fixx
 

if you have to cut open the floor to get access drain the tank of its fuel and fill the tank with water b4 cutting with a power say so you dont ignite the fumes,also flush out the bilge with dawn soap and water..make sure all the compartments are open and have air moving through them..try not to be in a enclosed garage when cutting...once you get the floor removed you will have to dig out the foam to get the tank out,,i use a over head chain hoist once i get under the tank..when you built make sure you have the tank coated with coal tar epoxy,,it will never rot again..

Thanks mrfixxall, that is good advice. I did pump the tank out thru the pick up tube. Would that have enough of the gas out to fill tank with water or is there a way to get more out before I start cutting?

Maybe I am missing someting but there are many places that could leak fuel into the bilge without it being a leaky tank.

Check that there is in fact an anti siphon valve. There should be one but often if it plugged once, it my not have been replaced.

Check all fuel lines are dry, especially at connections. Tighten clamps but sometimes a rubber line can crack at the nipple, allowing fuel to leak regardless of how tight the clamp. Might need to remove lines, inspect and possibly cut off 1" or 2.
Fuel fliter dry and not leaking.

Pulling a tank can be lot of time and money. I would make real sure that was the problem.

You can take out the fuel sender and get the rest from there. Last tank I pulled I filled with water and flushed a bunch of times. There was still fuel soaked foam to deal with.

Pretty confident there are no leaks on the top side of tank. Everything is dry. Boat has been sitting with no motor since October and only had 17gal. of fuel in a 55gal. tank, so I'm pretty sure the fuel wasn't touching the top to leak anywhere. Going to double check all my connections on my pressure test tomorrow and retest.

you lost pressure quik from 1 psi. there is no question the contents of the tank are leaking. tip bow up and fill with water. you might see a thread of water running down from under tank. you need to fill it at least once anyway to flush out most of the gas fumes. i filled a bike tank 10 times and emptied. put torch over fuel neck and it still blew a 5 foot flame out. residual gas in the tank walls will still give you a free flying lesson. be careful. don't remember name but there is a good and reasonable tank builder around tom's river...

Still going to do one more test just to confirm before I start taking things apart.

Not to hijack your thread, but I have my motor out and have been toying with replacing the tank "just because". Not sure at this point.

take a look at the top of your tank. if you can see the whole thing, the job is doable. if it is buried under flooring? "if it ain't broke..."

I can see like a 16x16 area under the backseat. That will help with seeing where I am going to cut.