1988 Seafarer 226 fuel tank access

[Ultimate42]

New owner, first time poster. Bought her in Homestead, FL and drove her on 95 to Morehead City, NC. The trip seems to have stirred up a bunch of gunk in the tank and we're having fuel starving issues. The tank needs to be cleaned, but currently there's just the hole for the sending unit. Has anyone cut an access hole and replaced with an aluminum cover? I'd like to be able to pull the pick up tube and I'd like to do seasonal cleaning. I have had the engine die several times in the worst places and I don't want that to happen anymore. Any suggestions or pictures of mods?

 

[Halfhitch]

As old as the boat is and you have verified that there is loose gunk in the tank, I would say the only way to get a really good job of cleaning done is to remove the tank. Once it is cleaned inside and out, it can be pressure tested for leaks, inspected for corrosion and barrier coated before reinstallation.

 

[Hookup1]

Given the age of the tanks they probably should be replaced. If you go through all the trouble to get the tanks out they definitely should be replaced. Don't put any money into 32 year old tanks! Unless of course you can DIY.

Seasonal cleaning is overkill. Install Sierra clear bowl filters and monitor water/gunk. Empty out before it gets too high. This filter can help you clean the tanks out too. Just make sure you slosh the fuel around by running around, stirring everything up, burn some fuel and getting it up into the filter.

I have had success testing my empty tanks by pressurizing the tank with an automotive smoke machine. My 24 year old tanks are on my todo list but after testing I decided the tanks were good and decided to wait. Here is my project thread if you decide to go that way.

1995 Islander 268 Removing fuel Tank

Hi , I pulled up the access covers on the floor and want to remove and inspect the main fuel tank . The tank looks good from what I can see but still want to inspect the bottom to make sure. It looks like if I cut the one bulkhead closest to the tank and trim the back one down I can slide it out...

www.greatgrady.com

 

[DennisG01]

So there isn't a large (5' long, give or take) screwed-down hatch over the tank?

For now, you can just install another access plate over the pickup tube.

Yeah, skip the seasonal cleaning thing. Not that it's bad, of course, just really isn't necessary. I use the Racor brand clear bowl - but any version of this is better than a regular spin-on filter with no bowl.

 

[Hookup1]

Just pull the deck up. It should be inspected anyway for water intrusion.

 

[SoLucky]

I believe the OP is asking about cutting a hole in the fuel tank itself to improve access for inspection purposes. Cutting a hole in a gas tank can be very, very dangerous. Any spark or too much heat will lead to a disastrous outcome, even if you have pumped all the gas out. The fumes remaining in the tank will explode. There are much safer options. I recommend making the small investment in a boroscope. There are some decent options on Amazon, including very affordable units that use your smartphone as the display. Good luck.

Amazon.com: DEPSTECH Industrial Endoscope Camera, 1080P HD Borescope Inspection Camera with 4.5" IPS Screen, 5.5mm Sewer Camera with 3300mAh Battery, 32GB TF Card, IP67 Waterproof, 6 LED, Semi-Rigid Cable-16.5ft: Camera & Photo

Amazon.com: DEPSTECH Industrial Endoscope Camera, 1080P HD Borescope Inspection Camera with 4.5" IPS Screen, 5.5mm Sewer Camera with 3300mAh Battery, 32GB TF Card, IP67 Waterproof, 6 LED, Semi-Rigid Cable-16.5ft: Camera & Photo

www.amazon.com

Amazon.com: DEPSTECH Wireless Endoscope, IP67 Waterproof WiFi Borescope Inspection 2.0 Megapixels HD Snake Camera for Android and iOS Smartphone, iPhone, Samsung, Tablet -Black(11.5FT): Automotive

Buy DEPSTECH Wireless Endoscope, IP67 Waterproof WiFi Borescope Inspection 2.0 Megapixels HD Snake Camera for Android and iOS Smartphone, iPhone, Samsung, Tablet -Black(11.5FT): Borescopes - Amazon.com ✓ FREE DELIVERY possible on eligible purchases

www.amazon.com

 

[Hookup1]

I believe the OP is asking about cutting a hole in the fuel tank itself to improve access for inspection purposes. Cutting a hole in a gas tank can be very, very dangerous. Any spark or too much heat will lead to a disastrous outcome, even if you have pumped all the gas out. The fumes remaining in the tank will explode. There are much safer options. I recommend making the small investment in a boroscope. There are some decent options on Amazon, including very affordable units that use your smartphone as the display. Good luck.

Amazon.com: DEPSTECH Industrial Endoscope Camera, 1080P HD Borescope Inspection Camera with 4.5" IPS Screen, 5.5mm Sewer Camera with 3300mAh Battery, 32GB TF Card, IP67 Waterproof, 6 LED, Semi-Rigid Cable-16.5ft: Camera & Photo

Amazon.com: DEPSTECH Industrial Endoscope Camera, 1080P HD Borescope Inspection Camera with 4.5" IPS Screen, 5.5mm Sewer Camera with 3300mAh Battery, 32GB TF Card, IP67 Waterproof, 6 LED, Semi-Rigid Cable-16.5ft: Camera & Photo

www.amazon.com

Amazon.com: DEPSTECH Wireless Endoscope, IP67 Waterproof WiFi Borescope Inspection 2.0 Megapixels HD Snake Camera for Android and iOS Smartphone, iPhone, Samsung, Tablet -Black(11.5FT): Automotive

Buy DEPSTECH Wireless Endoscope, IP67 Waterproof WiFi Borescope Inspection 2.0 Megapixels HD Snake Camera for Android and iOS Smartphone, iPhone, Samsung, Tablet -Black(11.5FT): Borescopes - Amazon.com ✓ FREE DELIVERY possible on eligible purchases

www.amazon.com

Ultimate42 - Ignore all this nonsense. Lift the deck. The DESPTECH is a POS. Mine is in the garbage. Don't pull the pickup hose. Do it all thru the sending unit or just pump out thru pickup hose.

 

[Ultimate42]

Ultimate42 - Ignore all this nonsense. Lift the deck. The DESPTECH is a POS. Mine is in the garbage. Don't pull the pickup hose. Do it all thru the sending unit or just pump out thru pickup hose.

 

[Ultimate42]

I appreciate all of the feedback. I finally decided to remove the floor hatch, empty the tank, removed it, filled it will soapy water and let it rinse for about an hour. Drained some of the water out, put more dish soap in and filled it to the top again. Laid out my lines and using a circular saw, cut a 8"x10 hole in the tank around the pick up tubes and sending unit. I drilled out the pick up tubes and templated a new piece of aluminum for the tubes and SU. Had the plate and tubes welded on, disconnected and blew out all of my fuel lines and replaced the filters. Did all of that in three days. Got her back in the water today and she ran like a scalded dog. Couldn't be happier with the decision to take out the tank and cut it open. There was plastic, rubber pieces, shells, rocks, and a ton of leaf/grass debris. I'm assuming that whoever replaced the original tank, got one from a salvage yard and didn't know to clean the debris out of it. Not sure how some of it got in there, otherwise.

 

[Hookup1]

Nice job!

While it was out did you look at the fuel compartment? Was there a drain? Was it plugged?

 

[Ultimate42]

Nice job!

While it was out did you look at the fuel compartment? Was there a drain? Was it plugged?

There was a drain and it was not plugged. All debris was vacuumed out and compartment was scrubbed and cleaned. I appreciate the feedback.