fuel tank ? for NYMack and everyone

[RWilson2526]

This is a picture of NYMacks fuel tank storage that i took from another thread of his....I mentioned earlier that I bailed on my decision to replace my fuel tank because there was nothing apparently wrong with it and didnt feel like spending the time this year to do it....one of the reasons i decided against it until necessary was that the tank measures approx 43" long while the opening of the deck hatch is approx 41". The end of the tank is just about flush with floor opening in the rear and the extra 2" is tucked up underneath the opening on the front end....

I would hope that if I pulled from aft end there would be enough wiggle room to get the end out at an angle and then pull the tank back and up....then I saw this pic of NYMacks work and was wondering if he HAD to cut it to get the tank out.....

anybody out there have the same experience and will it in fact come out without cutting the floor?

 

[nymack66]

Hold on no need to cut the deck !

Please note you do NOT need to cut the deck for the tank removal, it was the replacement tank that forced me to cut the deck, the old tank will pull without any cutting, I honestly I was not 100 % sure you now have me thinking Until I dug up the picture !

 

[SkunkBoat]

tank removal

From my experience on my '84 cuddy (outboard)...You have to remove ALL of the foam from BOTH ends. That gives you room to slide the tank aft, grab the fill elbow, lift and tilt the forward end up. Did it with no help.

As for foam...After you cut and dig out as much as you can, scrape your knuckles til their bloody, you should know that foam comes out with a power washer and a yellow nozzle...like butter..

Those pieces of "butter" will get in your bilge. They float and will move around until they block up the drain holes in the bulkheads....more scraped up bloody knuckles and arms trying to reach all of that stuff!

If you foam in the new one, make sure you imediately secure the boards in place to hold the tank down and be sure that the fill and vent elbows will be below the hatch. If you wait too long the expanding foam will raise the tank up. I got lucky. I laid the boards on top of the tank and took a breather..10 minutes later the tank had risen up and pressed the boards to the underside of the deck.

My opinion on foaming in aluminum tanks...Wellcraft foamed it in, the one that was there lasted 23 yrs...who am I to mess with that?