19 6 new gas tank install begins

[imonna 19 6]

Well,

I know why the hose wont come out.

I mulled everything and decided that the best option was to cut an opening in the right box, which could later be covered with a hatch and out of sight and i figured this would allow me to get at least most of the foam out between the stringer and right side.



Nice cut to fit an 8 inch hatch

Started removing foam, all nice and dry.  the deeper I went the wetter it got.  Eventually i decide to dig out the foam around the fish box drain hose to identiofy the source of water.  Since the more I dug around that hose the wetter it got, I knew what i was going to find.  Removed the foam to the side of the hull, found the fitting and POP-off it came the pretty much all ready detached from the fitting.




It was a nice plastic fitting.  So it had crackad and all the foam surrounding it and anything beneath it was drenched.


Gonna have to come back to this on another post.

So I went back to the fill line and dug, and dug, and dug and evenntually i reached the gunwale that had previously been cleared.
F View from the bottom


and from the top


So there is the problem.

the hose is pinched and compressed about 1/4 inch between the floor and the side.  There is likely enough resistance at that one spot to hold it pretty solid, so all my force is being transmitted into the bend at the floor side opf that point.

I am gonna figure out a way to either cut the hose below it or knock it out of the groove and then take the comealong to it again.

I have the foam removed on three sides of the hose below the deck and have removed an inch or two above the stringer.




back at it.

Now that I have so much opened up i expect i will get the hose out, then pull out the vent, and dig out as much wet foam as i can.

Just saw Fabuck's post.  Lets hope there is no putty.  I can drop a hatch in front of the seat, but it would be nice to get away with one new hole in the boat

Bill

[imonna 19 6]

ITS OUT


Ok its loose and ready to be pulled through dragging the new hose along with it.

Took me a long time to figure out how to get the hose un-wedged from that spot.  No room to saw, to hard to slice with a carpet knife, couldnt be pushed or pulled free.

Finally decided to put a hose clamp on it right above the stuck point and tighten that sucker down so far that I compressed the hose diameter enough to wedge it free.  Soon as i did that, the comealong pulled it easily.


When I re-run it I am going to alter the path and instead of coming up between the floor and the side, I am going to come up to the fill 3 inches ahead of that, just forward of then deck between the vertical rise and the right fishbox.

Gonna make my shopping list and start ordering what I need.

Thank you for everyones help.

Here are some pictures of the aftermath.







I got some questions, which i will make a new entry for so it doesnt get buried here.

Thanks again

Bill

[imonna 19 6]

My coffin dimensions look very similar to skoots.

At the bottom, not including the tapered edge i have 63 3/4 long, 21 3/4 wide.

If I take the height from bottom to opening for hoses to come through on top of tank (with some space so they arent rubbing, I get 8 1/2 inches.

I read somewhere i need to account for tank expansion by leaving some space True?  if so, how much.

I was told I need to leave 2 3/4 space on top of tank for various reasons (air space, fill nozzle, etc). Does this sound right.

My coffin lid rests at 11 1/8 from bottom, so if I reduce the tank to leave  the 2 3/4, I would get 8 3/8 for a new maximum tank height.

then I plan on adding 1/4 plastic strips the the bottom to keep elevated (per pascoe method), lets call it an even 8 inches.

Does this seem like the right sizing   .   Don't want to order the wrong size.




As far as where to locate fittings I will have an inspection hatch at the top and lower middle of the coffin.   it would seem to make sense to put the fill, vent, and grounding tab all the way forward (same as skoots), put the sending unit under the aft inspection hatch, and I am guessing the pick-up should go as astern as possible?

Anyone have any lessons learned about this?

[pete]

good job sir,we knew you'd get it!!!    

[imonna 19 6]

Morning,

I just sent an email to Phil at Alloy to discuss a new tank.  very exciting

Anyone have any helpful info, please let me know.  I want to do this right and want to follow all ABYC standards.  Fuel systems make me appropriately nervous.

Bill

PS  Also, i dont know at one point top start a new topic with some of these questions or keep them going here.

[kedd]

Phil at Alloy did a great job on my tank.
Really nice to deal with.

Kedd

[GoneFission]

My coffin dimensions look very similar to skoots.

I was told I need to leave 2 3/4 space on top of tank for various reasons (air space, fill nozzle, etc). Does this sound right.
My coffin lid rests at 11 1/8 from bottom, so if I reduce the tank to leave  the 2 3/4, I would get 8 3/8 for a new maximum tank height.
Anyone have any lessons learned about this?

