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11-11-2015, 10:26 PM
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#1
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Member
City: San Rafael
Vessel Name: April Dream
Vessel Model: 1982 MMC Trawler
Join Date: Nov 2012
Posts: 12
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Replacing fuel tanks
I was advised that the starboard fuel tank is leaking and needs to be replaced (Not news I needed to hear) the Mechanic transferred fuel to the port tank avoiding more serious problems. My boat is a 36' Monk Trawler. 120 single Lehman. Does anyone have experience changing these tanks? Boat is berthed in Sausalito Ca. Any recommendations for mechanics who do this type of work in the Bay Area? Should I haul the boat for this work or leave at the berth? Any and all ideas/suggestions are welcome.
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11-11-2015, 10:44 PM
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#2
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Guru
City: Sarasota/Ft. Lauderdale
Join Date: Apr 2014
Posts: 5,438
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My suggestion, search this forum for one of the many threads on this and all your questions will be answered. Many times, with many different answers.
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11-11-2015, 10:53 PM
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#3
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Guru
City: Cape Cod
Vessel Name: Slip Aweigh
Vessel Model: Prairie 29
Join Date: Oct 2013
Posts: 1,219
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Did you ask the mechanic who drained the tank if he did this? Or does he know anyone local?
This is usually not as simple as 'rip it out and throw in a new one'. Especially if you were thinking of DIY. You have to assess whether the tank can be cut up in situ, or will have to have beams, engine or other tanks removed also. Someone will have to come look at your vessel. Ask at several yacht yards for recommendations.
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11-11-2015, 11:29 PM
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#4
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Scraping Paint
City: -
Join Date: Oct 2007
Posts: 13,745
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One recommendation you will find discussed if you do a thorough archive search as Capt. Bill suggests is if the only way to remove the tank(s) is to move or remove the engine, have the original tank(s) cut up in place so the pieces can be removed without having to do anything with the engine. Then have several new smaller tanks designed and fabricated that which be installed without having to do anything with the engine to get them in.
Depending on the amount of space and clearance in the engine room and the design of the tanks you may or may not lose some fuel capacity by doing this but if you do it probably won't be much.
For example the twin-engine cabin cruiser we have in the PNW was built in 1973 with three 150 gallon fuel tanks: one on each side of the aft end of the engine room and one across the back of the engine room. I assume one or more of these tanks developed problems because the year before we bought the boat (1998) the previous owner had all three tanks removed, the generator repositioned, and five new tanks fabricated and installed.
Four of the new tanks are 85 gallon "cubes" with a pair on each side of the engine room where the original saddle tanks used to sit. The fifth tank is a 60 gallon day tank which is mounted in the bilge on the center-line of the boat under a new set of floor plates.
This arrangement reduced the boat's fuel capacity by 50 gallons which is good, actually. We still have more than enough range but we go through the fuel a little faster which means it doesn't sit on the boat as long. And having five tanks gives us some nice options for fuel management.
I suspect the original tanks were cut up in place and the pieces removed. The new tanks are all small enough to have been lowered into and positioned in the engine room without having to remove the engines. However judging just by eye I suspect the transmissions had to come out to provide sufficient clearance to get the saddle tanks into their mounting frames.
Finally, if one tank in your boat has gone bad and these are the original tanks it's very possible the other tank may not be far behind. Given the effort and expense of removing and replacing one of the tanks, and if you plan to keep the boat for a fair amount of time, it might be smart in the long run to replace both tanks.
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11-12-2015, 12:44 AM
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#5
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Veteran Member
City: Seattle
Vessel Name: Dream Catcher
Vessel Model: Monk 36
Join Date: Jul 2015
Posts: 97
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You might want to ask on the Monk 36 Owners Assoc site on yahoo. I know there are discussions there on the topic.
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11-12-2015, 12:46 AM
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#6
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Guru
City: Sidney
Join Date: Feb 2015
Posts: 2,258
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Marin
Finally, if one tank in your boat has gone bad and these are the original tanks it's very possible the other tank may not be far behind. Given the effort and expense of removing and replacing one of the tanks, and if you plan to keep the boat for a fair amount of time, it might be smart in the long run to replace both tanks.
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If you don't plan to keep the boat for any length of time and if you don't replace the port tank, any potential buyers will beat the cost of replacing it out of you.
Either way you are going to pay for both tanks.
Here is a start:
http://www.trawlerforum.com/forums/s3/tank-material-13452.html
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11-12-2015, 07:15 PM
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#7
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Veteran Member
City: Louisville, KY
Vessel Name: Jessie
Vessel Model: 43' Marine Trader 49' Albin Tricabin
Join Date: Nov 2015
Posts: 97
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I had a fuel leak in the corner seam of a large diesel tank on a Albin Tri-Cabin. The leak was toward the top of the tank. I had the boat in a charter program on The Chesapeake at the time and the charter company watching over the boat broke the news to me over the phone.
We were considering cutting the side of the boat out to replace the tank. We were considering removing the engine to get to it. We were talking about it being out of charter (and my use) for months.
I got a call the next day from the charter manager who told me that his welder had meandered into the office and overheard them talking about the problem. He went down to look at it and stated that he would weld the seam for $200. The charter manager asked me what I thought?
I was in Cincinnati at the time, so I said: "Go ahead."
Turned out that the weld worked. Never leaked again. I was also surprised to find out afterward that the welder didn't even empty the tank. He drained it so the fuel level was about a foot lower than the weld.
Best $200 I ever spent on the boat!
