1995 Larson 214 LXI... Floor and stringers

[TRH299]

Tank well cleaned.... Port stringer and tabbing is very solid. Starboard stringer and tabbing are junk. Front bulkhead junk. Rear bulkhead solid. Very bottom has glassed in panel of some sort which appears to have foam underneath. Foam is carved out at very center of junction with both bulkheads to provide drainage from ski locker and back into bilge. Not sure whether this can stay or not... Front several inches seems loose. Anyone know the purpose of this false floor/keel spanner? Is it important to keel strength?

Front bulkhead


Rear bulkhead


Port Stringer (solid)


Starboard Stringer (junk)

 

[kcassells]

Thats where the tank was. The tank area is called COFFIN. It is a totaly encapsulated area/box of it's own to prevent fuel from leaking into other adjoining areas. It's a closed off area. Looks like factory glass work did not run glass up the sides to seal properly.
Those areas need to be totally replaced properly. It's a Coast Gaurd thing also.
Ya know looking at this the way it is you you can bet a nickle the stringers and bulkheads under your floor are just as bad. :faint2:

 

[TRH299]

The bottom piece I am referring to is the piece that is centered in the bottom of the v. It is well glassed to the hull and seems to have foam under it. I understand that once I get the floor up especially on the starboard side that I will be replacing all wood and foam on that side..... Just trying to understand what the center filler strip does. It somewhat hinders drainage as it is higher than the floor of the ski locker.

 

[kcassells]

There should be NO drainage in the coffin. What I see are rot spots. That pc. on the bottom is what your tank sits on for support. This area is a self contained area so if fuel leaks it staves off the immediate issue of running into any electrical areas and KAboom.
If it does leak in the enclosed tank then you will surely know way ahead of time by the smell and or loss of fuel on the gauge.
Also thats why it's important to have access hatches to occasionally check that area as a matter of record.

 

[TRH299]

The bay that the fuel tank sits in absolutely has factory built in drainage holes leading into it from the ski locker bulkhead and out of it into the bilge beneath the engine. The plastic fuel tank also a groove running the length of it on the bottom of the tank for drainage. If it did not have these drainage cutouts in the bulkheads, water in the bow/ski locker would have no way to make it back to the bilge pump. My fuel tank was supported on its v shaped via foam weather stripping insulating it from the hull. The center groove area on the bottom of the tank sat just slightly high of the center filler block in question.

Sketch showing fuel bay cross section



Fuel tank

 

[kcassells]

It's your boat you can do what you want. Just trying to keep you informed. I didn't design the boat. You can look it up very easily and make your own judgement calls.

http://www.uscgboating.org/assets/1/AssetManager/ABYC.1002.01.pdf

 

[chevymaher]

Mine is made like that to. Skii locker drains into fuel tank area. That drains into the bilge. Just brainstorm it up and make sure when it is done it does what it was originally supposed to do. Drain till all the water is out. My tank rest on the bottom on 2 rubber rails that keep it off the bottom.

 

[kcassells]

So if your fuel leaks it goes back to your electrical bilge, battery area? Cool. My cars gas tank goes to my ashtray.
I didn't write the rule book. Maybe you should read it. Kinda like common sense.
Your boat you can do what you want. Kaboom.

 

[TRH299]

I don't know what to tell you Kcassells... Am not trying pick a fight here but Larson built my boat this way and I do not have a problem with the design. Gasoline is present all the way to the carb sitting on top of the engine. If it leaked on the way to the carb it would end up in the bilge on any boat.

 

[chevymaher]

So if your fuel leaks it goes back to your electrical bilge, battery area? Cool. My cars gas tank goes to my ashtray.
I didn't write the rule book. Maybe you should read it. Kinda like common sense.
Your boat you can do what you want. Kaboom.

Yep that is the way it has been for 30 years. I didn't build it like that Four Winns did and most manufacturers do from what I see looking at the rebuild threads. Runabouts are just made that way. They all have a drain into the bilge starting at the skii locker. And most have their gas tank in the area the drain is coming from.

I thought it was kinda lame but hey if they are all like that. Who am I to dispute a common practice. I though of putting a tube under the tank from the skii locker to the bilge. But how is the water going to get out of the tank area then? Mine has a carpet covered cover water will run right in.

The fuel lines still run into the bilge. Fuel filler tube, vent tube, and fuel line run right through that bulkhead. A very loose boot is on it. If there was fumes it would still explode. I haven't seen a boat on here that the fuel lines was sealed going from the tank area to the bilge. They all have that opening. I am thinking that is the reason it is so important to run the fan before you start them. To avoid the boom that everyone warns you will happen if you don't run it.

 

[71beepbeep]

Great to see someone on here with a similar boat. I'll be following.

 

[JASinIL2006]

I don't know what to tell you Kcassells... Am not trying pick a fight here but Larson built my boat this way and I do not have a problem with the design. Gasoline is present all the way to the carb sitting on top of the engine. If it leaked on the way to the carb it would end up in the bilge on any boat.

