CONTINUOUSWAVE

I tried to head out for some Salmon fishing today. On my 1988 Revenge W-T the 1991 Mercury 200-HP engine fired right up as did the 15-HP four-stroke-cycle kicker. I shut off the kicker and eased out of the ramp and into the bay. The big motor sputtered and died. I wouldn't run again. The small motor fired up and it ran fine for about 200 meters than it sputtered and died. Here I am 800 meters from the ramp with no power. Both engines feed off of a [fuel-water separating filter] that in turn feeds from two lines coming from the tank. I switched hoses and still no good. I ended up paddling the boat back to the dock with a canoe paddle.

Anyone ever done this?

Good thing there was no wind. It was HARD. There is no way you are going to get off the water with no power in a wind with a canoe paddle.

When I got home I put in a new [fuel-water separating filter] and still no good. I tried a portable tank and both engines ran fine on the lake. I changed my main fuel inlet hose and the vent hose for ethanol resistant ones and still no run. I replaced the two lines running to the motors. I will try it again tomorrow and post back.

What I'd like to know is where the two lines come out of the tank, at the back under the deck hatch, is there a filter of some kind in the tank?

I blew into both these lines and could hear the gas bubbling in the tank. I sucked on them and got a mouthful of gas from both lines. I'm going to have to keep a portable tank on board now for cases like this.

I siphoned out some gas just now. I added Ring Clean about two weeks ago and since added 70 litres of fresh gas today. This is what it looks like.

http://i123.photobucket.com/albums/o316 ... kaskwu.jpg

Is that normal? Or do I have a load of water in my tank??

If you're getting that much water, it could be a hole in the tank. Been there, done that.

Does that color gas mean water? We had some heavy rain up here a few days ago.

Sorry to say it but if that is the gas after you just added 70l, you have water in your tank. All the fuel needs to be removed, and the source determined/corrected.

If you can put a pressure gauge on the tank somehow (I have used the vent hose, capping the fill) and pressure test it, you'll quickly find if there is a leak in the tank. And you only need a few PSI.

Worst case is you have a leaky fuel tank, best case is you had (or have) a hole in fuel lines (or gas cap).

Add this to the equation, you may need to look at the carbs on both engines.

Both motors ran great on the portable gas tank. Took a few minutes of priming and cranking to get the crap gas out but once they fired they ran as usual. Today I"m going to remove the floor and clean all the goo off the top of the tank and look for corrosion. This boat has only been used in fresh water since it was purchased new by the original owner. Most of it's life was spent on a trailer under a cover. I will try and pressure test it somehow. If three is no holes in the tank is there some kind of 'paint on' aluminum sealer I could get to dress up the top of the tank?

I removed the tank in about 6 hours today.

http://i123.photobucket.com/albums/o316 ... qwkxne.jpg

The foam was soaked on the Port side and dry on the Starboard side. Tank is in ok condition with some pitting along the bottom and port side.
http://i123.photobucket.com/albums/o316 ... xrsjpv.jpg

http://i123.photobucket.com/albums/o316 ... ialnun.jpg
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I pushed some air into the vent hose before removing and got some bubbles in the water on the port side close to the stern. Good enough reason to remove it.
I found that both pick up screen had come loose and the gasket for the pick up was also torn. This may be the ingress point for the water.

http://i123.photobucket.com/albums/o316 ... hopmlw.jpg
http://i123.photobucket.com/albums/o316 ... xz9unz.jpg

I'd like to know if anyone knows where I can get these two pick up screens and the gasket along with a new on tank fuel gauge

http://i123.photobucket.com/albums/o316 ... qbphun.jpg
http://i123.photobucket.com/albums/o316 ... gl8ah2.jpg

When I was siphoning out the gas I noticed a pile of white globules in the very bottom of the tank. I'm guessing since the screens fell off the pick ups these globs were being sucked up into the motors and causing my no start conditions.

When I had water in my fuel and subsequent hole in the tank, the outside of the tank looked pristine. The hole started on the inside of the tank and was barely visible. The only tell was a wet spot on the outside of the tank. The tank had been painted on the outside with some kind of paint.

Mine too looks like it happened like that. A few pits on outside but no major holes. There are signs of gas wearing away the aluminum paint on the bottom of the tank though.

I put the floor back in today without the gas tank. I need to use the boat for some salmon fishing while I wait for parts to come. Is there any [concern] to using the boat with that void under the floor? Also when I put a tank back in i'm not going to foam it in place. Instead i'm going to use sheets of that blue foam board to wedge it in place while leaving a channel at the bottom for water to pass through.

