[C320-list] inside my 1996 fuel tank

[Catalina]

The engineering drawing for the tank is available for download.  A decent local aluminum fabrication shop could make one.  There isn't anything too special about it.
Jeff


Sent from my Verizon, Samsung Galaxy smartphone
-------- Original message --------From: Michael McCretton <michaelmccretton at hotmail.com> Date: 11/5/17  1:46 AM  (GMT-05:00) To: C320-List at Catalina320.com Subject: Re: [C320-list] inside my 1996 fuel tank 
Graeme
A couple of years ago I had the bottom of my fuel tank cut off and replaced as you describe by http://www.jaywolfe.co.uk/ who are based in Northampton. They also put an access port in and replaced the rather heath robinson fuel guage with a more modern one. When finished they pressure tested it. Very professional and as you suggest a fraction of the cost from the US.
I also went to see Tek Tanks who will make a plastic tank in any shape, but I stuck with the old one primarily because getting all the threads on existing connectors which were in American screw threads became problematic. They did not gave the appropriate cutters.
I also put a hand pump in as recommended by Nigel Calder in his book on boat maintenance. He places great store by this. I can now drain the bottom of the tank with minimum effort. I got the pump fro Force4 for about £19.
Regards
Michael
Silvan II 1994 #302

Sent from my iPhone

On 4 Nov 2017, at 20:40, Graeme Clark <cg at skyflyer.co.uk<mailto:cg at skyflyer.co.uk>> wrote:

I think you could well be correct Jeff. Unfortunately overseas in U.K. the cost of importing a new one is horrendous!
I'm thinking of having a new bottom welded into place instead. Relatively simple and inexpensive. The sides and top aren't really that bad.
Graeme

Sent from mobile: please excuse typos etc.!


On 4 Nov 2017, at 15:32, Jeff Hare <Catalina at thehares.com<mailto:Catalina at thehares.com>> wrote:

If you look closely, you'll see all the internal pitting/corrosion (the dark
spots).  The early tanks (even through 2002 models) used significantly
thinner aluminum than the latest tanks.

I predict that this tank will spring real leaks before much longer,
especially now that it's cleaned and the corrosion can really get started
again. Instead of just cleaning out the inside of the tank, I think you'll
soon be pulling out the aft water tank and cleaning leaked diesel from that
area and the grid stringers.  These old tanks will all fail. And it's those
pits that will start weeping.  Ours was replaced 2 years ago in our 2001.

Also the newer tanks have a pickup that dips near the bottom but doesn't sit
on the bottom.  I actually prefer that the crud to be picked up and handled
by your primary filter, so that your tank retains less debris over time, but
that's just my preference based on how and where we use our boat.

We designed and installed a ~24gal replacement tank that EZELL built for us
using the same thicker material they use in the newer tanks.
https://c320.org/mediagallery/album.php?aid=298

-Jeff Hare
#809


-----Original Message-----
From: C320-list [mailto:c320-list-bounces at lists.catalina320.com] On Behalf
Of Graeme Clark
Sent: Saturday, November 4, 2017 10:41 AM
To: Catalina list <C320-List at Catalina320.com<mailto:C320-List at catalina320.com>>
Subject: Re: [C320-list] inside my 1996 fuel tank

Indeed so Ted,
The ends are folded over and inserted INTO the folded body then welded on
the outside. I guess it gives extra rigidity around the edges, but is also
leaves an impossible to clean crevice where dirt can collect.
I have no idea what the gunk consisted of, but there was a grittiness to it.
I suspect its a combination of things!
Graeme


On 4 Nov 2017, at 12:22, Ted Harrison <tharrison at innovations-plus.com<mailto:tharrison at innovations-plus.com>>
wrote:

Thanks for the pictures. What I also noticed was the metal seams.

Ted Harrison

On Nov 4, 2017, at 8:14 AM, Graeme Clark <cg at skyflyer.co.uk<mailto:cg at skyflyer.co.uk>> wrote:

Before and after pics, having cut an inspection port and cleaned out 21
years worth of gunk!

I was surprised to find the rubber extension hose on the fuel pickup
leading to the very lowest point of the tank (forward port corner) where it
is ideally placed to suck up any accumulated muck!

Before:-   https://ibb.co/giY9Nb <https://ibb.co/giY9Nb>

After:-   https://ibb.co/d9wJFw <https://ibb.co/d9wJFw>

Graeme
#366, Jaskar, 1996, UK