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Author Topic:   Water Under OUTRAGE Fuel Tank

whaler222 posted 05-06-2002 11:59 PM ET (US)
I am shocked at the way the fuel tank systems were designed on the classic Outrages. I would bet that 100% of them have water under the fuel tank. I have the deck out of my boat right now, and I pumped about 15 gallons of water from under the tank. The way it got there is on the port side where the fuel fill and vent hoses feed into the cavity where the tank is, well...[nothing to prevent it]. Water just creeps right around, between, under where the lines are fed. Even if it were foamed around these lines, after about a year water will definitly find its way through.
There should be brass through hull fittings threaded with barbs on either end for the fuel lines to connect to, [as opposed to just] the wall of the cavity being notched out so water can just pour right in. I plan to fill the notch with glass and use brass through-hulls because that's pretty scary to know that your gas tank is constantly sitting in a puddle of (for some of us) saltwater.
Could this eventually corode the tank so bad that you begin to have fuel leakage?(!) Ihope not. I'm glad I'm fixing this relativly poor design and will sleep easier at night. [Edited post for clarity--jimh.]
whaler22 posted 05-07-2002 04:36 AM ET (US)
Welcome Whaler222, (original name I see...:)
Search this forum for a topic called Revenge Belly Tank on 3/22. There are numerous posts and discussions about water in the tank area. Water is always going to enter this area. Just need to find a way to get it out. I'm drilling a hole from this area into the live well,inserting a tube and plugging it while in the water. When I'm done for the day, I'll pull the plug and let her drain.
Good luck with the project. I'm finally putting things back together on my fuel tank removal.
Dave
jimh posted 05-07-2002 08:27 AM ET (US)
It does seem possible, as you have described, for water to accumulate in the fuel tank cavity of many models of Boston Whaler with central fuel tank cavities molded into the hull liner. And, as you mention, there is no provision for this water to drain. The only apparent path for it to exit is by evaporation.
Having said that, it should be noted that there does not seem to be an epidemic of Boston Whaler boats (that have this design flaw) whose fuel tanks are corroding away at an alarming rate.
jimh posted 05-07-2002 08:58 AM ET (US)
http://continuouswave.com/ubb/Forum3/HTML/001566.html is a related thread on REVENGE fuel tanks.
A couple of ideas I have on this topic:
--install a hose and pickup in the lowest point of the fuel tank cavity and connect to a pump that has sufficient lift to draw water up to it.
--install a drain tube that slopes down toward the bow and drains into the forward cavity. This is a more radical approach. You would have to verify that the forward cavity was indeed lower than the fuel cavity.
I think the amount of water contained in the belly cavity may be indicated by the amount of condensation that appears on the bottom side of the clear cap that covers the fuel gauge access port. If you have chronic condensation appearing there, you may have some water in the cavity below.
PMUCCIOLO posted 05-07-2002 08:14 PM ET (US)
This concerns me.
lhg posted 05-07-2002 08:37 PM ET (US)
Paul - Maybe you could let us know what CPD says about the situation with respect to a new Guardian.
As I have mentioned elsewhere, since mine is stored under a Mills cover, and since it gets REALLY hot under there in the sun, I open up the floor hatches so water can evaporate when the boat is not in use. So far, it seems to work and the tank area is very dry.
PMUCCIOLO posted 05-08-2002 03:42 AM ET (US)
lhg,
I'll investigate this.
dreid posted 05-08-2002 02:17 PM ET (US)
Ditto lhg's post. We fish and wash down our O/R 18 a lot, use it all year. I leave the deck plates out while stored in the shed, believing that more air flow is always a good thing. Never had condensation on the clear cover when in use, even when at the camp for several days, so I'm guessing little or no water's accumulated down there. Never shipped a ton of salt water though. That might introduce a problem now you mention it.
whaler222 posted 05-08-2002 11:45 PM ET (US)
sorry for the name, whaler 22, i will change it to something else. i like your idea, i would do the same but i have the whaler drive with full transom and theres no exit in the well in the rear. think im im going to prohibit any water getting under the tank in the first place, but just to be curious i will probably run 1/2" tubing from under the tank and up through the rigging passages with a primer bulb in-line, like the ones for fuel, and see if even after fixing the design flaw (in my opinion) if water still finds its way under there. i will keep you guys posted on how much water i pump out on a regular basis, if any. let us know to , whaler 22, if any whater comes out of the drain your installing, should be interesting. hope everything turns up dry, but i doubt it.