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11-13-2015, 08:47 AM
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#8
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Guru
City: LI or Fla
Join Date: Jul 2013
Posts: 1,148
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This has got to be the most ridiculous post I've ever read, "give it a shot", more like roll the dice on an explosion! Don't ever repeat this story again PLEASE!
Quote:
Originally Posted by Cuttyhunk47
I had a fuel leak in the corner seam of a large diesel tank on a Albin Tri-Cabin. The leak was toward the top of the tank. I had the boat in a charter program on The Chesapeake at the time and the charter company watching over the boat broke the news to me over the phone.
We were considering cutting the side of the boat out to replace the tank. We were considering removing the engine to get to it. We were talking about it being out of charter (and my use) for months.
I got a call the next day from the charter manager who told me that his welder had meandered into the office and overheard them talking about the problem. He went down to look at it and stated that he would weld the seam for $200. The charter manager asked me what I thought?
I was in Cincinnati at the time, so I said: "Go ahead."
Turned out that the weld worked. Never leaked again. I was also surprised to find out afterward that the welder didn't even empty the tank. He drained it so the fuel level was about a foot lower than the weld.
Best $200 I ever spent on the boat!
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11-13-2015, 09:04 AM
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#9
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Enigma
City: Slicker?
Join Date: Oct 2007
Posts: 16,563
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Greetings,
VERY lucky, but VERY stupid welder! I concur with Mr. Mm. Not only ridiculous but insane! I'm quite sure some tanks can be welded in situ but not without a strict protocol to minimize risk. NOTE: I said minimize NOT eliminate.
__________________
RTF
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11-13-2015, 09:25 AM
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#10
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Senior Member
City: Freeport Tx
Join Date: Nov 2014
Posts: 135
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Atl makes a blatter tank that fits inside the old tank don't know of anyone who has done this before but it should work you will have to cut the tank and remove any baffles
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11-13-2015, 09:38 AM
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#11
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Veteran Member
City: Corona
Vessel Name: SCRAMBLER
Vessel Model: 1974 Grand Banks 32 #536
Join Date: Jul 2013
Posts: 74
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American Tanks, LLC Call a pro and get expert advice
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11-13-2015, 11:41 AM
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#12
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Veteran Member
City: Louisville, KY
Vessel Name: Jessie
Vessel Model: 43' Marine Trader 49' Albin Tricabin
Join Date: Nov 2015
Posts: 97
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Marlinmike
This has got to be the most ridiculous post I've ever read, "give it a shot", more like roll the dice on an explosion! Don't ever repeat this story again PLEASE!
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The story was told in a flippant way because I couldn't believe that it could be done, but the welder knew what he was doing. The yard was convinced that there was no danger and the procedure did work. This was not a yarn. It happened.
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11-13-2015, 12:24 PM
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#13
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Senior Member
City: Freeport Tx
Join Date: Nov 2014
Posts: 135
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I have had a fuel tank welded we did drain the fuel out filled tank with argon
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11-13-2015, 12:53 PM
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#14
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Guru
City: Cape Cod
Vessel Name: Slip Aweigh
Vessel Model: Prairie 29
Join Date: Oct 2013
Posts: 1,219
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Pure pleasure
I have had a fuel tank welded we did drain the fuel out filled tank with argon
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Nitrogen works. Never heard of argon being used.
This is not unheard of with DIESEL tanks.
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11-13-2015, 01:01 PM
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#15
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Senior Member
City: Freeport Tx
Join Date: Nov 2014
Posts: 135
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I thought nitrogen to but a welder has argon for welding so that's what he used
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11-13-2015, 01:27 PM
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#16
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Guru
City: Venice Louisiana
Join Date: Dec 2013
Posts: 1,097
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Nitrogen, argon, co2, makes no difference its just used to replace the oxygen. No oxygen NO EXPLOSION. Personally I prefer fuel in the tank to below the spot to be welded, less air space. I generally use a MIG welder but have used stick on steel (black iron tanks. I would suggest doing a little research and maybe learn a little about welding and what is considered normal practices befor saying something is "stupid" that any proffesionall welder considers everyday stuff.
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11-13-2015, 02:20 PM
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#17
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Member
City: anacortes wa
Vessel Name: american pride
Vessel Model: american tug 36/5
Join Date: Jul 2013
Posts: 24
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Before making remarks using the word [stupid ] --better to keep one's mouth shut than open it and remove all doubt-- The weld was completely routine. What would be [stupid] is spending thousands to cut apart the old tanks , fabricate new ones, move engines and transmissions, for a repair that a 200 weld obviously fixed.
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11-13-2015, 04:36 PM
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#18
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Guru
City: Ft Pierce
Vessel Name: Sold
Vessel Model: Was an Albin/PSN 40
Join Date: Oct 2011
Posts: 28,143
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Quote:
Originally Posted by steveandtina
Before making remarks using the word [stupid ] --better to keep one's mouth shut than open it and remove all doubt-- The weld was completely routine. What would be [stupid] is spending thousands to cut apart the old tanks , fabricate new ones, move engines and transmissions, for a repair that a 200 weld obviously fixed.
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That same concept can be applied to so many thing here on TF that people have never seen or understand.
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11-13-2015, 04:46 PM
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#19
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Enigma
City: Slicker?
Join Date: Oct 2007
Posts: 16,563
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__________________
RTF
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11-13-2015, 07:58 PM
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#20
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Guru
City: Stuart FL
Vessel Name: Lucky Lucky
Vessel Model: Pacific Mariner 65
Join Date: Aug 2013
Posts: 2,760
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Hmm. I vote for JB Weld.
__________________
Howard
Lucky Lucky
Stuart, FL
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