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SO

Stephen Offutt

Sun, Jan 14, 2007 7:16 PM

I have a question about a fuel tank leak on port tank' found during a
preliminary survey and sea trial.

We are moving along on this 1983 Lien Hwa 36' Sea Star that I have posted
about and gotten good advice, thanks all. We are buying from the Eastern
Shore Marina and Boatyard in Fairhope, AL. The boatyard owner and boat
seller is Ed Wall.

I have an aggressive surveyor - D.J. Smith of Port City Marine Service. I
chose him based on List input (Thanks) and the BoatUS list of accredited
surveyors.

At this point it is still a boat, not THE boat, but I know that is coming
soon if we continue. We can walk away and continue our boat odyssey on to
Florida.

Surveyor did a preliminary look on the 3rd, and we did sea trials with the
surveyor on 9 Jan. The most import issue found was a leaking seam on the
port fuel tank forward. The boat has two 150 Gal. aluminum diesel saddle
tanks which approximate rectangular forms. The port tank has a leak along a
forward top corner seam about a connector. It is much corroded in that
area. The surveyor recommends replacement.

As the tanks are aluminum, I don't think they would be original?

Yesterday I noticed that the equivalent seem on the stbd tank is corroded
and flaking. There was no sign of a leak yet. All other seems on both
tanks look OK.

I obviously want a replacement tank.

My question is, is replacement the only good long term option? If so,
should that be all on his nickel, or should I expect some percentage
contribution based on 'future value'?

Remove and 'repair', 'repair' in place, ignore? My guess is that the R&R
option would cost me about $8K. Should this issue be a deal killer if seller
won't take care of it? Should I worry about the stbd. tank at this point?

One of his workers thought he could weld it in place (imagine me running in
fear), a second thought to remove, prep and weld it, a third (I spend a lot
of time at the yard with them, and we talk) swore the only solution was to
replace it. I vote with the 3rd guy.

What does the List think about these or other 'practical' alternatives?

There is, of course, the second duplicate tank of the same age down there to
think about.
I would appreciate your knowledge on this.
Thanks a lot,

Stephen Offutt
MV (not yet)
On the Hard in Fairhope, AL
Cell: 361.244.4726
stephen_offutt@sbcglobal.net

I have a question about a fuel tank leak on port tank' found during a preliminary survey and sea trial. We are moving along on this 1983 Lien Hwa 36' Sea Star that I have posted about and gotten good advice, thanks all. We are buying from the Eastern Shore Marina and Boatyard in Fairhope, AL. The boatyard owner and boat seller is Ed Wall. I have an aggressive surveyor - D.J. Smith of Port City Marine Service. I chose him based on List input (Thanks) and the BoatUS list of accredited surveyors. At this point it is still a boat, not THE boat, but I know that is coming soon if we continue. We can walk away and continue our boat odyssey on to Florida. Surveyor did a preliminary look on the 3rd, and we did sea trials with the surveyor on 9 Jan. The most import issue found was a leaking seam on the port fuel tank forward. The boat has two 150 Gal. aluminum diesel saddle tanks which approximate rectangular forms. The port tank has a leak along a forward top corner seam about a connector. It is much corroded in that area. The surveyor recommends replacement. As the tanks are aluminum, I don't think they would be original? Yesterday I noticed that the equivalent seem on the stbd tank is corroded and flaking. There was no sign of a leak yet. All other seems on both tanks look OK. I obviously want a replacement tank. My question is, is replacement the only good long term option? If so, should that be all on his nickel, or should I expect some percentage contribution based on 'future value'? Remove and 'repair', 'repair' in place, ignore? My guess is that the R&R option would cost me about $8K. Should this issue be a deal killer if seller won't take care of it? Should I worry about the stbd. tank at this point? One of his workers thought he could weld it in place (imagine me running in fear), a second thought to remove, prep and weld it, a third (I spend a lot of time at the yard with them, and we talk) swore the only solution was to replace it. I vote with the 3rd guy. What does the List think about these or other 'practical' alternatives? There is, of course, the second duplicate tank of the same age down there to think about. I would appreciate your knowledge on this. Thanks a lot, Stephen Offutt MV (not yet) On the Hard in Fairhope, AL Cell: 361.244.4726 stephen_offutt@sbcglobal.net

RR

Ron Rogers

Sun, Jan 14, 2007 7:26 PM

You'd think that the corrosion is from a water leak. Is the "connector"
where the fill hose enters the tank. You have to eliminate the cause of the
leak. Welding a "cheesy" corroded area really means replacing some of the
aluminum. There are others on the list who have dealt with this, but it
doesn't sound like a problem that lends itself to J-B Weld for example.

