[C38] welding fuel fuel tanks, California

[Don Strong]

Joe: Five years ago our tank failed with a bunch of little pits of 
corrosion on the sides and bottom. I talked to a welding company who 
said that California law (I assume liability) makes it prohibitively 
expensive to weld on fuel tanks; the guy said "take it to Mexico or 
Nevada if you want it welded." I bought a new one fabricated just to fit 
from a supplier in New Jersey whom I found in a long list of "marine 
fuel tank" fabricator on the internet. Shipping was not much; they are 
light when empty.
   My fabricator told me that the fuel tank that failed on Discreet 
Charm was a gasoline tank, as indicated by the jury rigged fuel return 
and lines. Perhaps my boat had a gasoline engine when new. The 1980 
models (and earlier?) have a small tank and lots of stuff down there in 
the way of installing a bigger one.
I now have a nice and new18 gallon aluminum tank, with proper venting 
and fuel return, and it didn't cost too much. I did the work.
regards, Don

On 6/20/13 10:26 PM, Joseph Launie wrote:
> Steve,
>         Thanks for the tip. Joe
> On 6/20/2013 9:18 PM, S Orton wrote:
>> Joe,  I would first try to repair it.  The leak is most likely at a 
>> weld joint and the 6061 aluminum the tank is made of is very 
>> weldable.  Before welding, you would need to take the tank to a 
>> radiator shop for a through cleaning.
>> Good luck, Steve O
>>
>> ------------------------------------------------------------------------
>> Date: Tue, 18 Jun 2013 19:54:47 -0700
>> From: jlaunie at cox.net
>> To: listserve at catalina38.org
>> Subject: [C38] fuel tank
>>
>> while in yard mechanic found fuel tank leaking - will replace anyone 
>> know where i can get a tank - preferably plastic to fit for hull 165 
>> joe macavity
>>
>> _______________________________________________ Listserve mailing 
>> list Listserve at catalina38.org 
>> http://catalina38.org/mailman/listinfo/listserve_catalina38.org
>>
>>
>> _______________________________________________
>> Listserve mailing list
>> Listserve at catalina38.org
>> http://catalina38.org/mailman/listinfo/listserve_catalina38.org
>
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> Listserve mailing list
> Listserve at catalina38.org
> http://catalina38.org/mailman/listinfo/listserve_catalina38.org


-- 
Donald R. Strong
Professor,
Department of Evolution and Ecology
and
The Bodega Marine Laboratory,
University of California, Davis,
Davis CA
95616
530 752 7886

-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <http://catalina38.org/pipermail/listserve_catalina38.org/attachments/20130621/789949f1/attachment-0001.htm>