225 Explorer fuel tank strap cutting into poly tank

[seanile]

Hello, First post :)  I just purchased 98 225 explorer with Yamaha 225. After getting the boat home(trailer) I noted gas smell in cabin. This had not been noted during Sea Trial or inspection. I pulled the "pie plates" and noted the tank was poly. First thought this was good! (as in no corrosion to worry about). The fuel fill hose was bad as in nearly perforated along the metal spiral in the hose along its length near the tank. I replaced this hose. I then noted the straps that secure the tank. It looks like the tank over time (likely during trailer-ing) has slid forward. There is an aluminum strap in two locations and the forward strap on the starboard side is twisted and one of the 3 screws that locate the strap to the fiberglass is pulled out. The port side of the strap is the same but not as bad. There is a rubber gasket the strap is supposed to sit in but it has shifted. The tank is about half full and still quite heavy. I rigged a way to pressurize the tank with a bike pump however I did not have the correct gauge of 1-5 psi. I pumped air to the point with the top of the tank expanded out and it held this position for 24 hrs. I was however unable to get the tank to register any pressure with the bike gauge(its starts at 10psi) and I did not want to damage the tank with excessive pressure. My tentative plan is to cut access ports 4 inch in the areas under the seats(tub/not sure what they are called but they sit right over the strap screws). I would access the screws and remove the brace. Possibly run the boat until fuel level is much less as in less heavy and attempt to slide the tank back and replace with a better strap. The aft strap seems to be still sitting int the groove of the tank(this area is harder to see). Then fashion a more suitable method to secure...Any help would be appreciated. (sorry about the terrible sentence structure!)

[wingtime]

Be very careful pressurizing a fuel tank.  Just 4 psi exerts a massive amount of force on the tank.  Low reading pressure gauges are hard to find.  The best tool I have used to test aircraft fuel tanks is a homemade manometer using clear tubing and colored water.  Just a few inches of water pressure is more than  enough to test for leaks in a fuel tank.

[Capt. Bob]

I would suggest you drain the tank.

You would need a sizable container such as a 55 gal. drum. I use 2-30 gal poly drums.
You'll need to disconnect your fuel line at the motor and can use the primer ball to begin the siphon.

I've replaced two tanks and drain my current one every season using this method.

Good luck.

[seanile]

Thank you for your replies! Has anyone seen this before? Where the aluminum straps have cut into the tank from the tank moving? So the recommended sequence is: drain tank, remove strap, test for leaks, reposition tank, secure new or modified(Better) strap? (all through 4 and 6 inch access ports

[Capt. Bob]

Thank you for your replies! Has anyone seen this before? Where the aluminum straps have cut into the tank from the tank moving? So the recommended sequence is: drain tank, remove strap, test for leaks, reposition tank, secure new or modified(Better) strap? (all through 4 and 6 inch access ports <!-- s:roll: --><!-- s:roll: -->

Well, not with a poly that I can recall. Still, I guess it can happen. That stated, I would want to be sure that the tank was compromised and re-installed correctly so.....

Draining is the first step.

Just speaking for myself, this would be the next step.
http://classicaquasport.com/smf/index.php?topic=11399.0

This is a bigger model but the concept is the same. If you're sure it's leaking then you need to access the tank for inspection. If you feel it was just the hose rather than the tank itself, you may be fine doing what you suggest but...

You need to be sure and that unfortunately, with your model Aqua, requires surgery.

How about several pics so we can see what you're seeing.

Good luck.

[seanile]

Capt. Bob Thanks. How is it your pictures are large in the example post you provided. I seem to be limited to 1100 pixels wide and 100 pixels high. This is why my pictures are so small? Thanks for your reply as well.

[RickK]

If you upload to your gallery here the system will resize any size you upload to 640x480.  Then when you post links (follow the easy instructions on "posting pictures in your topic" near the top of each forum) they will appear at 640x480.
If you paste links from a photo hosting site, like photo bucket, the size limits are 1100 x 1100.

[Bergertime]

I think you likely need to fix your tank position based on your notes but I have a question... Are you getting any fuel that is dripping out of the garboard drain plug?  When you run water from the forward anchor locker does it smell like gas when it exits?  I replaced my tank on my Osprey (Alum) and that is how I know it was leaking plus the obvious smell.  However, after my tank was replaced I could still smell fumes under the deck and in my consol storage areas...Especially after I put gas in.  It was actually that the seal on the tank vent line where it connected with the vent through hull that was leaking fumes that hung in the bottom of my boat for some time.   Anyway, check all your connections including the sender which could all be culprits, with your tank shifting they could have been compromised.. rule out the simple stuff first. Good luck.

B

[seanile]

Thanks Bergertime! No liquid fuel in bilge just fuel smell. Have not run water through the forward part of the boat...smart test though!  I will check but will have to wait until this weekend :) I will remove strap, drain and reposition if I can. May farm out the pressure check for the tank if I do not find anything obvious? I do appreciate every ones responses :)

[seanile]

Well back to the boat! I have a container for the fuel(Aluminum boat tank out of a Grady 65 Gallons). I have attached a hose from the engine side of the "bulb". I can not get the siphon to start? It there a anti siphon valve on the tank or inline that would prevent me from using this technique? I have also managed to remove the aluminum strap at the front of the tank and have confirmed that it did not perforate the tank (visual inspection). I think I can modify the current strap (have several ideas) that would secure the tank and prevent rubbing on the tank itself. Lets see if I can post some pictures!

[seanile]

I added pictures in the "photo Gallery". I am such a amateur on posting in a forum! Can I attach photos to this comment string?

[Capt. Bob]

I added pictures in the "photo Gallery". I am such a amateur on posting in a forum! Can I attach photos to this comment string?

Like this?


225 explorer poly tank strap damage


Camera pointing aft showing "laceration" of tank area. Please keep in mind I am accessing this through the deck plates. I also cut one each a 4 inch access area in the seat bench areas so that I could access the screws holding the aluminum strap.

[seanile]

Yes!

[Capt. Bob]

Yes!

OK,
You've done the hard part (keeping the photo in focus )

Now.

Go to you next photo in your gallery. I'll say it is the one showing the strap removed. Close enough.

Click on the photo so you have a full screen of just that photo and the gallery "data" surrounding it.

To the right of the photo you will see two lines (amongst all the data) that read: "Linked Thumb" and Linked Image".

Click on the box with the URL (it is shaded in blue) and you will notice it turns white.

Now press Ctrl +C on your keyboard. You have just copied that link to your computer.

Now choose where you want to place the photo in your post and click Ctrl + V and you will notice the link is now pasted in the post.

Hint: It makes it a little easier if you open a new tab in your browser and open the Forum Photo Gallery in one and your post in the other.

Good luck.

[seanile]