Mobile Tank Cleaning Service

[angus99]

Looking for satisfied customers in the northern Chesapeake/Delaware Bay Area. (Boat is on the hard in Delaware City.) Our tanks don't leak, but they're 27 years old and I want them off my worry list. I'd like a company that can remove any sludge, clean and examine the tank bottoms and, if necessary, coat them with a fuel-resistant sealer. Thnx.

 

[eseyoung]

I used these guys. Advanced Tank & Fuel Management – Fuel Service | Baltimore, MD

They are Baltimore based but i know they work in DE too. Prompt, good price, didn't make a mess. Id use them again.

I am not sure if they do tank coating or not.

 

[angus99]

Thanks, Eric. I'll check them out.

Let me know how the search is going.

 

[FF]

Most fuel tanks are not built to be serviced .

To do a proper job each section between baffles would need an inspection port , that can be used for hand access.

Inspection ports are now an aftermarket item that can be installed as required.

For a keeper boat , it would probably be worth while to scrap the existing fuel box and have built a proper marine fuel tank with a serviceable sump.

Second choice might be a large fuel line (so it wont easily clog with fuel debris) and a centrifugal fuel cleaner like an alfalaval.

Most common is to install a fuel polishing system which will clean the fuel, but does nothing for the tank crud.

A pair of switchable filters , with a case of elements does well in most inshore cruising.

Most folks cant be bothered and will have a service simply pump the fuel thru a filter with the return under good pressure to perhaps break some of the tank crud loose.

 

[angus99]

Appreciate it, Fred. I assume the baffles in most saddle tanks are oriented athwartship so that adding new inspection ports would allow viewing of the cavities between baffles?

 

[FF]

>I assume the baffles in most saddle tanks are oriented athwartship so that adding new inspection ports would allow viewing of the cavities between baffles?<

Usually so , Depending on how the tank was built , sometimes the baffles (if installed) will have rivets that help hold the baffle when pitching.

Sometimes the weld shrinkage can be spotted from outside.

I would check as well as you can , including borrowing a camera to find the baffle and cut the first inspection port in a clear area..

Although it is a PIA , I have known folks that chemically cleaned the tank.

Remove all fuel, add 20 gal industrial cleaner let it sit then add water , blow air in to raise the level of cleaning ,
finally pump all the crud .

A water rinse with a pump out and hopefully you are done.

This was done by a looper , so rough water clean is a maybe , but it worked just fine for him.

No filter changes underway , 6000 miles!