Saving my Fountain
 

Hello all,
I just purchased a salvaged Fountain 31 SFTE. The boat was intentionally sunk at the dock and I bought it from the insurance company.

I have removed the console and I have cut access holes in the floor to get all of the sand out of it! I bunch of sand!! My question is I am down to the fuel tank and it is foamed in. The fuel tank looks good and the foam looks good. I have tried to pull the tank but it will take an act of God to get it out. There was not any water in the fuel tank that I saw when I drained the tank.

I am wondering if I really need to pull the tank since it was fiberglassed in and it looks to be sealed all the way around with foam? The foam did not seem to be wet or holding water so I am thinking that the stringers will be ok there. The stringers were fine everywhere else in the boat that I could test and that was everywhere but the tank. Also if the tank is foamed all the way around what is there for a channel for the water to flow from the cabin and achor hatch to flow out? Is it just PVC pipe that I see at both ends or does it open up under the tank? What are the chances of sand being under the tank as well?

I want to save this boat as there is no structural damage at all. The gel coat looks good everywhere and the boat cleans up as if it was never sunk. I have removed to motors and plan to just buy a new pair to put on her. Any help or info would be very valuable to me. Thanks in advance for you help.
-B

how long was it under water?

just curious, why was it intentionally sunk?

I am not sure how long it was down for. I do not think it was long just based on the way it looks.

I was told the guy could not pay the payment so he sunk it to get out of it.

Exactly that would have been the first question and then a survey before cutting the check . are these fountains not like the SKATERS with the balsa and water is'nt a problem ???
Sounds like bring her back up ,drain her out and dry her off .

obviously you didnt see the delaminated fountain in Key West:hitfan:

There is no sense in pulling tank with out a good reason like replacing it. Water should not penetrate the closed cell foam. The pvc you saw should go uninterrupted under the tank.Take the time to clear it it is probably full of sand. Fuel will get in the foam if the tank leaked. It would be easy to pressure check the tank while your looking at it. Test with no more than 3 or 4 lbs.If the tag is still on the tank it will tell you what pressure it tested to when constructed. It wouldn't hurt to sound the hull under the tank for piece of mind. Its a nice riding boat Good Luck. Hope you get to enjoy it.

Obviously NOT !!!!!!!!! or i would'nt have asked .wheres the pics ???????? L@@ks like there may be another one if it is'nt done right ... Believe me i've seen the SKATERS do it ....
ROCK ON !!!!!!!!!!!!!!

rchevelle17, did you look at it enough to determine why it failed. I saw it but didn't feel right about getting too close.

Thanks mercman! That is what I was looking to find out. I have a phone call into Fountain about it. However we keep playing phone tag. If the PVC is uninterrupted then it will be easy. The tag is still on the tank. I did a visual inspection after I had it drained and it all looks good. However a pressure test would be better. Thanks for the help. I will post what I find from Fountain

Looked too wet, and soft to be a new thing, must have been wet for a while, and finally let go.

siddhi, are all the tabs of glass still bonded to the tank around the entire top of tank? If any tabs are loose or foam is fractured water can find its way in. What year is the boat?

rchevelle, that was truly a shame that was a nice boat. As you must know the smallest crack left unnoticed can prove disastrous.

Yeah all of the fiberglass tabs were in place. I did remove them in order to try and remove the tank. However without cutting the foam or chipping it away I cannot even budge the tank. I plan to refibergalss the tabs back in place before I put the console back in. The year is a 1990!

Yes it was a nice boat, and Super Nice guys also, they had a good weekend anyhow, I ran into them on Duval a few times, and at the awards, and they were having a good time:D

I very well know about the smallest crack thing, one of my first boats was a wellcraft, need I say more:D

I have changed my share of tanks. The foamed in ones are a lot of work. I have found the only way to get them out is to remove the foam from around the sides an lift squarely with a fork lift to brake bond on bottom of tank. The ones that leak usually had water leak in between foam and tank. If you already removed the tabs you could take another step and dig a hole to lowest point in rear to assure your self its dry. I would base that decision on the condition of the seal the glass provided. It should have been sealed and drains provided so water could not lay on the tank.

Cool I will do that. If all is still dry would you say it is safe to just refiberglass the tabs and leave it as is? I feel pretty good about the condition at this point. I will plan to do a pressure test to check the integrity of the tank and if all is good I will just leave it alone. What would you do in my situation? I want to do it the right way.
-B

I would dig and check for held water. It will stink if it been wet a while. pressure check as listed on tank and if all good foam and seal up. Be careful not to break PVC tube.

Sounds good to me. I also heard from Fountain. They told me that the area for the tank is encapsulated and there should be no way water or especially sand should be under the tank. They said they are not allowed to have that area drain to the bildge in case the tank gets a leak. They basically said the same thing. if the glass tabs are good and there is not water in the foam seal it up and don't worry about it. So thanks for the advice. I will check everything out and go from there.

Sounds like JIM knows his SHIP:evilb: !!!!!!!!!!!!!

Yes Indeed! Thanks for all the help and I hope to have her running shortly!

Post a picture of it!!!!