1989 222 XF

[ckoutsaplis]

Hello everyone,

I recently was given what seems to be a 1989 222XF. I came to that conclusion by using the catalogs and sales books in the gallery. The boat has been sitting for 4-5 years. Right of the bat I know that the panel that covers the fuel tank is buckled and doesn’t sit flush with the floor. Not sure how I am going to tackle that. The main question is what to look for the boat in general to figure out the condition of it. Any response is welcome or you can point me to the right thread. A secondary question has to do with the engine. It is a 1999 Mercury 175 carbureted. If someone has a similar motor I would like their input.

I am glad I am part of this family.
 Chrys

[Capt. Bob]

Post a few photos and we can better help with what you have. Also post the HIN # found on the starboard side of transom. That will help confirm date.

Buckling fuel tank coffin cover just confirms what would be known if the fuel tank is original. Time to replace.

Light reading.
https://classicaquasport.com/smf/index.php?topic=10634.0

Read the link and follow the steps. Posting pics then becomes easy.
https://classicaquasport.com/smf/index.php?topic=12725.0

Good luck.

[ckoutsaplis]

Thank you for the reply Capt.Bob. The HIN is OUAM4012B989. I will post some pictures this weekend.

[RickK]

Welcome Chrys.  As a member, you get a free photo gallery here in your user name.  If you want to post a pic when you talk about your boat, which you should, follow the instructions here http://classicaquasport.com/smf/index.php?topic=12725.0  - don't attach them, this is better for viewing and no size limits (there are limits when attaching).
Spend a few minutes to absorb the instructions. It's really easy.

[ckoutsaplis]

I was able to take a look at the boat today. The boat seems solid. Transom is solid, no soft spots on the deck, and the bilge is clean. Nothing on the hull as well. The only thing is the panel that covers the fuel tank is cracked in the middle, on the bottom side and the tank is shot. Here are some pictures.

[Capt. Bob]

Yep, 1989 Hialeah Hull. The last of a dying breed. A CCP hull with a XF cap. A little pressure wash and bleach will do wonders.

Good luck.

[ckoutsaplis]

Is the fuel tank cover repairable?

[mshugg]

I love the wide open space at the helm. There are so many seating options that could take advantage of that space. 

Is the fuel tank cover repairable?

It’s false economy to try to repair a fuel tank.  It only takes a small leak to turn your boat I to a potential bomb.  If you have pin holes where you can see, you likely have them where you can’t.  Better to bite the bullet when you repair the tank hatch cover.

[ckoutsaplis]

mshugg the fuel tank is shot and there is no way it can be repaired. I am asking about the hatch cover that is cracked in the middle.

[mshugg]

Sorry, I misunderstood.  Yes, you should be able to repair the hatch. 

Remove the core from the underside.  An oscillating multi tool will make less of a mess, but you could grind through the skin.  The core is most likely rotten and water logged, so it should chisel out easily.  Grind the surface back to clean glass.  You can grind the underside of the crack to create a feathered edge and layer with structural glass like 1708 to bring it back to level.  Then I’d put two or three layers of 1708 over the underside of the hatch.  Use thickened resin to glue in a new core.  You could get fancy and use a composite core, but marine plywood will do fine.  Finish with one or two layers of 1708.

It’s up to you what to do with the topside.  The best repair would require grinding the glass back on the topside and filling too.  Repairing the nonskid is the hard part.  It is possible to make a mold from your existing nonskid, but it would be much easier to sand the nonskid off and apply gelcoat or paint with a nonskid additive.

[Capt. Bob]

Following Michael's lead, here's a pic of my tank coffin cover after repair.



When I lifted the cover for the first time, it looked a lot like yours in the black aspect so...
Your first step is to clean the sludge off. Pressure wash or mineral spirits works very well. In the photo above, you can see the balsa squares that the factory used as coring material. I added the larger round deck plate at the site of the repair and also the rectangle shape hatch for access to the batteries. I used a piece of marine ply for the repair core.

This is an excellent example of a complete repair but "Photo Bucket" has blurred the pics. This is why everyone should use our Forum Gallery in posting pics. It will really help the "next rebuilder".

https://classicaquasport.com/smf/index.php?topic=6907.msg49899#msg49899

And another:
https://classicaquasport.com/smf/index.php?topic=4360.msg27958#msg27958

Good luck.

[GoneFission]

More info on a recore of the tank cover:  https://classicaquasport.com/smf/index.php?topic=3085.msg19862#msg19862