De-rigging boat for repower and wanting to know how to inspect fuel tank. How do surveyors do this?

Also need to remove about 25 gallons of fuel remaining in tank, I was wondering if a primer bulb like outboards use would get a siphon going?

hi viper,
joe here from american marine in edgewater !yes primerbulb could get you going as long as you have a drop. as for tank inspect well best to pressureize and see if it hold press.

JOE

AMERICAN PERFORMANCE MARINE
EDGEWATER MARYLAND
410-573-0057

You can pressure test it using a regulator get tank at 3 psi, use vise grips on vent hose and fuel lines. Check all fittings and sender with soap/water. Also you can vacuum test it, a shop vac works good but you will need a valve to keep air in same around 3in vacuum........ Kyle

Be careful using electric motors around gas fumes. I Know a dude modifing a race car chassie(sp) using a Dewalt drill, the sparks off the D.C. brushes exploded the fuel cell inside the car. Not pretty. Changed the mood around the shop real quick. He did heal up ok though.

Your right / I work on new boats with no gas.... Well maby theres a different way to vacuum test?

Ok I'll make sure to get fill and vent hoses sealed well and see if it holds light pressure. I have never had leakage problems with the tank but I though it would be a good idea to check. Seems like a mistake could easily be made doing this though and end up ripping the floor out. I would have thought there was a way to inspect from the inside of the tank with some sort of gizmo.

I used my electric fuel pump and ran a fuel line over the side of the boat and called several people to show up with gas cans for free gas. I had 80 gallons to get rid off.