Where else are uncaulked fittings leaking rain water into the boat?

Ron Rogers

You'd think that the corrosion is from a water leak. Is the "connector" where the fill hose enters the tank. You have to eliminate the cause of the leak. Welding a "cheesy" corroded area really means replacing some of the aluminum. There are others on the list who have dealt with this, but it doesn't sound like a problem that lends itself to J-B Weld for example. Where else are uncaulked fittings leaking rain water into the boat? Ron Rogers

BM

Bob McLeran

Sun, Jan 14, 2007 10:55 PM

Having just gone through that drill, I am skeptical of any suggestion
that a repair is just as good as a replacement. There's just no way a
tank can be repaired in place to meet the standards of a new tank. It
might last a few more years, but then you're still faced with the big
yard bill - you can bank on it (and should). A yard that is familiar
with the work involved could undoubtedly give you a good ball-park
estimate for the cost of replacing the tanks.

The work on Sanderling consisted of pulling both engines and a genset,
then both tanks. The tanks were taken to a fabricator who built
identical tanks from aluminum, adding a better drain valve location and
fittings for sight gages, but no inspection port. Cost ran about $7,000
total for all that work. I had other work done by the yard at the same
time. I did a lot of other work myself while the engines were out of the
boat and were easy to get to, and while the engine room was totally
empty of the big stuff.

I'm now looking at new trawlers of slightly younger vintage (but still
in the neighborhood of 15-20 years old) and the first question I'm
asking the brokers/owners is when the fuel tanks were replaced!

<><><><><><><><><><><><><><>Mozilla Thunderbird<><><><><><><><><><><><>
Bob McLeran and Judy Young Manatee Cove Marina
M/V Sanderling Patrick Air Force Base
Hampton 35 Trawler Melbourne, Florida

On 1/14/2007 2:16 PM, Stephen Offutt wrote:

I have a question about a fuel tank leak on port tank' found during a
preliminary survey and sea trial.I obviously want a replacement tank.

My question is, is replacement the only good long term option? If so,
should that be all on his nickel, or should I expect some percentage
contribution based on 'future value'?

Remove and 'repair', 'repair' in place, ignore? My guess is that the R&R
option would cost me about $8K. Should this issue be a deal killer if seller
won't take care of it? Should I worry about the stbd. tank at this point?

One of his workers thought he could weld it in place (imagine me running in
fear), a second thought to remove, prep and weld it, a third (I spend a lot
of time at the yard with them, and we talk) swore the only solution was to
replace it. I vote with the 3rd guy.

What does the List think about these or other 'practical' alternatives?

Having just gone through that drill, I am skeptical of any suggestion that a repair is just as good as a replacement. There's just no way a tank can be repaired in place to meet the standards of a new tank. It might last a few more years, but then you're still faced with the big yard bill - you can bank on it (and should). A yard that is familiar with the work involved could undoubtedly give you a good ball-park estimate for the cost of replacing the tanks. The work on Sanderling consisted of pulling both engines and a genset, then both tanks. The tanks were taken to a fabricator who built identical tanks from aluminum, adding a better drain valve location and fittings for sight gages, but no inspection port. Cost ran about $7,000 total for all that work. I had other work done by the yard at the same time. I did a lot of other work myself while the engines were out of the boat and were easy to get to, and while the engine room was totally empty of the big stuff. I'm now looking at new trawlers of slightly younger vintage (but still in the neighborhood of 15-20 years old) and the first question I'm asking the brokers/owners is when the fuel tanks were replaced! <><><><><><><><><><><><><><>Mozilla Thunderbird<><><><><><><><><><><><> Bob McLeran and Judy Young Manatee Cove Marina M/V Sanderling Patrick Air Force Base Hampton 35 Trawler Melbourne, Florida On 1/14/2007 2:16 PM, Stephen Offutt wrote: > I have a question about a fuel tank leak on port tank' found during a > preliminary survey and sea trial.I obviously want a replacement tank. > > My question is, is replacement the only good long term option? If so, > should that be all on his nickel, or should I expect some percentage > contribution based on 'future value'? > > Remove and 'repair', 'repair' in place, ignore? My guess is that the R&R > option would cost me about $8K. Should this issue be a deal killer if seller > won't take care of it? Should I worry about the stbd. tank at this point? > > One of his workers thought he could weld it in place (imagine me running in > fear), a second thought to remove, prep and weld it, a third (I spend a lot > of time at the yard with them, and we talk) swore the only solution was to > replace it. I vote with the 3rd guy. > > What does the List think about these or other 'practical' alternatives?

trawlers@lists.trawlering.com

Survey Finds Fuel Tank Leak