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Posts: 117
Mon Feb 13, 2023 4:54 pm
Hey guys
I have a 21 ft Sea Pro bay boat with a 60 gallon tank. I need to replace it because it is deteriorating and contaminating the fuel. Part of the floor will need to be cut out and the console removed. Does anyone have any recommendations on who I should call?
Thanks,
Bobby
Last edited by marker39 on Tue Feb 14, 2023 8:07 am; edited 1 time in total
I have a 21 ft Sea Pro bay boat with a 60 gallon tank. I need to replace it because it is deteriorating and contaminating the fuel. Part of the floor will need to be cut out and the console removed. Does anyone have any recommendations on who I should call?
Thanks,
Bobby
Last edited by marker39 on Tue Feb 14, 2023 8:07 am; edited 1 time in total
Posts: 149
Location: Wilmington
Location: Wilmington
Mon Feb 13, 2023 6:24 pm
I am assuming you are looking for somebody to do some fiberglass work and install the tank. Both of these guys should be able to handle the kind of work you may need. Current Marine (910) 297-7139, and Capt. Gorges at https://www.gorgesboatworks.com, they are both off of Market street in the vicinity of Dutch Square. I know Charlie at Current Marine, but have not used the services of either one.
Posts: 149
Location: Wilmington
Location: Wilmington
Mon Feb 13, 2023 9:58 pm
I have to ask, what makes you think that the tank is degraded and the source of your contamination?
Posts: 241
Location: Leland NC
Location: Leland NC
Tue Feb 14, 2023 6:53 am
Just had Brian at Sooners Marine do a complete overhaul on our Jones Brothers Skiff.
Highly recommended. He's off Amsterdamn in the same area as the other guys and has a metal fabricator next door.
Highly recommended. He's off Amsterdamn in the same area as the other guys and has a metal fabricator next door.
Posts: 117
Tue Feb 14, 2023 8:05 am
tegin1,
I had the tank pumped out twice. I can put fresh gas in it and it will run fine. After it sits for a week or two it will no long run right. But, I can disconnect the fuel line from the built-in tank and connect it to an external tank and it will run perfectly. I also ran the fuel through a scrubber twice and it filters out gooie plasticy looking stuff, and this from fuel that is only a few weeks old. The boat is almost 20 years old, but I love the hull.
I had the tank pumped out twice. I can put fresh gas in it and it will run fine. After it sits for a week or two it will no long run right. But, I can disconnect the fuel line from the built-in tank and connect it to an external tank and it will run perfectly. I also ran the fuel through a scrubber twice and it filters out gooie plasticy looking stuff, and this from fuel that is only a few weeks old. The boat is almost 20 years old, but I love the hull.
Posts: 149
Location: Wilmington
Location: Wilmington
Tue Feb 14, 2023 9:36 am
I’m guessing you must have an aluminum tank and are seeing corrosion issues due to ethanol gas. I was able to find the following, which sounds like it may be what your experiencing.
“There are two parts of the Ethanol dilema, both result in a white substance. With water contamination the Ethanol causes a "white slime" that later will dry as a powder looking substance and is often found in pre-filters, final filters, VST screens etc. The other source is from the tank itself. Ethanol is an excellent cleaner/solvent and tanks that are several to many years old have already developed a layer of aluminum oxide on the upper sides and top portions of the tank. With just gasoline this was not a big issue. Now add E10 and it will "clean" all that stuff off and then it is picked up into your fuel system. Either way both problems are hard to solve but if it was a water issue at least you have a chance to get the tank cleaned up, free of water. Older tanks need to be replaced. “
If you haven’t already done so, I would consider inspecting or replacing your fuel lines, just to ensure they are not contributing to your problem. Also, if you don’t have a fuel water separator filter ( Racor), I would recommend you install one.
I don’t know why some tanks experience this issue, while others do not. I have a 1993 Kencraft (30 year old tank) and I have always run ethanol gas, and other than a little water in the gas on occasion ( usually after sitting all winter), I see none of the issues you are having. Knock on wood I guess.
Sorry your going through this issue, the only other thing I can think of trying, prior to replacing the fuel tank, would be to put a borescope in the tank to see if there is visible evidence of tank degradation.
