[C320-list] Fuel tank replacement

[Jeff Hare]

We rolled a couple coats of truck bed liner 'paint' on the bottom and sides of our new fuel tank to protect against any metal bits rolling up against the aluminum tank and corroding. Very durable.

But we also put the strips back below the tank simply to keep the tank from directly sitting on the hull. Place them in a direction that water won't pool anywhere and that no parts of the tank will rub against the hull.  

Catalina used scraps of rub-rail for this on the boats I've seen.  Consider how you'll strap the tank back down and also keep it from sliding forward.
Hopefully while your tank was out you took the opportunity to clean the area, replace the water tank inlet and vent hoses and reroute the bilge hoses to the slot in front of the fuel tank.  

We also used that opportunity to remove the white engine vent hoses, put screens over the 3" aft vent intakes.  The bilge blower is useless and the hoses are far too small and bendy to be true engine vents.  The engine vents far better and the fridge seems to operate more efficiently with the aft vents open without hoses.

Cheers!
-Jeff

-----Original Message-----
From: C320-list [mailto:c320-list-bounces at lists.catalina320.com] On Behalf Of Graeme Clark
Sent: Tuesday, February 6, 2018 11:24 AM
To: Catalina list <C320-List at Catalina320.com>
Subject: [C320-list] Fuel tank replacement


I am currently onboard refitting my repaired fuel tank. 
I re taped the rubber strips to the bottom but I notice having fitted it that the tank actually sits on the edges not on the strips and that the curve of the hull probably means the center strip isn’t touching either I guess I need to move the outer strips closer to the edge. Anyone know where they should be placed?

Also I don’t recall the fore/aft positioning. The tank can move about 2 inches either way. Is it supposed to be tight against the aft strip bonded to the hull? If so should I fit some form of padding or spacer to stop it sliding forward?

Any help gratefully received

Thanks

Graeme
#366, 1996

Sent from mobile: please excuse typos etc.!