scarab 29 ft gas tank removal

[normscull]

How does these tanks come out? I have a 1980 scarab with stringer rot. I thaught I would first remove the tank to inspect dammage. Easer said then done. Are these tanks foamed in? are there any bolts holding it down, I have been picking foam for days and it still wont Budge any Help out there?

[SamSam]

Originally Posted by normscull

How does these tanks come out? I have a 1980 scarab with stringer rot. I thaught I would first remove the tank to inspect dammage. Easer said then done. Are these tanks foamed in? are there any bolts holding it down, I have been picking foam for days and it still wont Budge any Help out there?

Nothing is standard. It might be bolted and foamed in a boat like that. Try one of those foot long sawzall blades or even a chainsaw if you have the room. Pry with crowbars, pull with comealongs. 26 years is pretty old if it's an aluminum tank. Sam

[dereksireci]

If you don't need to remove the tank to do the repair, I'd leave it alone. Better yet borrow a pressure testing kit and test it as installed. Blow the tank up to 3psi (no higher) and check for leaks after a time with soapy water at the welds and fittings. Don't use amonia based products. There is a formula about how long to test based on capacity.


You may not be able to remove the tank with damaging it. I watched a guy dig a foamed in tank out of a boat one time. He ended up cutting big holes in the top of the tank to insert a steel I-beam. He used the I-beam to lift (rip) the tank out with hoists. Wasn't pretty.

djs

[Willallison]

For God's sake make sure you empty, wash and thoroughly vent the tank before you do anything. I test tanks to make sure they're 'gas-free' for a living and I can assure you that you wouldn't be the first to blow your boat (and worse, yourself) to bits....