Iron tanks
About a year and a half ago we purchased a 1983 Island Gypsy 44' trawler to do "The Great Loop". At the time of survey nothing was mentioned about the condition of the 4 fuel tanks. Being new in the boat buying business I trusted everything to the surveyor.
This spring I noticed a great amount of rust on the top of the port aft fuel tank. After inspecting the other fuel tanks they too look suspect. The marina we are at suggested we do nothing, finish the loop, and replace the fuel tanks later; that is if they don't leak.
My question is, does any one out there know of anything I can do to stop the rust and coat the tanks without disturbing the rust too much?. The people at the marina we are at said they would not disturb the rust because the rust may have eaten into the fuel tank so far that pinholees may already be in the tank.
I appreciate any help I can get.
Tom Frech
Personally, I'd just leave them alone if they're not leaking. I'd start
budgeting for a repair or replacement though, and don't throw any heavy
objects on top of the tanks!
Keith
"Start every day with a smile and get it over with." - W. C. Fields
----- Original Message -----
From: "The Frech's" tomfrech@ameritech.net
This spring I noticed a great amount of rust on the top of the port aft
fuel tank. After inspecting the other fuel tanks they too look suspect.
The marina we are at suggested we do nothing, finish the loop, and replace
the fuel tanks later; that is if they don't leak.
My question is, does any one out there know of anything I can do to stop
the rust and coat the tanks without disturbing the rust too much?. The
people at the marina we are at said they would not disturb the rust
because the rust may have eaten into the fuel tank so far that pinholees
may already be in the tank.
If you can reach the top of the tank, you can attempt a fix. If you
don't do anything, you're asking for trouble, IMHO.
One of Sanderling's tanks had the same problem - rust on the top of the
fuel tank near the fill tube (water had penetrated the deck around the
tube). The only way I could get to it was to cut through the deck above
the tank. I was in the process of replacing the side deck core anyway,
so just cut through the bottom layer of fiberglass to expose the top of
the tank.
Once I did that, I brushed the rust away down to unrusted metal. There
were a few pin holes, and I repaired them with JB Weld (wonderful
stuff), then coated everything with a rust preventive solution (can't
recall the name of the product), and painted with Rustoleum primer and
finish coat. That temporary fix up for a couple of years, and then I
ended up replacing both tanks (Sanderling only has two side tanks) when
one of them developed a small leak at the bottom. I think there's a
product that you can brush onto rust to make it solid, but I'm not sure
I would trust that on fuel tanks.
What you want to avoid is being surprised by a huge leak from anywhere
on the tank. A top leak could ruin your day if you were in a rough
seaway when it decided to give way and you weren't near a competent yard
that could perform major surgery to replace the tank.
You'll want to start a replacement fund for the tanks - you'll
eventually have to replace them. Cost for doing so will vary depending
on whether they can be pulled and new ones put in without having to
remove the engines. Sanderling is has twins, and the only way the yard
could remove the tanks was to pull both engines AND the genset! There
was only 3/4 inch clearance at the saloon sliding door through which to
remove the engines. Total yard cost, not counting a lot of work that I
did in the engine room and to the engines themselves while they were
sitting on stands, was about $8 BU, and I think I got a real good deal.
After the work on Sanderling, the yard owner said they were never going
to replace fuel tanks again.
I'll be happy to discuss in more detail if you wish.
<><><><><><><><><><><><><><>Mozilla Thunderbird<><><><><><><><><><><><>
Bob McLeran and Judy Young Manatee Cove Marina
M/V Sanderling Patrick Air Force Base
Hampton 35 Trawler Melbourne, Florida
On 11/23/2006 9:36 AM, The Frech's wrote:
About a year and a half ago we purchased a 1983 Island Gypsy 44' trawler to do "The Great Loop". At the time of survey nothing was mentioned about the condition of the 4 fuel tanks. Being new in the boat buying business I trusted everything to the surveyor.
This spring I noticed a great amount of rust on the top of the port aft fuel tank. After inspecting the other fuel tanks they too look suspect. The marina we are at suggested we do nothing, finish the loop, and replace the fuel tanks later; that is if they don't leak.
My question is, does any one out there know of anything I can do to stop the rust and coat the tanks without disturbing the rust too much?. The people at the marina we are at said they would not disturb the rust because the rust may have eaten into the fuel tank so far that pinholees may already be in the tank.
I appreciate any help I can get.
Tom Frech
There is only one product that I would recommend. http://www.corroseal.com/
Read the website and look at the specs and you will see that it is an
amazing product.
I have used it extensively on a 56' steel boat, a 35' steel boat, boat
trailers and construction jobs.
This one works!
If you leave the rust and you do have pin holes, you will pay for it dearly
at some point. Clear the flaky rust and make sure the metal is not
penetrated before using anything to conceal the problem. It may only be
water incursion from a leak or condensation causing the rust on the exterior
of the tank. If it is inside you won't know until the fuel starts to
leak...unless you have an inspection hatch to investigate or someone can
test the tank with an instrument from the outside.
Bob Clinkenbeard
24' custom trailer trawler
http://home.bellsouth.net/p/PWP-aboardbobbinalong
My question is, does any one out there know of anything I can do to stop
the rust and coat the tanks without disturbing the rust too much?. The
people at the marina we are at said they would not disturb the rust
because the rust may have eaten into the fuel tank so far that pinholees
may already be in the tank.
Last year my insurance surveyor noticed rust on the tops of my fuel
tanks and stated that they should be cleaned up and coated with a
rust inhibitor. He recommended Loctite Extend rust treatment.
I did as he suggested...wire brushed the rusty surfaces and vacuumed
up the dust...then rolled the Extend on with a paint roller. Two
coats as suggested on the container, I think about 20 minutes apart.
The stuff goes on white and turns black. They say it's a good primer
for a top coat of paint. I haven't yet painted over mine because I
wanted to watch it for a year or so to see what developed. So far
nothing, so I'll paint them this winter.
It's important to note that the stuff only works in the presence of
rust, so you wouldn't want to clean up the areas too well...no shiny
metal.
I think Loctite might have been acquired by Permatex, so the name
might have changed.
Terry
Tamarack