I now have my engine on the back of my 1/2 ton, and keep casting an eye towards the fuel tank. I'm I being over cautious, or is now the time to remove the 30 year old tank? Do all the tanks get bad? Of course all will over time, but it looks good. Is there any areas that are of concern? Has anyone looked into a poly tank replacement for a 367? Thanks for any help.
Sailin, I recently installed a full size tank the specs of the original. I needed to remove some of the cabinetry under the companionway steps, but it did go in and is installed in an "enclosure" that may/not be what was original to the boat. I investigated poly tanks before having a new aluminum tank made -and can provide info on that if you like. My discovery at the website of a major poly tank mfgr is that they cannot be modified in any way due to the nature of the poly. You may want to check this out for yourself, but I felt sure enough that I would not purchase one.
Let us all know what you come up with, since any original tank will probably need replacement after all these years.
Mark
Thanks for the info, Bay Sailor. I have played with plastic tanks before, and you are right, use them as they are or not at all.
The damage to the cabinetry is already done, with the engine removal, so now would be a good time. I am finding that although poly tanks come in many shapes and sizes, they don't come in the one I need. I could install a smaller one, but the 50 gallon tank has been handy when needed. It would be such a waste to get the cabinet all together, and varnished again, only to remove it and the engine in a few years. I know it could be done by cutting the tank out, and installing two small ones, but I have the big hole now, lol.
Oh the fun of boat ownership. I wonder what the ratio of work to pleasure hours figures out to be on these restoring jobs. Maybe it is best not to know.
Sailn,Take this information from D A who pulled his engine to run down all the oil leaks in 2008 then had to change the fuel tank in 2009.Poly wouldn't be for me but there's many in boats.As for work to pleasure ratio,this is a dangerous area of thought.It seems to be many on the 365 site that have done so much work on there boats they start to like it the more you do the more you like it.These people can't be in there right minds. Oh don't mention boat bucks they will tell you the same thing they tell there wives. Allen
Sailn,While the engine is out you might think about making an engine drip pan in the engine bed with a hose leading to the sump with a catch container.Allen
I believe there will be a new aluminum tank in the boat before the winter cover goes on, and I was also thinking of the drip tray. Do it now, or do it later.
As for the boat bucks. My project didn't start until I was single again. I saved all my receipts for the work I've done, but put them through the shreader before adding it up. This is a job a man does, not because of price, but because he loves it. The feeling of looking at her ata mooring is priceless.