Give Phil the dimensions of your old tank and he will build a duplicate - he will also know if it needs internal baffles based on size.  The old tank should have the gauge sender hole right under the deck plate, so you can replace the sender if needed.  Phil will deliver the tank with a standard Teleflex sender installed if you ask - go ahead and have him do that - it will save you having to do it later.  

You do want the pickup toward the back of the tank.  Is there a "belly" in the botton of the tank?  Often the bottom of the tank will not be flat so you can get every bit of gas out when you want to.  You will want to use new hose for your new tank, both for supply and vent.  Be prepared to be a bit shocked at the price of the marine fuel hose - but that's what you need to use.  Use double clamps on the hose connections and make sure you use the right size clamps - clamps that are too big will leak air or vapors.  Remember to offset the clamps by 180 degrees to get the best seal and to ensure vapor-tightness.  

Now that you have the tank out, clean up the tub and check the bottom for cracks.  If there is not a drain hole in the back of the tub, put one in using something like a garboard plug that you can remove from under the deck to see if any water is accumulating in the tub.  

Good luck!

[saltfly]

What about grounds? Shouldn’t the fill, be grounded to the tank and the tank grounded to the battery? Or isn’t that required anymore?
 

[imonna 19 6]

I am going to run 10 AWG ground from the bolt on the fill to the ground tab, then to grounding bar.  

Unfortunately Gonefission the old tank was not in the boat when I bought it, just an above deck tank


I will have the maker of the tank install the sender so I don't have to.   I am gonna do this whole thing the right way, so I am ok with the cost of the hoses.

Gonna do 1 1/2 ID A2 for fill
5/8 ID A2 for vent
New vent with vent screen
Double SS clamped  both ends, alternated direction of clamp (one facing right, one facing left)

Gonna use A1 3/8 fuel line from tank to shut off, then from shut off to racor.

I have to choose between accessibility and effectiveness with the location of the pick-up.

My coffin is solid, but flat, so my tank will also be flat on the bottom.  If I put the pick-up in the back of the tank, I wont be able to inspect or access it, but i will be able to shine a flashlight on it now and again.

If i move the pick up  towards the center of the tank, say 20" forward from the back (on a 64" tank), it will be fully accessible.  Peoples thoughts on which is better.  can i have a pick-up with a longer tube installed  

if not should I go for accessible or farthest astern for the location?

i do have a small hole in the bottom of the coffin to allow water to drain into the bilge, but it is not plugged and once closed up, i cant reach that spot from the bilge inspection hatch.  Was just gonna leave it open. Its  about 1/2 inch in diameter.

another question for those with an opinion:  Do i re-foam in my new lines (where I removed the foam originally)?

I am NOT foaming my tank.

Thanks'
Bill

[gran398]

Bill, first off, we're all happy you broke her loose. What a pain, but you had damn good advice, intelligent thinking from experienced folks who care. (Sounds like a commercial)  

You're plan from here sounds good. You definitely want to be able to access the pickup. My rebuild is going along about the same as yours. Since will have a big oval livewell sitting over a potential rear inspection hatch...have chosen to keep all systems together, that is, everything will be below one inspection hatch at the rear of the console (halfway in the tank) Pickups included. Will trade off the ability to pick up the last five to eight gallons for ease of use/inspection.

Would not advise re-foaming anywhere near the hoses. If you were to have an issue/smell/leak....deja vu'. Better to eliminate this problem from occurring again.

GOOD JOB!!

[saltfly]

I’ve never had to replace my fill tube in any of my Aquasports, yet. But did in a Mako I had.  The tube was foamed in. What I did, to make sure the foam didn’t cause a problem again. Was to use pvc, just like a rigging tube. Then foamed. Then ran my fill down the pvc pipe. If it had to be replace again. It would be a lot easier. I use gray pipe. Were I could get large swiping bends. If you have the room. You may want to conceder doing the same.

[kedd]

Bill,

Phill at Alloy will be able to weld the pick-up forward where you want it and run a longer pick-up tube to the rear of the tank.
This is what he did for my tank.

Kedd

[imonna 19 6]

Sounds good, but been two days and he hasn't responded.  He is on the short list for fabricators, but I am going to move pretty quick.  If anyone knows him personally and wants to nudge him, i'd appreciate it.

[kedd]

Bill,

Did you call the shop or e-mail Phill?

He turned my tank around in 5 days and was good with the follow up.


Kedd

[imonna 19 6]

Both. i left a message Sunday and the emailed the specs and info Sunday Night.  I don't need the tank tomorrow, but I definitely want to have purchased it by the weekend so i start the the 9th.  i have a local guy that I am waiting on too, but Phil comes highly recommended.