I don't believe that the fuel tank is any part of a structural support for the deck.

Thanks jimh. I may even just leave it as is and treat that under deck space as a 'trunk'!

Do a pressure test on the tank (no more than 4 PSI). Think you will find a hole or a bad seal.

Forgot to ask, are the hoses alcohol resistant? IF they are, it is written on it and there is a red stripe on the outside of the hose. That may be the culprit.

Yes I did a pressure test by blowing in some air through the vent hose. I saw a few bubbles coming from the port side towards the stern. All fuel hoses, except for the main fill and vent, were replaced two years ago. And now I replaced the main and the vent as well. It is for sure the gas. I put a 100 litres into my big GMC 2500 and now it's also dead!!!! So now i'm going to dump all 200 litres I got out of the Whaler and start with fresh gas from a different gas station. This problem started before the latest gas top up though so not sure what it was. Any one have an idea what would cause white looking goo to form in the bottom of the tank?? The only thing that goes into the tank is Ethanol fuel treatment and a couple of weeks ago some Merc Ring Clean.

Has anyone replace their Revenge, or Outrage, fuel tank with a plastic one? If yes would you have the model number? I'm looking at options to replace my 77 gallon tank. I can be smaller too as I don't really go anywhere but fishing with this boat. THanks

I took the Revenge out today for some fishing with two portable tanks on board. Now that the original tank is out and all the wet foam has been removed it leaps onto plane! I may just keep using it with portables for now and wait to get a tank made up here in Ontario. So far the quotes have been 633.00 to 1001.00 US dollars!! Plus shipping! Plus anti corrosion coating!! Ouch

I think the anti-corrosion coating is a waste, as the corrosion works from the inside out.

I found a gas tank refurbishing place up here in Toronto. They are going to sandblast the tank and check and patch any holes then coat the entire tank with some rubberized compound. They claim they have done lots of marine tanks even bigger than mine. Total cost is 575 Canadian. I will post pics when I get it back.

The only thing that goes into the tank is Ethanol fuel treatment and a couple of weeks ago some Merc Ring Clean.

What is "Merc Ring Clean"?

What condition is "Merc Ring Clean" supposed to treat?

Are you actually talking about Mercury QuicKleen?

Cf.: https://www.mercurymarine.com/en/us/par ... fuel-care/

I may be mistaken that it was a Mercury product but it did say 'ring clean' on the bottle. I got if from a Marine supply store. I figured it couldn't hurt to free up any sticking rings on the pistons. Sure hope that wasn't the cause of all the problems.

I'm getting my tank back tomorrow and now I'm wondering what to put under the tank? There was a rubber strip along the center line that is still in good shaper and I will reuse that. Also on the bottom of the tank was sheet of some material that looked like it was made of fiberlglass. It didn't retain any water though. When I put the tank in I'd like something under it that will allow water to pass to the lowest part of the bilge. At the lowest part I will be attaching a hose and bulb, from a fuel line, and using that to empty the bilge after every rainfall. As for the sides of the tank after I secure it with the three straps I will be jamming in some of that blue construction foam board and making sure it doesn't reach the bottom.

I got my refurbished tank back. They said it had a few pin holes in it but nothing too bad. It was sandblasted and the holes and pitting filled with aluminum then coated with some Poly-urea stuff. Looks pretty good.

http://i123.photobucket.com/albums/o316 ... yztwju.jpg

http://i123.photobucket.com/albums/o316 ... bzugyp.jpg

In the last pic you can see how thick the coating is. It's supposed to stretch and shrink with temps.

http://i123.photobucket.com/albums/o316 ... onvkar.jpg

I'm getting a new sending unit and gauge from e components and a new pick up plate gasket from FMT. I hope to never have to remove this tank again. At least now I will be ready for a new motor when I get around to it.

For those not wanting to foam in the tanks, materials used to keep the tank secured include composite board (phenolic, starboard etc) and hose.

Use rubber strips under the metal straps.

Typically the long sides of the V have angled strips or sections of hose that allow water to travel to the bottom of the V and to the rear of the cavity. For the vertical sides, angled strips or hose sections are installed.

Use adhesive (i.e 3M 4200) to attach the strips, not fasteners.

Post a picture of the "Merc Ring Clean" product.

I no longer have the empty bottle. I will try and find the receipt and go back to that store and take a pic. Can't even remember where I bought it!

I am looking for some neoprene sheets to use on the bottom of the tank. I will 3M 5200 some strips right to the tank bottom running length wise, to promote water flow, and then I'm putting in a hose and bulb to suck out any water that gets in there.