Fuel tank first look.

jw · #1 12-13-2002, 07:15 PM

John G,
I have a 74 20CC I/O That was the same way. I also removed the tank hatch, which the coring fell apart, replaced all the fuel hoses, vent fill and gas line to engine. I also replaced the sending unit which was leaking. After all that No more fuel stink, but then the oil pan failed on the engine, getting fixed now.
When I recored all of the hatches I used a 1/2 inch composite renforced foam. Laminated to the old hatch covers with MAS expoy, then i put a Triaxial glass over the foam, and gelcoated the bottoms. I used the composite"COOSA" due to light weight and will never rot out or absorb water. Plus you can put screws in it .
This system worked out well for me and was accomplished in about a week, and a cost of $300.00.
I did not change my tank as My boat was not in service much of its life. It sat on a trailer in a shed for the last eight years. I do not think , judging from the engine compression, that it has more than 200hours on it.
Good luck, Its a great boat.
JW [img]images/icons/grin.gif[/img]

Jon G · #2 12-13-2002, 09:13 PM

I took the core or what was left of it apart tonight and will clean it up. Soaking wet rotten mess inside. The glass however was still very strong underneath. [img]images/icons/smile.gif[/img] I'm still wodering if the tank is original, did they foam the original tanks in [img]images/icons/confused.gif[/img] how did they mount them?

Jon G · #3 12-14-2002, 01:58 AM

Nice weather so I did alot of work on the boat(74' 20CC) today and got to the point that I could tip the console back and pull the fuel tank hatch to get at the tank. I was told it had the origonal tank in it but I'm not sure what I'm looking at. This tank is six feet by two feet by eight inches high. Vent in the front fill in the middle and pick up all the way rear, sender is in the middle also(rusty mess, this is were the gas smell was coming from). It looks like it was mounted with angle brackets on top of the tank to the stringers with screws. [img]images/icons/frown.gif[/img] tank broke loose from this lousy mounting and slid back six inches. I would not think this mounting was factory but the hoses say 1973 on them? Who would change the tank and not the hoses which are really ready to be changed! The plywood udner the tank looks like it needs some work can't tell if its rotten til I get the tank out but it is loose, and the hatch weighed at least sixty pounds, full of water [img]images/icons/shocked.gif[/img] that will be my next job. There apears to be little to no corrosion on the top of this tank wondering how old it is there is no tag or marking info on it so I'm thinking it was replaced but not sure because of the hoses. Now to get all of the gas out and final removal. This tank sounds thin when you bang on it so I think it will be replaced and I won't have to worry about it. Two hours to get it apart to months to get it back together! [img]images/icons/tongue.gif[/img]

Blackwater21 · #4 12-14-2002, 08:11 PM

I had a 77 23 that was mounted the same way and it was original.

Jon G · #5 12-14-2002, 10:54 PM

Thanks for the info, the tank looks old but it has almost NO corrosion on the top and sides, have yet to see the bottom. The angles that are welded on top of the tank that mount it to the stringers are all loose from the stringer, some mounts are broken off, looks like its been floating around in there for a while. It looks good for a 28 year old tank. I'll see if I can get some good pics when I pull it out. Thanks Jon