Good luck!
“There are two parts of the Ethanol dilema, both result in a white substance. With water contamination the Ethanol causes a "white slime" that later will dry as a powder looking substance and is often found in pre-filters, final filters, VST screens etc. The other source is from the tank itself. Ethanol is an excellent cleaner/solvent and tanks that are several to many years old have already developed a layer of aluminum oxide on the upper sides and top portions of the tank. With just gasoline this was not a big issue. Now add E10 and it will "clean" all that stuff off and then it is picked up into your fuel system. Either way both problems are hard to solve but if it was a water issue at least you have a chance to get the tank cleaned up, free of water. Older tanks need to be replaced. “
If you haven’t already done so, I would consider inspecting or replacing your fuel lines, just to ensure they are not contributing to your problem. Also, if you don’t have a fuel water separator filter ( Racor), I would recommend you install one.
I don’t know why some tanks experience this issue, while others do not. I have a 1993 Kencraft (30 year old tank) and I have always run ethanol gas, and other than a little water in the gas on occasion ( usually after sitting all winter), I see none of the issues you are having. Knock on wood I guess.
Sorry your going through this issue, the only other thing I can think of trying, prior to replacing the fuel tank, would be to put a borescope in the tank to see if there is visible evidence of tank degradation.
Good luck!
Posts: 117
Tue Feb 14, 2023 4:26 pm
Thanks for all the good advice.
I actually have a poly (plastic) tank and a water separator. I have always used fuel treatment too.
Thought about the fuel lines and pickup, but we cut the water separator in half to see what was in it and there were no signs of rust or black rubber from the lines. Also, Salt Water Marine pumped it out last time and they confirmed no water. Just contaminated gas.
I'm 68 years old and have owned boats my whole life and this is a first for me. Also have an 18 year old flats skiff that has never had any fuel or carb issues, ever. Shouldn't have said that. :-)
Bobby
I actually have a poly (plastic) tank and a water separator. I have always used fuel treatment too.
Thought about the fuel lines and pickup, but we cut the water separator in half to see what was in it and there were no signs of rust or black rubber from the lines. Also, Salt Water Marine pumped it out last time and they confirmed no water. Just contaminated gas.
I'm 68 years old and have owned boats my whole life and this is a first for me. Also have an 18 year old flats skiff that has never had any fuel or carb issues, ever. Shouldn't have said that. :-)
Bobby
Posts: 149
Location: Wilmington
Location: Wilmington
Tue Feb 14, 2023 8:12 pm
This one is baffling to me. As far as I know plastic tanks don’t seem to have these issues, and from the little reading I have done, they should outlast an aluminum tank. Edit: Jury is out on that, I have seen other articles stating 15-20 years.
I don’t know how long you have been having this issue, but is it possible that you are getting bad gas at the pump? If, or when you pull the tank, I would like to hear what you find in the way of deterioration of the tank that would cause the issue you are having.
Best of luck.
I don’t know how long you have been having this issue, but is it possible that you are getting bad gas at the pump? If, or when you pull the tank, I would like to hear what you find in the way of deterioration of the tank that would cause the issue you are having.
Best of luck.
Posts: 117
Wed Feb 15, 2023 7:53 am
I thought is was a bad tank of gas too. But after I had Salt Water Marine pump it out the 2nd time I bought some gas from where they recommended and had the same problem about 2-3 weeks later.
Posts: 138
Sun Feb 19, 2023 8:49 am
Have you checked the O-Ring on the filler cap? I had one leak like a sieve before.
Posts: 3003
Location: Wilmington NC
Location: Wilmington NC
Sun Feb 19, 2023 10:19 am
I seem to recall that there were some manufacturers (Robalo comes to mind) that were using poly tanks that would deteriotate from ethanol. Try putting a very fine inline filter in the fuel line. Run it for a while and check to see if there is stuff in the filter. Then you will know for certain.
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La Dolce Vita (The Sweet Life)
Sailfish 2660
USN Submarine Veteran
Knight of Neptune
USS Corporal SS346
Death From Below
There are only 2 types of ships.
Submarines and Targets
Coastal Carolina Submarine Veterans
Cape Fear Anglers
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