Re: adding under deck fuel tank
Re: adding under deck fuel tank
Ok, so its very early or very late, which ever way you want to look at it, but I will put in my .02 in. The stern imo is not an ideal place for the fuel tank. Adds weight to the stern and is located where all the water runs to in the aft.
Imo, you should cut the deck forward and install a new "aluminum' tank near the center of the boat. I would shoot for maybe a 35 to 40 gallon tank, this would probably be enough to run a weekend on that boat without refueling. Maybe between where your seats are located for the helm area would be a good location. This will obviously be more work but I think it will be worth it if you plan on keeping the boat.
Since you have a single hull with no interior gunnel skin, I would add a channel glassed in on the side leading to the new tank area to the side gunnel so you can run a fill tube to the gunnel. Then add a vent line outside the hull with a fitting. The fuel compartment should have bulkheads built all the way up to the deck as to not allow fumes to the bilge area. You want to isolate fumes, not spread them around into the bilge. One sprak from a faulty wire or bilge pump can cause bad nthings to happen. This is why you won't see drains leading anywhere from a fuel compartment either, if it leaks every, you don't want it leaking everywhere.
The back compartment, "if not ripped out while doing the new tank install forward" can be split into 2 or 3 sections via a little glass work. Looking towards stern, left of compartment could be a livewell with water intake through existing hole cut for drainage. Right side could be access hatch at bottom for new bilge pump install in the bilge and then storage of plano boxes or tackle box above access hatch. Then make cover/lid for that area.
Foaming in the fuel tank no matter what its size when put into a hull in a small boat is a good idea imo, it keeps it from moving around under bad conditions when the boat is pounding. I have seen plenty of fasteners fail, especially when installed into old stringers. Also seen plenty of welds that have broken tabbed onto a tank. These tabs main purpose usually is to positon the tank and hold it into place while foam is added imo.
The other option for the stern if you do move a tank forward is to get rid of the slash well all together and make a solid floor going all the way back to your transom. Then simply install a access pie plate or hatch towards the stern for a bilge pump install/inspection. This will allow for a fold down/ removable splash well to be installed and open up the stern for better fishing and access to the motor.
Also, last but not least, install larger drains for the self bailing deck, going up in size from 3/4 inch drains to 1 1/4 will drain the deck twice if not 3 times faster.
If there is no foam in this boat as you stated, I would add some when doing the restore or tank install. The deck in the stern looks like its delaminated anyway, so might as well rip the deck up.
I will be very surprised if you don't find some foam under the deck of that boat. Alot of boats that size were required to be positve floatation filled. The stern may not have any because it is bilge area. may install a inspection hatch forward and see what you find. maybe between the seats at the helm where a future tank might be installed.
Good luck.
