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I haven't visited the site for quite awhile, actually could not find it when the "old" site went down. Fellow DE 38 owners in Chula Vista pointed me back to this site. I am specifically looking for info on this topic that was posted on the old site. I am wondering if anyone can provide access to a previous article about opening up the tank and coating it with filled epoxy paint?
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Here's a link to the writeup when I sealed up my tank from the inside with Ameron 2/400:
http://downeasteryachts.com/in.....eplacement
it's been 4 years now and lots of ocean miles and the tanks is still holding fine.
Jason,
DE32 Bodhran
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svbodhran said:
Here's a link to the writeup when I sealed up my tank from the inside with Ameron 2/400:
http://downeasteryachts.com/in.....eplacement
it's been 4 years now and lots of ocean miles and the tanks is still holding fine.
Jason,
DE32 Bodhran
Thanks for the prompt response, Jason. When I click the link a window opens, but there is no article. I'm wondering how you cleaned the tank and whether you applied any corrosion control type primer. Also, in the narratives on your web site, you said you had some pick up tube clogging due to paint chips. Any thoughts on root cause or preventive action on that problem?
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What browser are you using when you try and follow the link above? Using firefox it works fine for me. If there is a problem in another browser I need to see about fixing that.
scott
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Ok I have verified on one computer that IE seems to be having major problems displaying parts of the website. Please bear with me while I try and figure out what is happening.. You should be able to view the site fine with firefox from mozilla.com untill I get this fixed.
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Scott Carle said:
Ok I have verified on one computer that IE seems to be having major problems displaying parts of the website. Please bear with me while I try and figure out what is happening.. You should be able to view the site fine with firefox from mozilla.com untill I get this fixed.
You guys are awesome!! I downloaded Firefox and can now view all the informative articles on the site. While my fuel tank isn't fixed yet, you move me a giant step forward!! Thanks for all your attention. [Image Can Not Be Found]
Ed
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Funny thing. I've got my DE38 in Chula Vista Marina and they're telling me I've got a leaky fuel tank. That article you linked is for the DE32, but how different is it for the DE38? I'm thinking I'd rather pull the whole tank out and put in a brand new tank rather than restore or repair the existing tank.
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pulling the tank is a major task.. it extends on the top to just under the edge of the kitchen cabinetry and the chart table/pilot berth... If you take it out in one piece you will have to cut the entire floor out as well as into the fibreglass of the kitchen counter and the fibreglass of the pilot berth. I would repair over replace anyday..... That or cut it up and pull it out in chunks through a hatch you cut in the galley floor and then drop in a smaller tank or build a fiberglass/epoxy tank in place.
The stock tank was built to fit the exact space in the keel under the galley and to use every bit of space all the way up the sides of the hull to the height of the floor. It's how they got 90 gallons in such a small place. The only way to get the tank in was before the interior of the boat was built while it was still just a hull. Drop tank in and then put floor pan in place over it.
more posts from the old website
ok I knew I had seen this before.. Mr Stephenson declined to let us host copies of this on the downeast site but was happy to have us link to his.. here is what is entailed in pulling the tank out and replacing it..
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I spoke to a few different contractors about this. One contractor wanted about $8000 to do a complete replacement stipulating that the marine carpenter would make the teak and holly look like it was brand new. Another wants to cut a hatch to access the tank, demolish the tank in place, and then replace with three or four poly tanks which would cost something like $3000. I'm not sure what I want to do, but from reading everything getting that fuel tank out is going to be a huge pain in the ass. When I peeked down in the bilge, it didn't look like the tank went all the way to the deepest part of the bilge like in Phil's photos. Then again, I couldn't get a good look.
I've also looked at blog post on the tank repair on the DE32 and thought I may be able to install some inspection hatches and hit the leaky spots with the MIG welder. However, I would probably want to have the tank professionally cleaned and purged of all fuel before attempting to do this. Several say that it's not a big deal if it's a diesel tank but I'm not about to set myself on fire to find out.
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I'm currently on the hard doing a refit with my boat, however….
I'm concerned about the fuel tank leaking. I've seen a post where they cut an inspection hatch in the top of the tank, went through a cleaning process and coated the interior with a product designed for that. I can't remember the exact product he used but it seems to me it was an epoxy based coating, available through Pettit or maybe Interlux.
I recently came across this while surfing the web for something else. They specifically talk about aluminum tanks, and diesel. The application method would have to be modified from what recommend, but I think it's feasible.
http://www.kbs-coatings.com/ta…..alers.html
(let me try this, Google KBS coatings, look for thier section on Tank Sealers)
If my tank is leaking, one of the front runners in my mind, is to cut an access hatch on the top of the tank, and install a flexible fuel bladder, similar to a flexible water tank, just one designed for Diesel.
S/V The Last Farewell,
Currently laying Panchos Marina
Marathon, Florida
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link didn't come through... use the link tool just above the text box for posting to add the link to some text. That way it will actually work.. I still need to try fixing the issue causing the problem.
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For me, the link tool is shadowed… it doesn't work
I was thinking it used to ……
So I looked up BB Code and manually entered it….
I've also noticed a number of Ebay sellers have tank sealers up…
S/V The Last Farewell,
Currently laying Panchos Marina
Marathon, Florida
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lol... link worked though.. i really need to do this upgrade... it's a major one and I'm not looking forward to all the clean up afterward of broken plugins and stuff. 🙁
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The KBS coating may well be a fine product, I don't have any experience with it. I used Ameron's Amerlock 2/400 on Bodhran's fuel tank and water tanks back in 2005. The fuel tank developed a small leak in it on the passage from American Samoa up to Hawaii. Still not bad for 9 years of heavy cruising. I got in there and repainted the tank and it's holding pressure again. Both the SS water tanks are doing fine.
Jason
DE32 Bodhran
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Thanks Jason,
I may be looking at this project as well...
Both my Water Tanks are toast... it's obvious that whatever filler wire they used when they welded them, was sub-standard. every weld is rusted pretty badly, and I have multiple leaks in each tank.
That's one I can't avoid.
S/V The Last Farewell,
Currently laying Panchos Marina
Marathon, Florida
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If you plan to paint the inside of your water tanks as well, then the Ameron product is definitely the way to go. It's NSF approved for potable water. I found that I had problems with epoxy taste in the water on the tank that I put into service a week after I painted it. I let the other tank cure for over a month before filling it and had no problems with taste. The tank that I didn't let cure fully stopped tasting bad after about a year. Of course if your welds are really opening up, then the paint isn't going to cover it, but if you just have some small leaks in the welds, the Ameron could still work.
Jason
DE32 Bodhran
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that looks like a pretty good setup for getting the fuel out.. I used the electric fuel pump that is a secondary system on valkyr and pumped about 45 gallons left in the tank into 5 gallon cans.. I had to spend about 120 dollars on fuel cans 🙁 but it was an emergency at that time and I had to get the fuel out of a leaking tank.. upside was that it pumped it all through my racor filter. Fuel has sat for a couple years in the cans now... I just bought an old F350 with an international diesel in it and have poured most of the fuel through it so far... smelled a bit stale but it chugged it down and ran great on it..
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