Water in fuel tanks

[imported_ironmike]

Greetings all,
I have an issue that I need guidance on how to resolve. I purchased a 30 ft cruiser that went under water. I have restored the boat, replaced the 2 crusader engines, velvet drive transmissions, wiring etc. I had a marine mechanic install the engines, in which at the time he claims he pumped 75 gallons of water out of one tank and 40 gallons out the other tank. The tanks are pretty big, probably 100 gallons each. He added an additional 5 gallons of gas to each tank. I added another 5 gallons to each tank. The plan was to start the vessel, and drive it to the pump to fill both tanks. Well, as you probably guessed, the boat wouldn't start. The engines would fire, run for about 5 seconds and cutoff. I removed the fuel filters, I added 2 extra canister filters in addition to the filters installed on the motors and all had water in them. I next proceeded to pump some gas out of the gas tank. I pump a little over 5 gallons from the port tank. I was fooled initially because the first couple of gallons were all gas but the last 3 had a gallon of water in it. I was charged $525 of labor to empty these tanks! My question is, what is the best way to remove all the water out of the tanks. I am not a marine mechanic but know that after pumping the gas through the supply line, there is probably 3 inches of water left in the tank that can't be reached. Futhermore there is probably rust and sludge since its been setting for 2 years. Removing the tanks is not an option. Thanks for your help.

 

[ziggy]

Re: Water in fuel tanks

i have no idea about how large vessels are made, only small speedboats. anyways, i removed the fuel from my tanks with a hand siphone pump. just stuck it down the fuel filler. if yer filler neck is to curved to get ya to the bottom of the tanks, perhaps ya have access to the fuel tank sender unit. if ya can take it off, then ya could use the hand siphone down the hole where the sender goes.
last resort, and i don't know if a fuel pump will pump water, guess i don't know why it wouldn't as it certainly has pumped water up to yer carb, but perhaps disconnect the outlet on the fuel pump and energize the fuel pump and start pumping. i don't know if this idea would work but it might be worth a try or askin someone else if they've ever tried that.

as for the sluge in the bottom, that i don't know. anything like a real vac has an electic motor and i would be hesitant to use that in a fuel vapor environment.....maybe someone else has an idea on that part.....

 

[imported_ironmike]

Re: Water in fuel tanks

Thanks for the response. I think going through the fuel sender is a good solution although I can detach the hose also at the filler inlet. I was thinking the same think about using a wet-dry vacuum. This may be a good option if I add some of that POR-15 degreaser. I will test it first to make sure it is not flammable.

 

[Don S]

Re: Water in fuel tanks

Water will sink to the bottom of gas, with that in mind, raise the bow of the boat so any water will move to the back of the tank, then remove the fuel pickup tube. I use a small electric fuel pump and a piece of clear hose on a piece of small diameter copper tubing to go right to the bottom and lowest point of the tank. This will pull all the water out and leave the gas.