Tanks Skater...
 

It leaked in September, just enough to smell, but not visible, but enough we would not run it again. A call was made to Mr. Pete, and he said to send it up. I removed the interior, and engines. And started whining, about taking it from Florida to Douglas Michigan. Pete "Shoot to Thrill" Boden, volunteered to drive it up in early October. He picked it up on a Sunday, and delivered it on Monday.... In Michigan.. wow

I met Mr. Pete on the Galleon Docks in Key West at the Worlds in November, he said I call to much .....

It was picked up complete with new tanks and water ramps last Thursday, by Pete Boden, in the beginning of the big blizzard. I was expecting a lot of problems, until I heard the back up horn on the big freight liner backing the boat into the driveway Friday Afternoon. Thanks Pete. Although it was quite dirty from the snow.

At Skater

All cut up.

Ok, how do I turn the pictures?

Many thanks to "Shoot to Thrill" Pete, and Ron "Double Rigged" for the help getting it there, and getting it completed.

Are you on an Ipad?

We had no damage from ethanol, the tanks had been replaced by the previous owner, just before I purchased the boat. A big factor in the purchase decision. But the replacement was not done at Skater, and it failed. Lesson learned.

Yes an iPad

Now she has made the required trip back to the mothership and back safe. All is well.

[ATTACH=CONFIG]550061[/ATTACH][ATTACH=CONFIG]550062[/ATTACH]

You've probably transferred the file/pic to your Ipad from email or a message. Save it to camera roll, open it up, take a screen shot of the pic, use the screen shot to post in the forum.

Don't ask me why, but it works.

Jim,
Glad the boat made it back safe in the wake of the all the bad weather!
I am sure it will be back together soon!!!!!

I removed the tunnel tab today, don't you love 5200 adhesive? It was difficult. The tab back plate was in need of stripping, blasting, acid wash, and alodine treatment, before epoxy primer and Awlgrip tomorrow.

While everything is off the boat, I will replace all the control cables. Throttles, shifts, trims, tab

What are skater tanks made from? What causes the failure? And what is different after they are fixed that prevents future failure?

What do you think is the benefit from the tunnel tab?

Someone correct me, but pre 97 Skaters and post 2004 Skaters have no tank problems. The resin used during that period, was not compatible with the stupid idea to add corn to our fuel. The ethanol can / will dissolve the resin, fuel line, primer bulb, etc. and plug the fuel system up.

It will stop the porpoise we experience from 50-70 if you want, at WFO on smooth water, it can be dropped to deflect air thru the tunnel, and lift the transom. Picks up a couple mph. BUT it can be bad news, if you forget to retract it and make a turn. Very Bad news. It is a great swim step.

Old resin lay-ups reacted with and/or were not impervious to ethenol in the fiberglass tanks (part of the boat's structure). Modern resin used has been proven to be not affected by ethenol....

Congrat's on getting your boat back Z.P. - it's got to feel good!

Back together

^^^ Are you going to sleep tonight or just work right on though until the boat is ready to splash??? LOL

Looks good!

My 2004 tanks failed in a 28 boat 118 changed to Imco aluminum ..

Have we seen your 28 Joe? Post some pics. I would love to see it.

My 28 has been back to mother Skater as well. If they leak again, they will be aluminum.

Water ramps installed at Skater.

Tab primed and awl grip black today, all new cables installed

knowing the storm was coming, I left skater at 3 pm thursday, drove to Chattanooga, slept, and pulled in Jim's at 3 PM. drove thru a lot of rain but no snow!

Tanks must be done at Skater...

That's what I tell people.....Unless the Tanks were done at Skater...the Tanks were not done...JMO

What does Skater do that's special?

Build Skaters!!!!???:lolhit:

:party-smiley-048:Let's also not forget they take their TIME!!!!!! :party-smiley-048:

Rome was not built in a day. If it were Pete would hire it's crew... just sayin

[QUOTE=Zero Patience;4396867]Someone correct me, but pre 97 Skaters and post 2004 Skaters have no tank problems. The resin used during that period, was not compatible with the stupid idea to add corn to our fuel. The ethanol can / will dissolve the resin, fuel line, primer bulb, etc. and plug the fuel system up.[/QUOTE



I believe for the most part you are correct. I was told newer then 2006 would not have problems.

[QUOTE=kaama82;4397423]Forgive me, as this might be a dumb question, but I'll ask anyway..... Do any other boat manufacturers have this issue, or do they use metal tanks? My brothers 30' is a 2007, so no harm there for us!

YES, other builder had the same issues. Yellowfin, is a big builder that had many tanks fail doe to ethanol.....

The interior is back in. And the engines back on, along with the tunnel tab. Off to put a little fuel in it tomorrow, and make some tank sticks, will mark dowel rods at 5 gallon increments. The opti's use so little fuel that I rarely put more than 15 gallons per side in. Most of our runs are about 100 miles.

Looking good Jim!
Bet you can't wait to get it back in the water!

Kirk, What do you have stuffed in your cowl intakes? Boat is looking good! David

Sponges, they keep dirt, bugs, water, out when towing or stored. A Florida Dirt Dobber Wasp, can ruin an engine with the dirt nests they build. I remove the sponges at the boat ramp.

:poopoo:Don't take this the wrong way but why didn't you move the graphics before putting the tunnel tab on? All of your stuff is top notch but to me I think you missed the boat on that.

That is vinyl, peels right off, it is not under the tunnel tab ,but around it. It's there for all the- 1,2,3,4,5, engine Yamaha powered boats to see as the Mercs glide past.

i know the Skater Guys tried to help me out, the some how removed they sea deck flooring and stored it during the tank replacement. But they used contact cement to put it back down. I already had replacement sea deck made. It took 2 hours to peel the stuff out and 3 hours to remove the contact cement. The new flooring is in.

Done

It's ready, added fuel, started them one at a time, bled oil tanks. Adjusted trim indicator cables, set engines to dead straight, raised engines 1/4" for new water ramps.

I'll be at the Cudjoe house on Thursday. Come on down and I'll adjust the boat lift bunks for your testing. Looks great.