Fuel tank pull on E33RH

[K2MSmith]

I pulled my diesel tank a few years ago and haven't gotten around to re-installing it yet. With tank is out, it's pretty handy to re-work battery cables and other wires that are hard to access in the forward tank compartment. I rigged a temporary, plastic fuel tank while the aluminum one is out.

Last night, I finally got around to cutting inspection ports and begin cleaning the tank. There was about 3/4" of sludge in the bottom corner of the tank. The fuel pick-up tube sits about 1.5-2" above this bottom corner, so I can see how sediment contamination could become an issue on a long journey in churning seas. I didn't have any tank leakage, but I'm debating having that lower corner of the tank replaced, or, maybe having a second layer of aluminum welded on top of the existing layer.

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I'm putting in Seabuilt access plates. Luckily, I bought them a few years ago. I think they were about $190. Now they run about $300!

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Took my tank to Berrys tanks n LA for replacement on the weekend. It’s going to be made of 1/8” aluminum with same fittings but welded pickup tubes , two baffles, inspection port . I thought about reducing size to 30 gallons but decided to keep original capacity of 40 gal . Hopefully install is plug and play . I asked him to keep layout of pickup/return and filler / vent hoses .

 

[K2MSmith]

New fuel tank complete. Work-of art in 1/8” aluminum. All new h/w and sensor . I had given him the old tank so it’s a plug-in replacement. He pressure tested when I picked it up in Santa Ana.

 

[K2MSmith]

Ughhh , the fuel tank is about 2” too long and doesn’t fit . It has to go between two bulkheads . Another drive for San Jose to the shop in Costa Mesa . I keep telling myself this is all part of the sailing hobby..hopefully will get the tank fixed while I wait . The good part is owner seemed very interested in making me a happy customer.

 

[Christian Williams]

Yeah but if he copied the old tank, why's it too long?

But I agree, this is all part of sailing, and a year later you forget. Which is good.