoid air in the line. Just by that picture alone, unless you are planning to do a lot of the work yourself in the next year or so, run away.
__________________
Don't believe everything that you think.
Xsbank is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-27-2018, 12:54 PM   #11
Guru
 
Steve91T's Avatar
 
City: Huntersville NC
Vessel Name: Abeona
Vessel Model: Marine Trader 47’ Sundeck
Join Date: Sep 2016
Posts: 898
It’s been used as a floating condo for about 2 years. We are under contract for $80k but the owners have to get it to sea worthy condition, which they are. Engines have no blow by, turbos have normal amount of shaft play. The fuel tanks are my biggest concern. Had a guy on the docks tell me their beautiful 46 Jeff sat as well. They had the fuel polished and a few hours up the river it started clogging fuel filters. 6 months of changing fuel filters every few hours and it’s finally clean. I’m not doing that.
Steve91T is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-27-2018, 01:53 PM   #12
Guru
 
O C Diver's Avatar
 
City: Fort Myers, FL... Summers in the Great Lakes
Vessel Name: Slow Hand
Vessel Model: Cherubini Independence 45
Join Date: Dec 2010
Posts: 12,835
What make / model engines?

Ted
__________________
Blog: mvslowhand.com
I'm tired of fast moves, I've got a slow groove, on my mind.....
I want to spend some time, Not come and go in a heated rush.....
"Slow Hand" by The Pointer Sisters
O C Diver is online now   Reply With Quote
Old 06-27-2018, 03:21 PM   #13
Guru
 
dhays's Avatar
 
City: Gig Harbor
Vessel Name: Kinship
Vessel Model: North Pacific 43
Join Date: May 2015
Posts: 9,046
Quote:
Originally Posted by O C Diver View Post
Certainly would want to pump the fuel out before opening the ports.

Unlikely the injectors were clogged. Should be atleast 2 filters before them. Probably a clogged filter.

Ted


That was my thought as well. If there is a clogged injector, then the filtering system is inadequate.
__________________
Regards,

Dave
SPOT page
dhays is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-27-2018, 04:27 PM   #14
Guru
 
Max Simmons's Avatar
 
City: Everett, WA
Vessel Model: Ocean Alexander 38'
Join Date: Oct 2007
Posts: 801
Does it make sense to drop a small flexible camera down the filler tube to look around the tank?
Max Simmons is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-27-2018, 04:44 PM   #15
Guru
 
City: Boston
Vessel Name: Adelante
Vessel Model: IG 30
Join Date: Nov 2016
Posts: 1,611
Quote:
Originally Posted by Max Simmons View Post
Does it make sense to drop a small flexible camera down the filler tube to look around the tank?
Borescopes are inexpensive these days. Should be part of any tool box.
Put a stick down the filler tube to make sure there are no baffles in the way.
You may also be able to unscrew the fitting for the return line. Should be big enough dia for borescope.
SoWhat is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-27-2018, 05:39 PM   #16
Guru
 
O C Diver's Avatar
 
City: Fort Myers, FL... Summers in the Great Lakes
Vessel Name: Slow Hand
Vessel Model: Cherubini Independence 45
Join Date: Dec 2010
Posts: 12,835
Quote:
Originally Posted by Max Simmons View Post
Does it make sense to drop a small flexible camera down the filler tube to look around the tank?
Waterproof cable camera.


https://www.amazon.com/Depstech-Semi...HGL&ref=plSrch

Ted
__________________
Blog: mvslowhand.com
I'm tired of fast moves, I've got a slow groove, on my mind.....
I want to spend some time, Not come and go in a heated rush.....
"Slow Hand" by The Pointer Sisters
O C Diver is online now   Reply With Quote
Old 06-27-2018, 08:53 PM   #17
Guru
 
Steve91T's Avatar
 
City: Huntersville NC
Vessel Name: Abeona
Vessel Model: Marine Trader 47’ Sundeck
Join Date: Sep 2016
Posts: 898
Engines are Lehman’s. 190 hp I believe. Turbo diesels.
Steve91T is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-28-2018, 09:12 AM   #18
Guru
 
Steve91T's Avatar
 
City: Huntersville NC
Vessel Name: Abeona
Vessel Model: Marine Trader 47’ Sundeck
Join Date: Sep 2016
Posts: 898
Here’s the response from the broker when I asked about cleaning the tanks.

I feel much better about it.


Hi Steve,
Yes that is the plan. No point in cleaning the fuel without cleaning the tanks..
The guy who cleans the tanks has a wand the shoots pressurized fuel into the tanks through the inspection ports...
He should be able to reach most of the inside of the tanks, then he puts an additive in the fuel that cleans anything that might be remaining.
I think the additive is called Technol. I’ve been using it for years.. seems to be a good product..
Steve91T is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-28-2018, 09:49 AM   #19
Guru
 
O C Diver's Avatar
 
City: Fort Myers, FL... Summers in the Great Lakes
Vessel Name: Slow Hand
Vessel Model: Cherubini Independence 45
Join Date: Dec 2010
Posts: 12,835
Quote:
Originally Posted by Steve91T View Post
Here’s the response from the broker when I asked about cleaning the tanks.

I feel much better about it.


Hi Steve,
Yes that is the plan. No point in cleaning the fuel without cleaning the tanks..
The guy who cleans the tanks has a wand the shoots pressurized fuel into the tanks through the inspection ports...
He should be able to reach most of the inside of the tanks, then he puts an additive in the fuel that cleans anything that might be remaining.
I think the additive is called Technol. I’ve been using it for years.. seems to be a good product..
That sounds very good! I would ask about looking in the tanks while they were open.

I would want to know what the additive is and what exactly it's supposed to do. This isn't magic where the chemical bonds, turns the remaining stuff to a gas that goes out the tank vent. Clearly whatever it does will go out through your fuel system. Should you be expecting to do a number of filter changes in the near future?

Ted
__________________
Blog: mvslowhand.com
I'm tired of fast moves, I've got a slow groove, on my mind.....
I want to spend some time, Not come and go in a heated rush.....
"Slow Hand" by The Pointer Sisters
O C Diver is online now   Reply With Quote
Old 06-28-2018, 12:54 PM   #20
Guru
 
Steve91T's Avatar
 
City: Huntersville NC
Vessel Name: Abeona
Vessel Model: Marine Trader 47’ Sundeck
Join Date: Sep 2016
Posts: 898
Quote:
Originally Posted by O C Diver View Post
That sounds very good! I would ask about looking in the tanks while they were open.

I would want to know what the additive is and what exactly it's supposed to do. This isn't magic where the chemical bonds, turns the remaining stuff to a gas that goes out the tank vent. Clearly whatever it does will go out through your fuel system. Should you be expecting to do a number of filter changes in the near future?

Ted
No I think he cleans the inside of the tanks then filters all the junk out using an external system. But I’m sure there will still be some junk that makes it to the filters for a while.
Steve91T is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are Off


» Trawler Port Captains
Port Captains are TF volunteers who can serve as local guides or assist with local arrangements and information. Search below to locate Port Captains near your destination. To learn more about this program read here: TF Port Captain Program





All times are GMT -5. The time now is 07:37 AM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.8 Beta 4
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.
Search Engine Optimization by vBSEO 3.6.0
Copyright 2006 - 2012