Reply
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread Display Modes
 
Old 04-07-2014, 10:08 AM   #1
TF Site Team
 
Larry M's Avatar
 
City: Jacksonville
Join Date: Nov 2008
Posts: 11,680
Tank Cleaning/Coating

I just had a fun 6 days in the engine room and thought I'd share. Hobo has 2-350 gallon sheet metal tanks with no leaks (new 1987). I cleaned the port tank 2 years ago and was concerned when I saw the minor pitting on the bottom and the amount of sludge that had collected at the low end of the tank. This past week, after transferring all the fuel to the port tank, I opened the starboard tank and found about an equal amount of sludge and minor pitting. No surprise there.

The tanks have 3 baffles/4 chambers. All of the sludge/pitting was pretty much confined to the low area in the front chamber. I could see into the second chamber so I am guessing on the back 2. The tanks are 8 feet long.

After some internet research and looking at pictures of 2 tanks that had been coated, I went with FlameMaster 3204 A1/2. ($273/gallon)

http://www.flamemaster.com/Technical...ev%2001-07.pdf

Following the directions, I used a 4" brush to paint the bottom and sides up about 4-6". The stuff has the consistency, at room temperature, of honey with a 30 minute working time and a 30 hour cure time.

I didn't find any water in the last 5 gallons of diesel that I didn't transfer over. 15K plus gallons of fuel had gone through the tanks since the last cleaning. The engines never shut down due to clogged filters which were changed at 200 hour intervals.

Band-Aid or permanent fix? Who knows? But it's one less thing I'm worrying about.

The picture with the sludge, for perspective, you can see the blade of a 4" putty knife in the lower right corner.
Attached Thumbnails
2a.jpg   3a.jpg   6a.jpg   8a.jpg  
Larry M is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-07-2014, 01:30 PM   #2
Dauntless Award
 
Wxx3's Avatar
 
City: Wrangell, Alaska
Vessel Name: Dauntless
Vessel Model: Kadey Krogen 42 - 148
Join Date: Jan 2013
Posts: 2,820
Thanks for the pics.

Makes me realize how clean my tanks were when I checked.
__________________
Richard on Dauntless,
New York

a Kadey Krogen 42 currently: https://share.garmin.com/dauntless
Blog:
https://dauntlessatsea.com
Wxx3 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-07-2014, 02:53 PM   #3
TF Site Team
 
Larry M's Avatar
 
City: Jacksonville
Join Date: Nov 2008
Posts: 11,680
Quote:
Originally Posted by Larry M View Post
...15K plus gallons of fuel had gone through the tanks since the last cleaning....
My mistake. Should say...10K plus has gone through the tanks....
Larry M is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-07-2014, 08:55 PM   #4
Guru
 
Forkliftt's Avatar
 
City: Diberville Mississippi
Vessel Name: KnotDoneYet
Vessel Model: 1983 42' Present Sundeck
Join Date: Oct 2007
Posts: 2,450
Geez Larry, Only 10,000 gallons?? You should try leaving the dock sometime.......😊
__________________
Steve Point Cadet/ Biloxi, Mississippi USA
*Present 42 twin 135 Lehmans
Forkliftt is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-08-2014, 02:42 PM   #5
TF Site Team
 
Larry M's Avatar
 
City: Jacksonville
Join Date: Nov 2008
Posts: 11,680
You're right. Lena and I were talking this week about that. We arrived in Florida last June and this is the longest we have stayed in one spot since 1997.
Larry M is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-08-2014, 03:58 PM   #6
Guru
 
Forkliftt's Avatar
 
City: Diberville Mississippi
Vessel Name: KnotDoneYet
Vessel Model: 1983 42' Present Sundeck
Join Date: Oct 2007
Posts: 2,450
Quote:
Originally Posted by Larry M View Post
You're right. Lena and I were talking this week about that. We arrived in Florida last June and this is the longest we have stayed in one spot since 1997.
Larry- I hope you realize how totally jealous many of us are!! Carry on!
__________________
Steve Point Cadet/ Biloxi, Mississippi USA
*Present 42 twin 135 Lehmans
Forkliftt is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-08-2014, 07:58 PM   #7
Dauntless Award
 
