TOPIC: Smiling gas tank gods

Looks like I dodged a bullet this past season. Off season layup plans are to install a newer plastic 18 gallon fuel tank.
Started today on the removal of the old steel 12 gallon tank.
When I removed it I noticed some sticky drying fuel on the floor under the tank. After I removed it and set it on the garage floor within a few hours I'm smelling gas and under the old tank was a puddle. Drained about 5 gallons of good gas out of it, turned it upside down and found rust, lots of rust especially along the weld seam. Wire brushed it down and could actually see wet spots where gas was slowly oozing out. Think the only thing that kept it in during the season was a heavy coat of sound deadening paint. So now I have a good fuel sender and pick-up tube, the tank is getting recycled.

Wow Cal that was a close one!!! Isn't that the tank you were eating the rust off of?

Bob

Cal, glad you got that time bomb out of pull toy. looks like a problem just waiting to happen, greg

Bob, not the same tank. The one I de-rusted inside was a total disaster also. Full of pin holes that were found after the inside cleaning, also deep sixed that one.
A lesson learned maybe we all can share...stay away from older steel fuel tanks. Seems like moisture in the bilge and also water in the fuel take their toll on both inside and out.

Cal,
Wow, that could have been bad out in the bay. Good thing it was pulled out of the boat before storage!
Paul

Go buy a lottery ticket. That was good luck. If you hadn't caught it it could have been seriously bad.