E35 Fuel Tank Replacement
Date: September 9, 2002 I have recently discovered diesel in the bildge am looking for any advise on removal of the tank from the bildge. How does one remove the sole and covering over the area where the tank is buried? Thanks for any suggestions Date: September 10, 2002 While owning my E35, I have not had the "pleasure" of replacing/repairing the fuel tank. From your comments, I gather it cannot be removed through the starbd lazerette. The only other feasible way to remove it is to unbolt it and cut it out, using a sawzall or power metal shear (used by auto body shops). This won't be as difficult as say an E40 or E42 with the tanks glassed in place. Have a new one custom made that WILL fit through the lazerette. Sorry I can't be of more help here. Date: September 11, 2002 Hi Larry, When we bought our boat in early 2000, the mast step was in bad need of attention. The man who performed the repairs cut out one of the fiberglass cross-members/struts under the floor panel. He cut it out with two parallel cuts near the edge of the bilge cavity. When the repair work was complete, he fiberglassed the cross-member back into place. First, he screwed a thin "backing" board under the cuts on each side. He then beveled the edges which were to be joined so that about 3/8" of fresh surface was exposed. The joints were then covered with several layers of glass mat and roving carefully saturated with West product. After the patches were painted, you cannot visually tell that any work was done on the strut. I hope this provides partial help with your problem. Date: September 11, 2002 Larry To keep the tank off the bottom board, where I think water laid and make the tank corrode, I placed a rubber door mat under the tank. The door mar is one of those that is made out of old tire strips and has lots of air spaces in it. I had to cut the mat to fit the board. We reinstalled the tank in the reverse manner using the strap. While you have your tank out, I suggest that you clean it out using kerosene. You will be surprised how much black dirt and algae you will clean out. The whole job took a day to do. Date: September 16, 2002 I am not sure how the old tank comes out but on my 35 the tank is situated astern of the engin and I have replaced it . I removed the engin and replace a 34 gal, tank. The location is well suited being on the center line toward the stern and low down. I now have a 2 part lift out sole and a bilge that holds about 50 gals. of water the bilges pumps , both manual and electric sit where the old fuel tank was. I have considered adding a flex 30 gal water tankto flush the head and avoid the odours of sea water flushes
Date: May 15, 2007 In the May 2007 issue of Practical sailor <http://www.practical-sailor.com/> there is an in depth article exploring the ideal fuel tank replacement. It looks at the pros and cons of various materials, construction methods, and ways of minimizing corrosion in the first place.
From: Larry Foltz LFoltz6834@aol.com
From: Bill Fuller wh_fuller@yahoo.com
From: Roy Canon roy@rfcanon.com
I don't have any direct experience with a fuel tank in the bilge (the one in our 1985 E35 is under the aft end of the cockpit), but I do have some information that may help.
From: Paul & Sandy Villard svillard@bellatlantic.net
I had a leek in my fuel tank on my 1985 E35. First I pumped out most of the fuel, as much as I could. I disconnected all of the hoses and removed the fuel tank gage. Once it was free, I put a flat strap around the tank and with the help of my son, we wiggled and pulled it out through the starboard locker in the cockpit. It was a tight squeeze and we got the overflow pipe out first. Once is was out, I patched the hole which was on the bottom of the tank. My tank was aluminum so I purchased a patch kit for a car parts store for truck fuel tanks.
From: Geoffrey Tyers GTYERS@aol.com
From: Paul Uhl endvr32@endeavourowners.com
