[C320-list] Fuel tank corrosion due to installation against hull?

[Martin Bayly]

Thinking of buying a 2005 model (built 2004) catalina (hull 1023).  Just had
the survey done and one of the major issues that the surveyor raised was to
do with how the fuel tank is seated.

 

He says there is water (maybe fresh water - he couldn't tell), between the
bottom of the fuel tank and the hull.  He described that there is plywood
skirt around the fuel tank which is preventing this water from dissipating.
It sounded like the plywood skirt was to hold the tank in place, but he
seemed to think that the tank was effectively sitting directly against the
hull.

 

He suggested that the tank needs to be raised, ribbing/slats  put in place
between the hull and the bottom of the tank and drain holes cut in the
plywood skirt to allow any water that collects there to drain away.

 

He felt that if this wasn't done there could be a danger that the bottom of
the tank could corrode away quite quickly.

 

So if this is the case, it sounds like a bit of a design flaw.  Just
wondering if anyone else has experienced this problem.  Did a quick search
for Fuel tank issues in this list but could not see anything like this
reported.

 

Thanks for any info

Martin