[C320-list] My fuel tank leaks!

[Ray Durand]

Jon,

Mine failed after two years!

In my case, one of the welded seams had a tiny pin hole in it.  It took me 
weeks to find it.  I share your pain.

Looks like you already have some advice on getting the fuel out.  This is 
very important, since you need to get it all out in order to be able to move 
the tank around to get it out.  I discovered that the only way to get the 
tank out is through the aft cabin access opening.  You have to remove the 
wooden frame around the opening and the tank will just fit through it. Mine 
had a metal strap that secured the tank to the hull.  It was not reusable, 
so I cut it with a pair of metal cutters - not too hard as I remember.

After disconnecting the hoses and the wiring to the sensor, you have to get 
the tank over to the port side so you can fit it through the aft cabin 
opening.  I got a new tank from Catalina (Frank later reimbursed me, even 
though my boat was out of warranty).  Installing the new tank was just a 
reverse of the removal process.  I bought a tank hold down strap from my 
local boating store and resecured the tank.  Keep the old sensor.  I didn't 
and my new sensor isn't nearly as accurate as the old one.  The sensor is 
easily replaced.

Good luck!

Ray Durand, #822
Marina del Rey


----- Original Message ----- 
From: <jonvez at comcast.net>
To: "320 List" <C320-List at catalina320.com>
Sent: Monday, August 21, 2006 5:32 AM
Subject: [C320-list] My fuel tank leaks!


> Well I confirmed the worst case scenario this weekend. My fuel tank is 
> indeed leaking somewhere on the bottom. I will be calling Catalina this 
> morning to get a new tank, so any advice on removing the tank and removing 
> the fuel in the tank would be greatly appreciated. Hopefully I can get one 
> quickly enough to not end the rest of my season :(
> I took a look at what Nigel Calder had to say about fuel tanks and was 
> quite surprised to read that a study conducted by the ABYC revealed a tank 
> life for aluminum to be between 7.6 years and 17 years! Production and 
> quality control seem to make the difference in the life of the tanks. My 
> boat is a '99, so this seems really premature.
>
> Does anyone have a suggestion on the type of transfer pump I can use 
> (siphoning is not an option).? Someone at the marina mentioned that there 
> is pump that can be attached to a drill and is okay to use with diesel, 
> but haven't been able to find one...Thanks in advance for any advice!
>
> Regards,
>
> Jon Vez
>