I have a Key West 1720 Sportman 1994 hull that I need the below deck gas tank replaced on. There is no access hatch to accomplish this. Does anyone have an experience with this or could you suggest someone capable of carrying out the repair and needed fiberglass work?
I thought my 1720 needed the same thing but it turned out to just be the sending unit gasket. I took mine to Butler and they contract that work out (tank replacement). I was quoted $1300 for the full job (new tank and glass work).
Are you sure the tank is leaking and not just the sending unit?
All Day I Dream About Fishing
Malibu eXtreme
Key West 1720
I’ve got the experience and could do it, but I’m sorry. I don’t have the time. All booked up.
It’s a big job. Got to figure out exactly where the tank is, cut out the deck, probably cut out the center console, remove the T-top if it has one. Disconnect all the wires, cables and rigging, pry out the nasty foamed in tank and all the waterlogged foam, clean it all up, glass in new supports, install a new tank, then glass the deck back in, glass the console back in, re-install the T-top and rewire and re-rig everything.
I did the exact same job on a similar size and year Grady White last year and it totaled right at $5,000 including a new 50 gal. tank, hoses, fittings, clamps and everything involved. I don’t think I would do it again for $5K unless I was hungry.
Capt. Larry Teuton
Cracker Built Custom Boats
“Ships are the nearest things to dreams that hands have ever made.” -Robert N. Rose
Pretty sure he was asking who might do it. No who was busy and not hungry.
big dog
Dang Wando, he did ask in the first part of his question if anyone had any experience with this.
Larry replied, due to his experience with what it would take, as is the norm with him. Most folks appreciate his insight/help.
NN
07, 23 Key West, Twin 115 Yammys
“Coastal Bound”
quote:
Pretty sure he was asking who might do it. No who was busy and not hungry.
Excuse the heck out of me. I thought he wanted to know if anyone had experience with it.
quote:
Does anyone have an experience with this
Yes I do, I’ve done it a dozen times. How about you?
Capt. Larry Teuton
Cracker Built Custom Boats
“Ships are the nearest things to dreams that hands have ever made.” -Robert N. Rose
Larry I think some of these guys must eat $h!t for a living… Cause everytime they open their mouth that’s what comes out.
2007 Scout 221 150 Yamaha 4 stroke
A friend of mine has the same boat and issue. He put gas in it last fall and an hour later his bilge was full of gas. After a few quotes, he now uses those 6 gallon tanks. His boat is not worth the money to fix.
Larry is the man and is letting you know from experience that it’s gonna be pretty ugly to do it right.
Hydra-Sports 22 Bay Sport
225 Rude
Larry - eventhough this is not a problem I currently have, it is something I have wondered about having owned a 10 year old CC. I appreciate your attention to detail, even in sharing your experience. People never cease to amaze me. Keep up the input Larry. It is valuable - at least to most I guess.
quote:
Does anyone have an experience with this or could you suggest someone capable of carrying out the repair and needed fiberglass work?
Or, being the operative word here. It never ceases to amaze me that people will take the time to post something snotty and completely unhelpful.
“Apathy is the Glove into Which Evil Slips It’s Hand”.
Thanks yall:smiley:
Just to give an idea on the scope of the job…
First we have to figure out where the tank is. In this case it is under the deck, under the console and under a t-top. Cut out the console…
Disconnect all wiring and cables, move the console out of the way. It’s a heavy scoundrel with the top still attached…
Rotten deck under console, cut out all the mush…
Nice huh?
Got it out…
Clean out that nasty hole and dig out all the waterlogged foam…
quote:
Originally posted by PluffdaddyLarry - eventhough this is not a problem I currently have, it is something I have wondered about having owned a 10 year old CC. I appreciate your attention to detail, even in sharing your experience. People never cease to amaze me. Keep up the input Larry. It is valuable - at least to most I guess.
I am not trying to butt into Larrys business but I think I can answer this one. If you Google “BoatU.S. Safety Alert:?Newly Reformulated Gasoline With Ethanol Could Rupture Old Fiberglass Gas Tanks”
It depends on what your fuel tank is made out of. My 98 hydra has a plastic tank. I checked before I bought it. The ethanol dissolves the resin in the fiberglass tanks. I don’t think it’s all fiberglass, just certain formulations. My friend with the rotted tank did run ethanol gas with startron. He was advised that the startron would make it OK to run by a salesman at a large boat supply retailer.
Hydra-Sports 22 Bay Sport
225 Rude
quote:At this time, the only fuel tank I need to worry about is my belly. Reluctantly, I sold my bay boat a couple months back. I have gone back to kayak fishing - a little easier on the empty wallet. Nonetheless, still good information that I think everyone should be educated on. Speaking of which, I'm kinda hungry. Think I'll go fuel up :smiley:
Originally posted by MattRquote:
Originally posted by PluffdaddyLarry - eventhough this is not a problem I currently have, it is something I have wondered about having owned a 10 year old CC. I appreciate your attention to detail, even in sharing your experience. People never cease to amaze me. Keep up the input Larry. It is valuable - at least to most I guess.
I am not trying to butt into Larrys business but I think I can answer this one. If you Google “BoatU.S. Safety Alert:?Newly Reformulated Gasoline With Ethanol Could Rupture Old Fiberglass Gas Tanks”
It depends on what your fuel tank is made out of. My 98 hydra has a plastic tank. I checked before I bought it. The ethanol dissolves the resin in the fiberglass tanks. I don’t think it’s all fiberglass, just certain formulations. My friend with the rotted tank did run ethanol gas with startron. He was advised that the startron would make it OK to run by a salesman at a large boat supply retailer.
Hydra-Sports 22 Bay Sport
225 Rude
quote:
I thought my 1720 needed the same thing but it turned out to just be the sending unit gasket. I took mine to Butler and they contract that work out (tank replacement). I was quoted $1300 for the full job (new tank and glass work).
I sure don’t see how, if that boat is anything close to the GW above. The fuel tank itself was $550, shipping $100, all new hoses and clamps $200, epoxy and fiberglass supplies $200, marine plywood and lumber $100, miscellaneous supplies $100. There is $1,300 in just materials plus a month of work.
Capt. Larry Teuton
Cracker Built Custom Boats
“Ships are the nearest things to dreams that hands have ever made.” -Robert N. Rose
Try the key west forum.
Does the 1720 require the floor to be cut? Labor intensive either way.
Got a quote on having an older 18 Parker tank replaced few weeks back. It has to have floor cut up and it was gonna cost around $2400.
I am about to start the same project on a 1996 1720 key west ,
If you go to this link on the key west forum you will see what you need to do.
Fortunately the cut is under the console
http://www.keywestboatsforum.com/topic289.html
Pursuitgang
2300TE Triton (RealTime)
1720 KeyWest 90 Johnson
Thanks for all the info from everbody that replied. Pursuitgang that is exactly what I needed and thanks Larry for your very informative pics and help.
I trust what you are saying Capt Larry, that’s just what I was quoted. Luckily I didnt have to go that route.
Kidalong- are you sure that the tank is the culprit?
All Day I Dream About Fishing
Malibu eXtreme
Key West 1720
I had to replace the vent line on mine last year, 21’ sailfish with 100 gallon tank. That was the hardest thing ive had to to so far and I didnt take the tank out, so Larry, I agree with you, I’d have to be plenty hungry to take on the task of replacing the tank. Just sayin
Sailfish CC
130 Yamaha
Wild Bill
Since the 1720cc key west is still in production, and Key West is excellent when it comes to customer service, my FIRST step would be contacting them and finding out what it would cost to have it done at the factory. They make these everyday and I would pay them to fix it properly.