Diesel Fuel Tank Woes...or Bonehead mistake of the season

rperret · #1 (**permalink**) 10-05-2007

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

Goodnewsboy · #2 (**permalink**) 10-05-2007

What is the problem that worries you? If there is a screen over the fuel pickup tube, or if the wood is larger than said pickup tube, you shouldn't have any problem getting fuel.

BTW, when you have the tank out of the boat, just have a plate fitted in the tanktop for the dual purpose of inspecting/cleaning and also mounting a fuel level sender.

camaraderie · #3 (**permalink**) 10-05-2007

I agree entirely with GNB...enjoy sailing and run your motor with no worries. Run down the fuel level in the tank and then install a clean out port when you haul out. There should be no need to remove the tank...especially if just 3 years old. You or the yard can do the work on the boat....or pull the tank if that is easier for all. You might wanna think about getting a tanktender system! (g)

sailaway21 · #4 (**permalink**) 10-06-2007

And, if I recall correctly, teak does not float well even in water. I believe it's specific gravity is just a touch above 1.0 and so it's resting nicely on the bottom of your tank as diesel has a SG of less than water. On the bright side; how many things in your life can you say are right where you left them?

ebs001 · #5 (**permalink**) 10-06-2007

Actually teak would float in diesel fuel. SG teak 0.63 to 0.73: SG Diesel 0.82 to 0.95.

SEMIJim · #6 (**permalink**) 10-06-2007

It would bug the livin' hell outta me to know I had a foreign object like that in my fuel tank, but at the cost/expense/hassle of pulling the tank, etc., I think I'd learn to live with it if the object was just going to be there and it'd do no harm.

We use the dip-stick method, too. The PO of our boat fabricated it of a plain ol' dowel rod, couldn't even tell you what kind of wood it is, that is thick enough to largely fill the fuel fill port, so it wouldn't be very easy to break.

Yeah, Cam, those tank tenders are Real Nice

. Also Real Expensive

.

Jim

camaraderie · #7 (**permalink**) 10-06-2007

Yeah....they are almost as expensive as removing the fuel tank! (g)

Boasun · #8 (**permalink**) 10-06-2007

On the work boats we use a weighted metal measuring tape. On your small boats with the associated size tanks you could use a measuring tape of 6' or 10' length. Make a tank volume table for your fuel tanks and just by measuring you will know how much you have and can tell the pump man at the fuel dock how much you need and when to slow down the flow so you don't spurt out the fuel vent.

Goodnewsboy · #9 (**permalink**) 10-07-2007

An electric fuel level sender is less than $40 (Tempo)

http://www.iboats.com/Sending_Units/...view_id.238171

Add about the same for a matching gauge and you don't have to worry about a dipstick.
http://www.iboats.com/2_Fuel_Level_G...view_id.131608

If you don't want to do an electric gauge setup, they even have a mechanical gauge that reads out at the tank.

http://www.iboats.com/Tempo_Mechanic...-view_id.21305

rperret · #10 (**permalink**) 10-07-2007

Thanks for the comments.

My main concern was if the teak would somehow begin to breakdown (lots of silica in teak i think) and start clogging up the filters, etc.

This new tank is a bit kludge...

The tank appears easy to remove - and would probably be easier (cheaper) for having a proper access port and fuel sensor installed.

At any rate, thanks all for the sage advice.

Rick