Fuel tank leak 1986 Osprey 200

[brookie]

Hi all. I am a new Aquasport owner. I passed by a 200cc for some time and admired its lines. One day it had a "for sale" sign and I ended up buying it. The previous owner informed me the internal fuel tank leaked before I bought it but I'm mechanical enough I 'm sure I can handle removal. I see from the discussion board this is a common problem. I'm just looking for photos of the project to assist before I get started. Can anyone direct me to these or do I need to sort through the 100's of entries on the discussion and photos section?
Also I'm thinking of using a cross linked polyethylene marine tank as a replacement to address the rust and flexing issues. However I have not seen a single discussion about plastic tanks on this site. Am I missing something??
I would like to hear what others on the site think.

Thanks
Brookie

[RickK]

Welcome aboard brookie  :!:  :!:

[Mad Dog]

Here are a couple of links you may want to look at.

http://www.moellermarine.com/oemdownloads/tech_support/

Especially this one.

http://www.moellermarine.com/sites/moel ... nk_AFL.pdf

Won't catch me using a plastic tank.

MD  

[Capt. Bob]

However I have not seen a single discussion about plastic tanks on this site. Am I missing something??
I would like to hear what others on the site think.

Thanks
Brookie

Well like the old sayin' goes:
Stupid is as stupid does.
I just hope we haven't been stupid. :o
Brookie, I think those of us who have changed our tanks just went with what was there to begin with.
I know I did. I looked at poly in the boating catalogs but couldn't find any the size I needed (85 gal.) but I didn't look very hard.
The newer Aquas up to a certain length have the poly tanks and I believe some (a small number) have replaced their alums with poly also.
So far mine has outlasted the original by a year (knock on wood). I'm hopin' for a little more.  :!:

Good luck and keep us posted.

[brookie]

Thanks to the responders to my question. I don't plan to do the repair until this winter. I'm on Lake Erie and I can live with the the portable tanks for the rest of the season. Ther will be plenty of down time around the corner for work. For now I plan to enjoy as much boating time as I can. The weather has been beautiful this Summer for a change. Thanks again and I'll keep you posted when I get down to work. Untill then I'm still interested in feedback. Also I'll post photos for the next guy when I get down to business..

Brookie

[GoneFission]

Brookie:  Most Aquasports have weird gas tank shapes that most plastic tanks don't match.  Aquasport tanks tend to be long length-wise and shallow.  Not too many plastic tanks like that.  So having an aluminum tank made kinda makes sense.  I would have had to buy 2 plastic 30 gallon tanks and put valves and filler diverters in to replace my 85 gallon tank.  Phil at Alloy Metal Works did the job with a custom 85 gallon tank in a week for $650 - seems like a no-brainer...

[bob138]

hi brookie i m bob138 i have 250 explorer with bad tank that s great that you can do repair on off season . my boat is in marina and the cost of this tank replacement keeps climbing .the new tank is being built its going to take two weeks and about 1400.00 for 140 gal.with hoses and shipping . to install tank and glass work 3000.00 in just labor . if i could have done in off season i would do myself  .good luck

[Bushleaguer]

Brookie-
I did my tank in winter '07 (I'm in Ohio too, so it was a challange working in the cold) on my 1987 Osprey 222.  It wasn't leaking, but had some corrosion where the foam was between the metal straps and the tank.  I was able to clean it up, coat it, and re-install.  I have a bunch of pics in my photo gallery.  Your boat should be similiar to mine.  If you come up with any problems let me know and I can do my best to help.  Good luck.

[Dukester]

Brookie, where at in Ohio?  I see Bushleaguer is in Marblehead.  All my family lives in that area between Oak Harbor, Port Clinton, Fremont, Clyde, You get the idea LOL!  Dukeshire is part of them.  I lived in LaCarne and was a member of the Erie Township Fire Department both Fireman & EMT.  I also worked for Lakeshore EMS out of Sandusky covering all of Ottawa County.  Great memories but a long time ago.  Great Walleye and perch fishing in that area for sure!  Great to hear from some Ohio Aquasport buddies!

[brookie]

I live in Sandusky but worked in Port Clinton for 21 yrs at the old Erie Proving Grounds later converted to Erie Industrial Park. That’s just a stones throw away from some of the areas you mentioned. Lake Erie is a great place to boat. The Islands are only a few miles off shore and the perch fishing is great in the fall.

[brookie]

Bushleaguer.... I'm supprised to hear from 2 Ohioans with boats that came from FL. Thanks for the info. Fortunatly I have a place to work indoors, even heated, this Winter. While I have a number of other irons in the fire, I'm almost looking forward to this job. I have worked on just about everything except a boat, so this will be a bit of a change. Thanks for the response

Brookie

[RickK]

Let me see here - heater and gas -  

[brookie]

GoneFission, Thanks for the response. I see you’re from Lake Norman. I drive past there at least twice a year on my way to and from FL visiting family. My wife and I have always commented on how beautiful it is. We drive 77 and are amazed at the development over the last 10 years. I can remember when you could almost count the houses visible from the highway. Now there are hundreds.

Brookie

[brookie]

RickK....No problem. The tank is empty, the building is large, and I’m well aware of the properties of gas, or more importantly GAS VAPORS.

Brookie

[RickK]