Wxx3's Avatar
 
City: Wrangell, Alaska
Vessel Name: Dauntless
Vessel Model: Kadey Krogen 42 - 148
Join Date: Jan 2013
Posts: 2,820
where will you go next?
__________________
Richard on Dauntless,
New York

a Kadey Krogen 42 currently: https://share.garmin.com/dauntless
Blog:
https://dauntlessatsea.com
Wxx3 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-09-2014, 07:16 AM   #8
TF Site Team
 
Larry M's Avatar
 
City: Jacksonville
Join Date: Nov 2008
Posts: 11,680
Quote:
Originally Posted by Wxx3 View Post
where will you go next?

Good question. We have lots places on our bucket list; not sure where we want to start, but I do know we're not done yet!
Larry M is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-09-2014, 07:54 AM   #9
Guru
 
Hendo78's Avatar
 
City: Perth
Join Date: Nov 2012
Posts: 3,314
Hi Larry, how big is that inspection port in your tank? And are inspection ports the norm in the US? I've not seen that over here.
Cheers mate
Matt

Sent from iPad using Trawler App
__________________
Builder and former owner of MV SOLSTICE
Hendo78 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-09-2014, 08:10 AM   #10
TF Site Team
 
Larry M's Avatar
 
City: Jacksonville
Join Date: Nov 2008
Posts: 11,680
Quote:
Originally Posted by Hendo78 View Post
Hi Larry, how big is that inspection port in your tank? And are inspection ports the norm in the US? I've not seen that over here.
Cheers mate
Matt

Sent from iPad using Trawler App
Ours are 8" inside diameter. We had them on our boat also. The ports were on the top there. Standard, who knows? I know of boats that have added them for inspection and/or cleaning. Sea Built has a good product but expensive at ~$180 US for the 10" aluminum. You're handy enough that you could make them.

Seabuilt - Access Plate Systems
Larry M is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-09-2014, 08:18 AM   #11
Guru
 
Hendo78's Avatar
 
City: Perth
Join Date: Nov 2012
Posts: 3,314
Quote:
Originally Posted by Larry M View Post
Ours are 8" inside diameter. We had them on our boat also. The ports were on the top there. Standard, who knows? I know of boats that have added them for inspection and/or cleaning. Sea Built has a good product but expensive at ~$180 US for the 10" aluminum. You're handy enough that you could make them. Seabuilt - Access Plate Systems
Cheers mate.
Yeah only seen them on ships. I'd love to put them in my tank but I have two baffles in the tank so I'd need to put in three ports.

Thanks for your reply mate

Matt

Sent from iPad using Trawler App
__________________
Builder and former owner of MV SOLSTICE
Hendo78 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-09-2014, 08:42 AM   #12
TF Site Team
 
Pack Mule's Avatar
 
City: Paris,TN
Vessel Name: Slo-Poke
Vessel Model: Jorgensen custom 44
Join Date: Jan 2013
Posts: 3,749
Quote:
Originally Posted by Wxx3 View Post
where will you go next?
Where to go next? And not sure where to start from . Sounds like fun . Can't wait to get this work thang out of the way so I can have those tough questions to answer . Larry do you have to prime the tanks first or just lay on the paint ? Have fun .
Pack Mule is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-09-2014, 09:05 AM   #13
TF Site Team
 
Larry M's Avatar
 
City: Jacksonville
Join Date: Nov 2008
Posts: 11,680
Quote:
Originally Posted by Pack Mule View Post
... do you have to prime the tanks first or just lay on the paint ?...
After emptying, I used a scotch pad, then rags with acetone. I kept wiping till the rags came up clean. No primer, I just brushed the on 3204. The stuff will stick to anything so sacrificial clothes and brush an mandatory.
Larry M is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-24-2014, 07:48 PM   #14
Senior Member
 
City: Hong Kong
Join Date: Nov 2012
Posts: 247
here is a good article about the tank sealants, very informative:

http://www.vansairforce.net/articles/tank_sealant.pdf
Searios 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 05:19 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