Varnish...

[superhatz]

Whelp....finally got around to looking in the fuel tank of my 1970 18 2+3...there's no saving this one. There are several inches of thick varnish.....

So....I'll be pulling the deck and replacing the tank.....

My question: Is there a good thread that describes the "tabbing" of the deck to hull?.....where exactly are these things?...and how much weight do I have to loose to find them??

Thanks!!

[MOP]

Are you sure about the several inches? A 55 gallon drum ends up with maybe 2 inches, I know a forgotten cap closed cap forgotten over the winter showed me that. Acetone will dissolve the sludge, you being in fresh water the tank could very well be in fine shape. My 22 is an 86 previously fresh water boat and the tank is fine and still in use. A few gallons of acetone and a few miles of trailering on bumpy roads may save you!

[hdsadey]

check these people out! fuel tank cleaners on site. there are in Florida but maybe you can find someone close to you that does the same. from what I hear it works great and reasonably priced.

http://sludgesuckers.net/

[gcarter]

I think a far superior method of fastening is through bolting. By using using 1/4-20 csk screws and nuts through the joint and #10 csk screws and nuts through the rail is a VERY secure method. In the area of the sides of the cockpit and all the way forward in the bow, you can install TEE nuts, and screw in the fasteners from the outside.
It's neat, sanitary, and very strong.
No more re-tightening the screws through the rail.

[superhatz]

Interesting on the sludge removal....I'd much rather do this. I couldn't find much info that led me to believe it was worth trying. I'd love to not take this boat apart yet....

[hdsadey]

what i've been told is they come out to your boat pump in a solution that breaks down the varnish and then come back in a few days of first pump and remove it then do it again if need be. a friend if mine has a Maverick flats boat that sat for 8 years and he talked to these guys. they said no problem, but he hasnt had it done yet. he was refered to Sludge Suckers from a tarpon boat captain out of Boca Grande Fl. who apparently has had good experience with the company. the Maverick has a 32 gallon tank and i think the quote was around $200-250, believe it also came with a guarantee

[Cuda]

what i've been told is they come out to your boat pump in a solution that breaks down the varnish and then come back in a few days of first pump and remove it then do it again if need be. a friend if mine has a Maverick flats boat that sat for 8 years and he talked to these guys. they said no problem, but he hasnt had it done yet. he was refered to Sludge Suckers from a tarpon boat captain out of Boca Grande Fl. who apparently has had good experience with the company. the Maverick has a 32 gallon tank and i think the quote was around $200-250, believe it also came with a guarantee

I couldn't afford to cross the bridge into Boca Grande. They charged me extra because I was driving a dually. Most of the people in town drive golf carts.

[hdsadey]

LOL! yep them bastards charge you extra for 6 wheels instead of 2 axles and if your on a motorcycle its like 2.50

[The Hedgehog]

If the tank is in good shape you can save it.

I have heard good things about the fuel sludge guys. I wish that we had some up here. I would love them to do the tanks on my Roamer next time I get low on diesel.

If you don't have much in the tank, I would try MOP's trick first.

[Cuda]

I had an old Jet Ski with two stroke oil and gas sitting in it a long time.
It looked just like No.1 Permatex.

[superhatz]

I poured 2 gallons of acetone in this morning.....I'll keep you guys posted!

[AIRGRADY]

I used sludgesuckers a few years ago when i needed to get rid of about 20 gallons of six year old stale gas in the Hornet. They came right to the house and were kind enough to look over my fuel tank when there. I cannot recall the charge for the service but I do remember it costing more than I anticipated.

[mrfixxall]

I couldn't afford to cross the bridge into Boca Grande. They charged me extra because I was driving a dually. Most of the people in town drive golf carts.

try living in illinois,you have to pay a toll on every highway ranging from .50 to 5 bucks every 10- 30 miles..it sucks here!

[tmh]

I just got done draining and disposing of 28 gallons of gas in the 18c from last December. Perhaps the gas hadn't gone bad but I hadn't used a stabilizer and I didn't want to have problems. It cost almost as much to dispose of it as to buy it. I should have filled up the lawn mower with it ( 5 gallon tank). I thought I'd use the boat some over the winter but I finally got a new tow vehicle. I'm all set to go this Sunday.
T.M. Hayes

[MOP]

A tank I did awhile back ended up taking 8 gallons of acetone also fresh gas and driving around the neighborhood. With our V tanks you get a fairly concentrated mass at the lowest point, let the acetone sit and work on it for awhile probably a few days then add a few gallons of fresh gas and go for a ride.
The sloshing around it important, after awhile check the consistency. I use a yard stick to scape at the bottom to check the muck every so often. When you get to the point that you no longer can get anything to stay on the end of the stick drain it out, then put 5 gallons of fresh gas for the last slosh and drain that should leave it decent.