Columbia 34-2 fuel tank material

[bigchump]

Hi all:
Can anyone tell me whether the original fuel tank on the C34 MKII was fiberglass or metal?

Thanx in advance,
Jeff

[Martinini]

What year?

[bigchump]

Originally Posted by Martinini

What year?

1974, hull # 287.

[imagine2frolic]

My Columbia 30 1972 was metal, and brought me grief in 2000......big grief....lololol....i2f

[bigchump]

Originally Posted by imagine2frolic

My Columbia 30 1972 was metal, and brought me grief in 2000......big grief....lololol....i2f

Please tell me about your grief!!!!
It may be the same grief I'm having right now.
Thanx

[imagine2frolic]

The interior was deteriorating, and filling the carb with particles. Even though I had a couple of filter in the fuel line. When I inspected it it has stalagtites od rust hanging from the roof.

The hard part was the tank was dropped into a well, and the gap filled with resin. I had to take a sawsall to the well, and cut the tank out. I left the recessed lip in place, so the board could still sit there, and cover the hole.....i2f

[bigchump]

Thanks for the info Imagine.
I just payed a surveyor $442 and he tells me I have a fiberglass tank.
The boatyard guys say noooooo, it's a metal tank.
The fuel system was converted to diesel in 1989.
The engine quits when making a hard left turn but it starts right back up.
There is a five to 10 second delay before the engine quits.
I suspect there is something going on in the tank with the fuel pickup.
Because I have an electric fuel pump the system is self bleeding so air in the fuel lines is quickly purged.

I'm surprised you didn't install a new tank under the cockpit and just leave the old one in place. That's what I'm going to do if I have to replace the tank.

Thanx again,
Jeff

[imagine2frolic]

I never even got the new tank installed. I sold the business, and left for Imagine who was sitting in St. Maarten. I sold Frolic with the new aluminum tank sitting below the sette.....i2f

[Martinini]

I just helped a friend with his 69 50' Columbia with a steel tank. Yours is probably steel or Corten steel which looks like it's rusted all the time. Find a fuel polishing rig to rent or a mech. who has one and put StarTron Enzyme Fuel Tank Cleaner into a full tank and let it sit for a week. then hook up the fuel polishing unit and run it until it's giant Racors quite stopping up and you will then Have a clean tank that won't have crud in it. But DON'T do this without the fuel polisher because it will stop up normal sized filters for a long time and always at the wrong time! I am in the process of doing this now. Also I don't trust anything a Surveyor says anymore! Any Yutz who takes a class can be one. Mine missed things like No Discharge placards right under main elec. panels almost at eye level in companion way bulkhead.

[Martinini]

Also make sure the pickup on the polishing unit is at the bottom or as close to the bottom of tank as possible. I took the fuel sending unit out of my tank and put the intank hose through there. You will not believe the crap that comes out. But then my tank had probably never been cleaned!! Maintain clean tank with approiate additives. Your engine will thank you for it.
Oh Yeah-----NICE BOAT