PMUCCIOLO posted 05-09-2002 03:26 AM ET (US)
Gents,
I discussed the situation above with CPD. The response is as follows:
The bilge pumps are now mounted on the back side of the fuel tank cavity with a polyboard (I don't know if I spelled that correctly!) bulkhead separating the fuel cavity area. The center of the bulkhead has a "weep hole" drilled in its center, allowing the water drain to the sump. The through-hull drain has been moved to center of the sump area to allow all of the water to drain, as it is moved to its lowest location (from the stbd. side).
If there is concern on the older (1980's) outrages, the original foam can be removed and replaced. The tanks are now installed with rubber pads beneath them to allow the water to run to the back (and the sump). The two-part foam can be purchased at stores like E&B and West Marine.
The trouble with the tanks, apparently, is not from standing water, but from a manufacturing defect in the tanks themselves. The number of problems BW has had with these tanks (from boats built in the late 1980's)is estimated at a dozen or less.
I hope that this helps!
Paul
North Beach posted 05-09-2002 07:35 PM ET (US)
Paul;
One comment--my 87 outrage does not have a blge pump, and I know other members do not. Did I understand you correctly the the CPD buys suggested that all 80's outrages had these pumps?
Thanks
PMUCCIOLO posted 05-10-2002 03:02 AM ET (US)
North Beach,
I may have made a misstatement. I think that the newer boats are fitted with this configuration of a bilge pump and polyboard bulkhead on the back edge of the fuel tank cavity with a drainage ("weep") hole in it. I'll try to clarify this for you.
Paul

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Author	Topic: Water Under OUTRAGE Fuel Tank
whaler222	posted 05-06-2002 11:59 PM ET (US) I am shocked at the way the fuel tank systems were designed on the classic Outrages. I would bet that 100% of them have water under the fuel tank. I have the deck out of my boat right now, and I pumped about 15 gallons of water from under the tank. The way it got there is on the port side where the fuel fill and vent hoses feed into the cavity where the tank is, well...[nothing to prevent it]. Water just creeps right around, between, under where the lines are fed. Even if it were foamed around these lines, after about a year water will definitly find its way through. There should be brass through hull fittings threaded with barbs on either end for the fuel lines to connect to, [as opposed to just] the wall of the cavity being notched out so water can just pour right in. I plan to fill the notch with glass and use brass through-hulls because that's pretty scary to know that your gas tank is constantly sitting in a puddle of (for some of us) saltwater. Could this eventually corode the tank so bad that you begin to have fuel leakage?(!) Ihope not. I'm glad I'm fixing this relativly poor design and will sleep easier at night. [Edited post for clarity--jimh.]
whaler22	posted 05-07-2002 04:36 AM ET (US) Welcome Whaler222, (original name I see...:) Search this forum for a topic called Revenge Belly Tank on 3/22. There are numerous posts and discussions about water in the tank area. Water is always going to enter this area. Just need to find a way to get it out. I'm drilling a hole from this area into the live well,inserting a tube and plugging it while in the water. When I'm done for the day, I'll pull the plug and let her drain. Good luck with the project. I'm finally putting things back together on my fuel tank removal. Dave
jimh	posted 05-07-2002 08:27 AM ET (US) It does seem possible, as you have described, for water to accumulate in the fuel tank cavity of many models of Boston Whaler with central fuel tank cavities molded into the hull liner. And, as you mention, there is no provision for this water to drain. The only apparent path for it to exit is by evaporation. Having said that, it should be noted that there does not seem to be an epidemic of Boston Whaler boats (that have this design flaw) whose fuel tanks are corroding away at an alarming rate.
