1972 ranger fuel cell

[BlueBurbon]

So this fella right here has a leak on the fuel system. Now my main question is, is the fuel cell in the nose of the boat plastic or aluminum. I have not pulled up the carpet to see if there is a way to service that tank and or remove it easily yet. I found out that it was leaking due to a "minor" explosion today. Flames shot up through a 1 inch hole that was in the middle of the boat when I was putting shrink tube on the new cables I was installing. I never smelled the fuel but it was impressive and it had my full attention. I've pulled what I could out of the tank and will run an aux cell for the time. And is there no drain to the rear of the boat from the front? There is a open void down there if water gets in were is it going.
It's name now Is the danger ranger.

 

[BlueBurbon]

I am wondering how the fuel tank is incorporated into this boat dose anybody know how this was built. And the boat is wet in the foam under the floor. I cut a hole in the rear of the boat and propped the nose up high to get it to drain back to start dring out. Is there a drain or a way to blow air under the floor. The only thing I can think is to put it in my barn and let it sit for months to dry. Or cut a hole in the front a rig a blower to it to try to move air. My main thing is the fuel cell. I have not removed the carpet to see if there is a access but I'm afraid I'm just gonna have to cut the fiberglass deck out.

 

[Grub54891]

can't tell you about fuel tank access, how about a pic of the interior? If the foam is wet, it has to be removed and replaced. No amount of holes for drying will work. Trust us, it will not dry.

 

[todhunter]

It ain't gonna dry. Floor must come up to replace the foam, which means you've gotta replace the floor. You'll probably find rotten stringers, bulkheads, and transom too, and it would be a shame to do all that work to the floor and foam and not fix the rot.

 

[Chris1956]

In that old of a boat the fuel tank could be steel or aluminum, if original. I doubt it is plastic, if original.

It is likely amidships. Where is the fuel filler? it is likely a straight shot to the tank.

 

[BlueBurbon]

In that old of a boat the fuel tank could be steel or aluminum, if original. I doubt it is plastic, if original.

It is likely amidships. Where is the fuel filler? it is likely a straight shot to the tank.

It goes down under the front deck but regardless it's got a hole in it it leaked ot 5 gal of fuel into the deck so now I got it proped up and letting it seep out I'm gist gonna abandon the tank and not mess with tearing it out till next winter.

 

[BlueBurbon]

I honestly didn't buy the boat to use I just wanted the motor for my smokercraft. Buy this little boat is ugly AF but is growing on me. This winter I'll put it in the shop and tear it down and use carbon core or sea cast on the stringers and transom its a small boat and will be easier than my other 2 to rebuild