1971 Fuel Tank poll/thread

alano · Post by **alano** » Thu Sep 13, 2007 4:14 am

Just my opinion and yes it's an like a..hole. Remove the bridge ladder, remove the the screws under the deck flange, have the yard lift the deck out w/4x4s inserted through hatchs for support with the forklift/travellift/4 fat guys/whatever, call the local oil company to remove the old stuff,cut the tank tabbing, break the FRP tank free with wedges (it's bedded in polyester putty), measure, have metal one built (won't get into the SS vs. Al), install it, replace all fuel lines - p/u, fill, vent, replace deck, should be May by then - enjoy. When I pulled my tank, the interior looked fine however there was probably a 1/16" of mud looking sludge on the bottom and it hadn't set up at all, much less 3 years. Your motors look good I wouldn't risk 'em unless you're planning on repower. Good Luck, Alan.

Post by **dougl33** » Thu Sep 13, 2007 5:36 am

Thanks Frank.[xx(] Mike, You may be in luck. Yesterday I sent an email to the New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services Air Resources Division: Mike, Has NH become an ethanol only state? I know the 4 southern most counties were required to sell RFG and that they therefore are now required to use ethanol, but I was wondering about the rest of the state. Thanks in advance for your assistance. Here's his response: Mr. LeBlanc - no, the rest of the state (to the best we can determine) receives only conventional (i.e. non-RFG gas). These areas are supplied via Portland ME terminals, which carry no ethanol. Michael Fitzgerald Administrator, Technical Services Bureau New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services Air Resources Division So it looks like your in luck. Regards, Doug L. 1986 33 Bertram FBC Queen Elizabeth Marblehead, MA [img]http://www.bertram33.com/photogallery/p ... sabeth.jpg[/img]

Mike T · Post by **Mike T** » Mon Sep 17, 2007 5:35 am

Doug, Thanks for looking into that non ethanol fuel for me. I was able to Google Mikes phone # last week, but was unable to get through to him. Just wanted to verify whether he was referring to service stations or airports (as my MA research came up with). And exactly where the line is drawn. But, with the fuel burn numbers you gave me, which were no surprise, the possibility of a fuel stop en route may not make that effort worth while. And it would probably cost me a gallon of gas for each gallon I transport, plus I'm not crazy about driving with all that fuel in my truck. Not to mention if Homeland Security stops me. lol alano, My deck is already in 4 pieces, that's one of the reasons I thought maybe I had a steel tank when I first looked inside of it, but maybe they were just cut/pulled to do the exausts. Or they were originally laid down in 4 pcs, whatever. Could you explain your comment-"break the tabbing" for me? These sure look like they're glassed right to the stringers. I thought they were "part of the boat". May not matter, I work alone, and will probably resort to cutting it out in managable sections Anyways, I went down there this weekend, pulled the access plate off the tank, siphoned out all the old fuel, and here's what it looks like inside. At first I saw the steel baffles, and felt the sides, I was thinking it was a monel tank, glassed over/in place, till I pulled out my pocket knife (pic 2) Seems a shame to have to cut this out just because of what the government's done to our fuel. I could wipe that section clean with a couple of rags. I was thinking of cutting my mop handle down so I could work in there. And thanks to all else who've replied, Mike [img]http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sra ... bdbb48.jpg[/img] [img]http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sra ... bdbb46.jpg [/img] The vote still to sawzall before my spring trip?

lobsta1 · Post by **lobsta1** » Mon Sep 17, 2007 6:15 am

I would take it out in one piece. I know you said you would rather put in several smaller tanks instead of one big one. To me, if you have the original there as a model, it makes it easier to visualize & take measurements. You should be able to cut through the tabbing that secures the tank. Use a sawsall, grinder, evan a handsaw,whatever will fit. The bottom of the tank is probably bedded in a polyester putty. We used a come-a-long off a beam spanning the cockpit with a chain under the corners of the tank. My tank came out easy. Rick Schaffer's tank took some persuasion. Do a search from last Oct. on my name or Rick Schaffer. We documented the process pretty well. Good Luck Al

Gunny · Post by **Gunny** » Tue Sep 18, 2007 3:15 am

Mike, Get 3 55 gallon drums run up to Maine and fill them Its still ethanol free up here and bring her home! Gunny Gunny GunnyD Jim Davis Belfast Me [img]http://www.bertram33.com/photogallery/p ... unny_D.jpg[/img]

alano · Post by **alano** » Tue Sep 18, 2007 4:40 am

Mike, the tabbing is where the factory takes strips of fiberglass, resined up, and lays it across the stringers onto the tank, when it hardens it attaches the tank to the stringer. I had tabbing on each corner of the tank to the stringer and from the tank to a forward and aft bulkhead and to the muffler support. The bulkhead tabs were easy sawzall (get metal or carbide blades) cuts as was most of the corner and support, however where they stuffed down on the corner required a hacksaw blade wrapped with a towel to dig down in there. Once that was free, removed aft bulkhead and used 2x4s cut into wedges to drive under the tank where it's puttied down to a plywood sole. Good luck, Alan.