jimh	posted 05-07-2002 08:58 AM ET (US) http://continuouswave.com/ubb/Forum3/HTML/001566.html is a related thread on REVENGE fuel tanks. A couple of ideas I have on this topic: --install a hose and pickup in the lowest point of the fuel tank cavity and connect to a pump that has sufficient lift to draw water up to it. --install a drain tube that slopes down toward the bow and drains into the forward cavity. This is a more radical approach. You would have to verify that the forward cavity was indeed lower than the fuel cavity. I think the amount of water contained in the belly cavity may be indicated by the amount of condensation that appears on the bottom side of the clear cap that covers the fuel gauge access port. If you have chronic condensation appearing there, you may have some water in the cavity below.
PMUCCIOLO	posted 05-07-2002 08:14 PM ET (US) This concerns me.
lhg	posted 05-07-2002 08:37 PM ET (US) Paul - Maybe you could let us know what CPD says about the situation with respect to a new Guardian. As I have mentioned elsewhere, since mine is stored under a Mills cover, and since it gets REALLY hot under there in the sun, I open up the floor hatches so water can evaporate when the boat is not in use. So far, it seems to work and the tank area is very dry.
PMUCCIOLO	posted 05-08-2002 03:42 AM ET (US) lhg, I'll investigate this.
dreid	posted 05-08-2002 02:17 PM ET (US) Ditto lhg's post. We fish and wash down our O/R 18 a lot, use it all year. I leave the deck plates out while stored in the shed, believing that more air flow is always a good thing. Never had condensation on the clear cover when in use, even when at the camp for several days, so I'm guessing little or no water's accumulated down there. Never shipped a ton of salt water though. That might introduce a problem now you mention it.
whaler222	posted 05-08-2002 11:45 PM ET (US) sorry for the name, whaler 22, i will change it to something else. i like your idea, i would do the same but i have the whaler drive with full transom and theres no exit in the well in the rear. think im im going to prohibit any water getting under the tank in the first place, but just to be curious i will probably run 1/2" tubing from under the tank and up through the rigging passages with a primer bulb in-line, like the ones for fuel, and see if even after fixing the design flaw (in my opinion) if water still finds its way under there. i will keep you guys posted on how much water i pump out on a regular basis, if any. let us know to , whaler 22, if any whater comes out of the drain your installing, should be interesting. hope everything turns up dry, but i doubt it.
PMUCCIOLO	posted 05-09-2002 03:26 AM ET (US) Gents, I discussed the situation above with CPD. The response is as follows: The bilge pumps are now mounted on the back side of the fuel tank cavity with a polyboard (I don't know if I spelled that correctly!) bulkhead separating the fuel cavity area. The center of the bulkhead has a "weep hole" drilled in its center, allowing the water drain to the sump. The through-hull drain has been moved to center of the sump area to allow all of the water to drain, as it is moved to its lowest location (from the stbd. side). If there is concern on the older (1980's) outrages, the original foam can be removed and replaced. The tanks are now installed with rubber pads beneath them to allow the water to run to the back (and the sump). The two-part foam can be purchased at stores like E&B and West Marine. The trouble with the tanks, apparently, is not from standing water, but from a manufacturing defect in the tanks themselves. The number of problems BW has had with these tanks (from boats built in the late 1980's)is estimated at a dozen or less. I hope that this helps! Paul
North Beach	posted 05-09-2002 07:35 PM ET (US) Paul; One comment--my 87 outrage does not have a blge pump, and I know other members do not. Did I understand you correctly the the CPD buys suggested that all 80's outrages had these pumps? Thanks
PMUCCIOLO	posted 05-10-2002 03:02 AM ET (US) North Beach, I may have made a misstatement. I think that the newer boats are fitted with this configuration of a bilge pump and polyboard bulkhead on the back edge of the fuel tank cavity with a drainage ("weep") hole in it. I'll try to clarify this for you. Paul