[zilla68]

I manage an rv and boat storage as a part time side job.
I had a customer call me wanting to talk about his contract. Long story short this boat hasn't seen water since 86 when it was last tagged, and was dry stored in our storage since the mid 90's. He said his mom bought it for him for his birthday in 75! It's all original down to the factory fire extinguisher and was ordered custom with gold metal flake, tandem trailer, 455 olds, berkley je pump etc.

Considering the condition of this boat, I'd really like to maintain the originality and keep it as it came from the factory, since its virtually unused.

Now my issue is the boat's fiberglass tanks. They have sat all these years with fuel in them, and now that I have drained the tanks, there is a tar like substance that I'm sure will cause me some trouble down the road.

I flushed the tanks with 5 gallons each of purple power cleaner from advance auto today. after letting it set in there most the day, I flushed it out with water, but I can tell there is still some in there.

Any ideas on cleaning this out? I'd really like to save these tanks if possible, to keep it all original.

thanks and I'll get a few pictures posted up soon.

Chris

 

[zilla68]

I spoke with a fiberglass shop today and ran this idea by them. What if I took and cut either a round hole or a rectangular hole in the top, got it cleaned out, then used a piece of stainless with a gasket screwed down? kind of like a larger hole for a fuel sending unit, like what was in there, with a cork gasket. Any thoughts on gas fumes getting out?
The shop said he didn't see why that wouldn't work. I just don't want to blow up the kids in the process.

 

[wpmxwb]

Someone correct me if I'm wrong.

My understanding is that fiberglass tanks won't hold up to today's fuels.

I would cut them out and have some stainless or aluminum ones made to fit in their place

 

[jetboatperformance]

My opinion , run from them (the tanks) , just finished yet another tank replacement and engine repair from the dredded black goo , much better plan to ditch those tanks and get some aluminum or stainless The black pitch can gum up carbs, stick rings and stick valves

 

[zilla68]

My opinion , run from them (the tanks) , just finished yet another tank replacement and engine repair from the dredded black goo , much better plan to ditch those tanks and get some aluminum or stainless The black pitch can gum up carbs, stick rings and stick valves

do you sell tanks? or just go to imco I think it is? is stainless or aluminum better, is there a preferred metal for tanks?

 

[Last Mohican]

Just to expand on what these guys are referring to, the ethanol additive in todays fuels dissolves the resin used to construct fiberglass tanks. Not only does that eventually lead to holes in the tank, the disolved resin moving through the fuel system turns into a goo that deposits all over every component in the fuel system. There is no "easy fix" other than replacing the tanks. You do not want to run that boat on ethanol blended fuel from those tanks.

You might keep your eyes on CL and the For Sale section here for used tanks. Sometimes you can buy a complete boat with good tanks for less than new tanks will cost. I had some aluminum tanks built for my Rebel here in Dallas 3 or 4 years ago. Cost me ~ $800. Post some pics. Sounds like a cool old boat.