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deltabighat
RO# 14904
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 Posted - Apr 20 2012 : 21:21:52
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My 24ft Bayliner Trophy looks to have a fuel tank leak. It's a 1995. My options I am told is to remove the engine or cut the cockpit deck as the tank is sealed under the cockpit flooring. Someone told me today that in airplanes, they have collapsible bladders that fit thru small openings in the old tank, are filled with high pressure air to expand the bladder to fit all corners of the old tank and then used as a New
fuel tank. Anyone ever here of this?
Dbh
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| "the only time the boat has too much fuel is when its on fire" |
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Capt. Bill1
RO# 2017
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Posted - Apr 20 2012 : 21:28:33
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Does your tank have baffles in it? If so, that option will not work.
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The two most common elements on Earth are oxygen and stupidity.
Great, now take it to NBR. |
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Homeport: Sarasota/Ft. Lauderdale
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deltabighat
RO# 14904
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Posted - Apr 20 2012 : 22:12:55
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Great point........have no idea. Anyone know out there?
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| "the only time the boat has too much fuel is when its on fire" |
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Cam
RO# 1558
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Posted - Apr 21 2012 : 05:58:04
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So far, all of the fuel tanks that I have seen opened, and the new ones being built, all had baffles in them.
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| " If you think nobody cares, try missing a few payments " (author unknown) |
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Homeport: Bentley Yacht Club- Staten Island, NY
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KiDa
RO# 16492
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Posted - Apr 21 2012 : 08:41:06
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What year is the boat?
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____________
Best Regards,
David
Saint Max
'99 330 Sundancer
==========
Capitalism is to this administration what Judaism was to the Third Reich.
-- Me |
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Homeport: Hopewell, VA
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PascalG
RO# 12212
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Posted - Apr 21 2012 : 10:36:09
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All tanks have baffles... This is not going to work.
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Pascal
1970 Hatteras 53 MY
26' Starfish sloop
12' Westphal Catboat
16' Hobie Cat
13' Sandbarhopper
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Homeport: Miami, FL
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Sandy
RO# 1159
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Posted - Apr 21 2012 : 16:20:14
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Just as you describe, I think Mike Rowe was involved with replacing a fuel bladder on a military(?) aircraft on Dirty Jobs.
But as wise men above point out, trying this with your boat tanks would likely be a baffling experience.
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| Sandy |
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Homeport: The Vineyard
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Flutterby
RO# 14378
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Posted - Apr 21 2012 : 17:01:49
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Could you perhaps put a new tank forward under the V-berth? The make V-shaped inflatable fuel bladders that could do the trick. Might be worth it in your situation.
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Homeport: California Sierras/Gold Country
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CapnJakVa
RO# 2192
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Posted - Apr 21 2012 : 17:17:41
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At about 6 pounds per gallon, that could be a lot of weight in the bow of a 24ft boat if the tank is decent size.
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Homeport: Lottsburg, Virginia
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Flutterby
RO# 14378
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Posted - Apr 21 2012 : 17:21:33
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The boat of which I know, of similar size, did that used the trim taps to compensate.
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Homeport: California Sierras/Gold Country
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PascalG
RO# 12212
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Posted - Apr 21 2012 : 18:04:25
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Trim tabs will push the bow down by creating lift at the stern. They can't create lift at the bow...
I don't like the idea of a soft fuel tank at the bow... Lots of banging, high risk of leaks
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Pascal
1970 Hatteras 53 MY
26' Starfish sloop
12' Westphal Catboat
16' Hobie Cat
13' Sandbarhopper
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Homeport: Miami, FL
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KiDa
RO# 16492
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Posted - Apr 21 2012 : 19:43:07
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quote:
Originally posted by PascalG
All tanks have baffles... This is not going to work.
Not so. I had an old Formula F233. I removed the deck and the tank. The tank did not have baffles. 85 Gallons.
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Best Regards,
David
Saint Max
'99 330 Sundancer
==========
Capitalism is to this administration what Judaism was to the Third Reich.
-- Me |
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Homeport: Hopewell, VA
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Capt. Bill1
RO# 2017
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Posted - Apr 21 2012 : 23:03:36
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quote:
Originally posted by KiDa
quote:
Originally posted by PascalG
All tanks have baffles... This is not going to work.
Not so. I had an old Formula F233. I removed the deck and the tank. The tank did not have baffles. 85 Gallons.
You are correct. It's not uncommon for smaller tanks in smaller boats to not have baffles.
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The two most common elements on Earth are oxygen and stupidity.
