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Pulling the fuel tank
I have a 1977 37' with a leaky fule tank. I plan on pulling the tank and having it repaired.
Under the sole, there are about 6 cross members. About 4 are bolted to the pan near the settees and can be removed easily by unbolting them. Only two are fiberglassed into the hull. I plan on cutting the ones that are fiberglassed in at the edge of the pan. Then fiberglassing the remaining stubs to stregthen and prevent rot. When I go back, I'm going to replace the wood crossmembers with an Aluminum lattice, which has lateral crossmemebers and also longitudinal brace between the lateral ones. With the latticed bolted to the pan and the fiberglassed stubs, I think the boat will be stronger than original. If a tank needs to be removed in the future, I will be able to remove and restore it without any fiberglass work, only unbolting and bolting.
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