Same with my boat. Ski locker empties into gas tank area which empties into the bilge.

 

[TRH299]

What year/model is your Larson 71beepbeep? Looks nice.

 

[kcassells]

I don't know what to tell you Kcassells... Am not trying pick a fight here but Larson built my boat this way and I do not have a problem with the design. Gasoline is present all the way to the carb sitting on top of the engine. If it leaked on the way to the carb it would end up in the bilge on any boat.

Guys,
I sure do not know what to tell ya. and not trying to start a fight either. Surprised this is so common. ;
Coast gaurd says;...not me;

Manufacturer Requirements IT’S THE LAW - USCG: 183.550 Fuel tanks: Installation (a) Each fuel tank must not be integral with any boat structure or mounted on an engine Each fuel tank intended to be permanently installed, must be made as a separate component and then installed in the boat. Portions of a boat’s structure, i.e. hull surfaces, bulkheads, stringers, floors, decks, frames, etc., may not form part of a fuel tank. Fuel tanks glued, bonded or foamed-in-place are not considered integral and are therefore acceptable. However, that installation must comply with the applicable portions of this regulation. Fuel tanks may not be mounted on an engine, except if the engine is part of a portable piece of equipment that is not permanently installed in the boat. If a fuel tank is removed from an engine to be installed in the boat, the installation must comply with the requirements of this standard. Particular attention is directed to the fuel tank vent requirements and the requirements for all openings to be in or at the topmost surface. Many tanks installed on engines have a bottom fuel supply; this fuel tank is not acceptable for installation in a boat. TO COMPLY Each fuel tank is not integral with any boat structure. There is no fuel tank mounted to a permanently installed engine.

So carry on..says I, cause it's beating a dead horse.

 

[TRH299]

There is nothing in that USCG text that my tank setup violates. Not sure what you are talking about.

 

[chevymaher]

I don't want to argue either. But on the other hand I am not intentionally pumping gas into my astray with lit cigarettes either. I got to work with what is there. If there is a better way to get the water out I am all ears. I have even considered 2 drains. One like I said a dedicated one for the skii locker piped through that area. And a second for water in the tank area. Because there is a ton of water from the skii locker that could just miss the tank area and make me happy. I have chewed the fat to myself piping the water through that area and pour foam filling the tank area to the top of the tank. I would still have to deal with any water on top of the tank then. Maybe a higher drain for there?

It isnt to late mine isn't finished there yet. I am all ears and open to any suggestions.

Being new to this and all. This kinda fell into some of the other internal debates. I have with myself but say nothing of. Like the thing being made of wood knowing it will rot. This was another of those deals the gas tank set up. But I kinda had to go with the flow and accept it. Like is always mentioned. They made it with wood it lasted how many years. And with simple care and proper installation will last alot longer. Kinda went with that argument. They been like this forever and you don't hear of them blowing up all the time must be okay. Run the blower first and go with accepted practice.

 

[kcassells]

Each fuel tank must not be integral with any boat structure or mounted on an engine Each fuel tank intended to be permanently installed, must be made as a separate component and then installed in the boat. Portions of a boat’s structure, i.e. hull surfaces, bulkheads, stringers, floors, decks, frames, etc., may not form part of a fuel tank. Fuel tanks glued, bonded or foamed-in-place are not considered integral and are therefore acceptable.

Done with the dead horse thing. The coffin/tank box is an absolutely separate cavity/box/coffin. No water drainage subfloor.
Just do your thing will ya. I get it you want whats there and it's your boat do what you want.

 

[tpothen]

My 94 Wellcraft 182s fuel tank is the same as the OP. It does meet the requirements.

The tank is a stand alone poly tank, permanently installed so this meets the requirement of "(a) Each fuel tank must not be integral with any boat structure or mounted on an engine Each fuel tank intended to be permanently installed, must be made as a separate component and then installed in the boat."

There's space between the tank, stringers, and bulkheads so it is not structural so this meets "Portions of a boat?s structure, i.e. hull surfaces, bulkheads, stringers, floors, decks, frames, etc., may not form part of a fuel tank. Fuel tanks glued, bonded or foamed-in-place are not considered integral and are therefore acceptable."

The fuel tank vent outlet is located at the top of the tank so this meets "Particular attention is directed to the fuel tank vent requirements and the requirements for all openings to be in or at the topmost surface."

The fuel pick up tube is on the top of the fuel tank so this meets "Many tanks installed on engines have a bottom fuel supply; this fuel tank is not acceptable for installation in a boat."

USCG: 183.550 is strictly about the fuel tank, it doesn't say anything about the space around the fuel tank. I sure wouldn't want a completely sealed coffin knowing there's a vapor in there that expands and contracts with the temperature but I'm not saying having it drain to the bilge is the best design either.

 

[Bayou Dave]

Mine is built the same way. Drain from ski locker to under the fuel tank and into the bilge. Appears all or most Larsons are built that way.

 

[kcassells]

So is the drain under a board that the tank rests on making it seperate from the tank enclosure?