Week31 buying an old boat your also buying old fuel tanks, how long will they last, steel fuel tanks when taking care of can last a while Aluminum boat fuel tanks 20 years
All you need to do is cut an inspection port into the side of your tank in the engine room. My Kha Shing had no inspection ports and I had it done. Wasn’t expensive and was easy. A lot better solution that removing your cabinetry.
Can you add a smaller "day tank" in the engine room with transfer pumps from each side tank. Then you can clean fuel from day tank back into the primary tank.
If your going to remove that cabinet just drill a hole in the top of it that the fuel wand can fit into. Then just put a plug in the hole.. Spend a couple of hours to get access to your tank top. Me for the hole in the cabinet top go to a used marine store and buy a diesel deck fill just for the fun of it.
I took possession of a 1983 CHB double cabin this spring and the amount of things that you need to learn and figure out with one of these boats can't be overstated!!!! You need to learn all the systems and the way they are supposed to work. Then you need to learn how yours actually work (or don't work). Then you have the little Taiwanese quirks like when you turn the light on in the day head when the forward a/c unit is running while the forward cabin lights are on the breaker will kick, but only if you do it in that in that order. Then my least favorite of them all is trying to figure out what the last two owners did to something and if its messed up or do I just not understand it. I wish I had asked so many more questions about the forward starboard tank being abandoned and what that actually means! I don't call it boating anymore we go trouble shooting for the weekend. All that said I love this style of boat and how comfortable it is not only at the dock but while under way. New tanks are in my future. I didn't know about fuel polishing. So that's another thing to add to the list. Thanks for the videos.
Thank you Captain extremely important to maintain tanks regularly- also if a boat has been kept on a marina or at anchor for a long period of time and a new owner takes it out, it’s one of first tasks thats required and they better have some filters ready to change out. Clean fuel equates to Safety, Reliability and coming back safely - Regards
Thanks Captain!!! As someone looking at a 40 yr old Chris-Craft 500 Constellation, this is great information! As usual, your advice has been spot on in my entire boat searching process!
Purchased a 1985 CHB Trawler 3 years ago. Starboard steel tank (110gals) had been replaced with a much smaller 54 gal poly tank (Could not get a larger tank in due to space constraints). Now the port steel tank has a leak at the bottom on a weld seam. So, to answer your question - this steel diesel tank lasted 38 years. Still doing research on how I am going to replace this tank, but most likely will have to do the same type of replacement as the previous owner did.
Ditto above comment- why not fiberglass tanks. From what I understand, ethanol/bio diesel can cause degradation and therefore diesel fiberglass fuel tanks should be good to go. I have also read that e-10 gas does not degrade fiberglass. BTW, have been watching ur vids for a while now and u/this channel is a wealth of knowledge. Last question- has the Bayliners tanks been replaced? I know the 32xx have had issues with leaky tanks - metal staples on the undersides have caused issues. Once again, appreciate all u do to teach and keep us informed Cheers!
Hey Paul, my 1988 44 Tollycraft has the original aluminum tanks and they are holding up quite well. No leaks, rust or smells. Maybe it's how they were taken care of? Myself and previous owners have sprayed the outside with an oil made by Boeing. Maybe thats it.
I would avoid cutting access holes in your tanks, especially if they have ceramic on the inside. You’d most certainly crack the ceramic around the edges. What are thoughts on poly tanks? That’s what I have in my current boat and one of the reasons I bought it.
