Today was not the best of days.
I've got a 14 gallon aluminum fuel tank for my S2. The tank does not have a gas gauge, and the P.O. used a narrow teak dip stick to assess fuel levels. I'm 3 weeks from hauling the boat and was filling the tank and using the dip stick to check for full tank...
Of course, the dip stick snaps in the filler tube and about a 8-10" piece of teak falls into the diesel tank...@#%&!
Unfortunately I can't see the stick in the tube so it appears its at the bottom of tank.
No, I don't have a fuel tank access panel so I can fish it out. The inlet is probably about 1-1/4". Not that large.
Anyone have any creative ideas to get it out? My current plan is to:
- have the tank drained
- remove the tank (i remember that the tank was custom made 3 years ago) so it would fit thru the lazarette..
- find a tank repair/machine shop to drill a proper access hole, remove the teak, and steam clean the tank (likely not that dirty but might as well do that now).
Would still like to go sailing, so I wonder if it's OK to use the engine over the next few weeks.
Thanks, and remember don't use a wooden dip stick...
Rick