[C320-list] C320 Fuel Tank Replacement

[Chris Burti]

Allen, Jeff. Please send me some pictures, product specs and I'll edit it
all into a Mainsheet Article.

thanks,
CB

Chris Burti
Farmville, NC


On Mon, Feb 22, 2016 at 9:02 AM, Allan S Field <allan.field at verizon.net>
wrote:

> Jeff Hare has done a great write-up on this project.  Following is what I
> saved from his post, knowing that I'd eventually face this problem also.
> Hope it helps!
>
> The problem with this approach is that the drainage isn't directly to the
> bilge.  It will flow in front of the fuel tank and into the compartment
> where the aft water tank sits below the bunk.  Only when enough pools in
> there to rise to the hole where the water line joins into tank will it
> spill out and into the area where the prop shaft sits.  From there, it
> leads under the engine pan through a small drain hole.  Once under the
> engine pan area, this won't directly drain to the bilge cleanly since only
> if the boat is tilted forward will that space drain into the bilge.
> Depending on how they finished the compartment holding the water tank, the
> fuel may bypass the prop shaft area and go directly below the engine pan
> once enough pools under the tank. So, my advice is not to do this as the
> result won't be great and it'll take quite a few rough sailing adventures
> to fully flush the stuff under the engine area out into the bilge for
> cleanup.
>
> Instead you could consider some of these options:
>
> - just use simple green on paper towels to wipe down the tank and as much
> of the area in front of the tank as you can reach.  This won't take care of
> cleaning the pool of diesel that the aft water tank may be sitting in.
> That may eventually permeate the water tank, and if nothing else, keep your
> aft cabin smelling like a truck stop.  Not the best choice, but far better
> than trying to wash down the tank and collect the runoff in the bilge.
>
> Best choice:
> - remove the aft water tank and you'll be able to fully clean up the mess.
> It's not all that difficult and could do it in an afternoon with a helper.
>   * To do this, drain the aft water tank (easy)
>   * Disconnect the water line leading out of the tank which is right near
> the raw water strainer.  (easy)
>   * Disconnect the water tank Fill hose and water tank vent line from the
> deck fill fitting and the overboard vent so that these ends are free.
> (moderately easy)
>   * Remove the two white wooden braces that hold the water tank down.
> (easy)
>   * With a large wrench, unscrew the threaded fittings that connect the
> fill/vent hoses to the back of the water tank.  It's more difficult to
> remove the hoses from these fittings than it is to just unscrew them from
> the tank, while your assistant twists the hoses along with you from the
> area by the rudder post.  (bit of a pain in the neck, but not hard.  I did
> it by myself, and chose to replace the fill and vent hoses once I saw what
> they looked like).
>   * At this point, the water tank will simply lift out and you can fully
> clean the area under the water tank (and the water tank itself) of diesel.
>   * I used simple green full strength on wads of paper towels to mop up
> and clean out the area under the tank and just put them in plastic trash
> bag.
>
> The net result here is that you'll end up being able to clean up the mold
> and mildew from under the aft cabin bunk at the same time.  I have pictures
> of before/after in ours.
>
> I'll also point out that our fuel tank ALSO showed signs of leaking out
> the fuel sender seal.  I was sure it was just the seal and people on this
> list convinced me to take a closer look before drawing this conclusion.
> While this was indeed happening, there was a half-dime sized patch of
> corrosion that didn't even show when the tank was in place which was where
> the real leak was coming from.  It was leaking at a rate of about a
> tablespoon a week...sometimes.  Once I pulled the fuel tank, and put a
> flashlight on the corrosion spot outside the tank and looked inside the
> tank, I could see that the metal was extremely thin and could see the
> glowing of the flashlight.
> Eventually it would have started gushing.
>
> It was confusing was that it didn't leak consistently.  At one point I had
> what seemed like a lot of fuel that had leaked, but then it appeared to
> stop which made me also think it was only leaking when the tank was full to
> the top.
>
> Your hull number is only 12 away from mine.  Many boats with much earlier
> hull numbers have already had corrosion leaks and I'd bet that most of them
> also showed wetness to some degree at the top of the tank around the cork
> seal for the sender.  Also, remember that it only takes a tiny errant piece
> of metal to roll under the tank and make contact  and you'll develop a
> galvanic corrosion leak after some time in a place you cannot inspect.
>
> Ezell can deliver a new direct replacement tank pretty quickly (a week or
> so) for about $425 that is made of significantly thicker metal and has a
> more high-tech sender and nice valves.  So it's worth considering.
> Especially if you pull the old tank you'll be able to really clean up all
> traces of diesel.
>
> To drain our diesel tank (which was full) I simply used a cheap "drill
> pump"
> from Home Depot that I put in my electric drill.  I disconnected the hose
> where it connects into the fuel filter and just pumped the fuel into some
> diesel fuel jugs.  Took about 20 min and the tank was really quite empty
> and lightweight at that point.  I don't know whether this little rotary
> pump was "diesel fuel" safe, but I had no problems with it whatsoever.
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: C320-list [mailto:c320-list-bounces at lists.catalina320.com] On
> Behalf Of upwego
> Sent: Monday, February 22, 2016 8:21 AM
> To: C320 List <c320-list at lists.catalina320.com>
> Subject: [C320-list] C320 Fuel Tank Replacement
>
> I have just discovered a slow leak coming from underneath my fuel tank.
> All the connection ports on top of the tank show no signs of leakage.  It
> may be a leak in the fuel tank itself. Has anyone experienced this
> condition and found another source of a leak that might be on the underside
> of the tank?  Has anyone removed and replaced a C320 fuel tank?  If so, any
> pointers that would be helpful or should I have it done be a mechanic?  I
> see Catalina Direct has a 29 gallon replacement for the 19.  Anyone tried
> upgrading to the larger tank?
> Any advice or info would be helpful?
> Thanks
> Jack FitzgibbonHull #441, S/V wetted bliss
>
>