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Author Topic:   1979 Revenge 22 Fuel Tank

steelhead5 posted 09-29-2014 06:21 PM ET (US)
I recently bought Boston Whaler hull number A20279, a 1979 REVENGE 22 with a sweet Johnson (made by Suzuki) 225-HP with only 40 hours. As expected, the [boat's fuel] tank is an old plastic (or polypropylene) tank that was installed in Boston Whaler boats of that era.
Upon removing the BECKSON access plates and taking a look at the tank, it appears to be in poor to fair condition. Clearly the previous owner had a [fuel tank] vent [malfunction], as the tank has been permanently sucked into a concave shape, with standing water sitting between fill and outflow fittings in the middle of the tank. There are some images at:
https://garys22revenge.shutterfly.com/
As you can see, at the first strap near each BECKSON plate, the tank is already over 2-inch-concave. If you compare it to the images of the tank removal in CETACEA, you can see this tank is sucked in.
There is no fuel gauge or sending unit on the tank. Did they really make it like that? I am finding it hard to believe. Wasn't a reed switch sending unit usually on the back? What size?
Is it completely foolish to try get a season or two out of the tank? I have seen the floor removal on the similar REVENGE in CETACEA and I hate the idea of tanking apart the section under the cuddy, at least right away while I have been sanding and restoring my teak.
All advice is appreciated. Boat sure is bigger than my 1980 Montauk.
jimh posted 09-29-2014 08:45 PM ET (US)
Please give the URL for the page or pages of CETACEA you are referring to. I am not quite sure which of the 82 pages has the images you want us to reference. Thanks.
steelhead5 posted 09-30-2014 12:27 AM ET (US)
If anyone wants to see some good below deck shots there on page 70 of Cetacea
jimh posted 09-30-2014 07:53 AM ET (US)
http://continuouswave.com/whaler/cetacea/cetaceaPage70.html
martyn1075 posted 09-30-2014 01:51 PM ET (US)
Maybe something is blocking the vent from working properly. Something as simple as a bit of dirt or grime that has built up over the years. Salt water under certain conditions can cause a hard deposit that will not break down on its own. I found this out when my pee hole in the kicker would not send water through yet the engine would work perfectly fine. Turns out it was draining inside the engine somewhere not obvious either. I removed the hose and it was pumping out like fire hose.
I would probably investigate and fix or replace hoses and the sending unit if the tank is in still in good working order. Are these parts accessible without breaking half the boat apart?
The plastic tanks are know to concave a bit as well permeant of gas fumes but it doesn't mean the system is in need of replacing. The aluminum tanks are nice in quality but they are also more prone to minor leaks and corrosion issues where a plastic tank will last longer in this regard. It seems almost all boats are now using plastic tanks again. The digression of our gas we use is one of the reasons. However I have heard of ethanol killing older plastic tanks that were not rated for its properties. I have never heard of a inboard gas tank without a sending unit. Are you 100% sure this is an original tank?

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Author	Topic: 1979 Revenge 22 Fuel Tank
steelhead5	posted 09-29-2014 06:21 PM ET (US) I recently bought Boston Whaler hull number A20279, a 1979 REVENGE 22 with a sweet Johnson (made by Suzuki) 225-HP with only 40 hours. As expected, the [boat's fuel] tank is an old plastic (or polypropylene) tank that was installed in Boston Whaler boats of that era. Upon removing the BECKSON access plates and taking a look at the tank, it appears to be in poor to fair condition. Clearly the previous owner had a [fuel tank] vent [malfunction], as the tank has been permanently sucked into a concave shape, with standing water sitting between fill and outflow fittings in the middle of the tank. There are some images at: https://garys22revenge.shutterfly.com/ As you can see, at the first strap near each BECKSON plate, the tank is already over 2-inch-concave. If you compare it to the images of the tank removal in CETACEA, you can see this tank is sucked in. There is no fuel gauge or sending unit on the tank. Did they really make it like that? I am finding it hard to believe. Wasn't a reed switch sending unit usually on the back? What size? Is it completely foolish to try get a season or two out of the tank? I have seen the floor removal on the similar REVENGE in CETACEA and I hate the idea of tanking apart the section under the cuddy, at least right away while I have been sanding and restoring my teak. All advice is appreciated. Boat sure is bigger than my 1980 Montauk.
jimh	posted 09-29-2014 08:45 PM ET (US) Please give the URL for the page or pages of CETACEA you are referring to. I am not quite sure which of the 82 pages has the images you want us to reference. Thanks.
steelhead5	posted 09-30-2014 12:27 AM ET (US) If anyone wants to see some good below deck shots there on page 70 of Cetacea
jimh	posted 09-30-2014 07:53 AM ET (US) http://continuouswave.com/whaler/cetacea/cetaceaPage70.html
martyn1075	posted 09-30-2014 01:51 PM ET (US) Maybe something is blocking the vent from working properly. Something as simple as a bit of dirt or grime that has built up over the years. Salt water under certain conditions can cause a hard deposit that will not break down on its own. I found this out when my pee hole in the kicker would not send water through yet the engine would work perfectly fine. Turns out it was draining inside the engine somewhere not obvious either. I removed the hose and it was pumping out like fire hose. I would probably investigate and fix or replace hoses and the sending unit if the tank is in still in good working order. Are these parts accessible without breaking half the boat apart? The plastic tanks are know to concave a bit as well permeant of gas fumes but it doesn't mean the system is in need of replacing. The aluminum tanks are nice in quality but they are also more prone to minor leaks and corrosion issues where a plastic tank will last longer in this regard. It seems almost all boats are now using plastic tanks again. The digression of our gas we use is one of the reasons. However I have heard of ethanol killing older plastic tanks that were not rated for its properties. I have never heard of a inboard gas tank without a sending unit. Are you 100% sure this is an original tank?