Great, now take it to NBR. |
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Homeport: Sarasota/Ft. Lauderdale
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troublemaker
RO# 32512
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Posted - Apr 22 2012 : 00:25:32
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Locate a plumber that has a camera they use to check drain lines.
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| TM |
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Homeport: British Columbia
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PascalG
RO# 12212
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Posted - Apr 22 2012 : 08:21:45
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Or just open the access plate (or gauge hole) and use a piece of stiff wire to poke around
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Pascal
1970 Hatteras 53 MY
26' Starfish sloop
12' Westphal Catboat
16' Hobie Cat
13' Sandbarhopper
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Homeport: Miami, FL
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Capt. Bill1
RO# 2017
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Posted - Apr 22 2012 : 08:41:29
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I'm not even sure if the bladder/liner is really even an option. I would think it would have to be made to fit the specific size and dimensions of the tank it is going into. I can't see how sticking a bladder into and tank and just filling it with air would get it to mold itself to the shape of the tank and stay like that after the air pressure is removed.
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The two most common elements on Earth are oxygen and stupidity.
Great, now take it to NBR. |
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Homeport: Sarasota/Ft. Lauderdale
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rnbenton
RO# 31163
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Posted - Apr 22 2012 : 10:11:19
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Personally, even if you can insert a bladder it seems akin to using band-aids to treat a heart attack to me.
I'd do it right and remove the old tank and put in a new one. The glass work isn't all that hard.
Bob
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Captain, Sea Tow Central Florida, St. Johns River
Key West 196 Bay Reef, 150 Yamaha
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Homeport: Palm Coast, FL
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The Other Gary
RO# 143
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Posted - Apr 22 2012 : 10:12:20
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Pulling a gas engine is not a big deal, pull it, repair or replace the tank and you are good to go for years.
The logistics of setting up the fuel fill and vents with a bladder in the old tank or replacing the old tank don't compute.
Do it right the first time, it is gasoine after all.
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Gary Peck 1997 Bayliner 3988 MY, twin 330 Cummins
I saw a movie where only the military and the police had guns,,,,, It was called Schindler's List |
Edited by - The Other Gary on Apr 22 2012 10:14:50 |
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Homeport: Toronto, Lake Ontario
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absolute
RO# 31985
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Posted - Apr 22 2012 : 10:45:01
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Cut the deck, pull the failed tank, clean up any foam, remove hoses and clamps. Install new coated tank with new sending unit, hoses & clamps. Before deck is re-installed make sure the tank is properly grounded and be ready for another twenty years of boating.
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Absolute
"Suckin Sludge & Havin a Gas" |
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Homeport: fl
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KiDa
RO# 16492
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Posted - Apr 22 2012 : 11:47:37
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quote:
Originally posted by absolute
Cut the deck, pull the failed tank, clean up any foam, remove hoses and clamps. Install new coated tank with new sending unit, hoses & clamps. Before deck is re-installed make sure the tank is properly grounded and be ready for another twenty years of boating.
+1.
Depending on the year, the deck is glass over plywood. Removal, replacement and redecking is not hard and may be quicker.
Additionally, if you have a leak, that gas had to go somewhere. Some of it may be in the foam.
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Best Regards,
David
Saint Max
'99 330 Sundancer
==========
Capitalism is to this administration what Judaism was to the Third Reich.
-- Me |
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Homeport: Hopewell, VA
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Thudpucker
RO# 10503
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Posted - Apr 22 2012 : 15:58:59
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Absolute and Dave are right. That's the best way to handle your problem.
I had a 30 Gal tank below deck with no baffles and never noticed a problem. In an old boat we had a 40 Gal Hot water tank athwart the Fwd Deck.
No baffles in that one either and no noticeable problems with it either.
Maybe they make an inflatable bladder with inflatable baffles?
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Edited by - Thudpucker on Apr 22 2012 16:00:28 |
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Homeport: AL.
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GeeBee
RO# 385
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Posted - Apr 23 2012 : 19:28:28
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Aircraft fuel bladders have clips which suspend the bladder within the wing to prevent collapse. You access the clips though various inspection panels in the wing. Even if you could get someone to make you a bladder, it would be dangerous because in the event of a leak, it would leak into the old tank, which would leak into your bilge. Oh, and aircraft bladder do have baffles.
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"The trouble with socialism is that you eventually run out of other people's money."... Margaret Thatcher
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Edited by - GeeBee on Apr 24 2012 06:17:03 |
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Homeport: Lake Lanier, GA
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Fuel bladder
