Good idea Salty849. Has anybody had it done by Key West and can give me an idea of the cost??
quote:
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.
Excellent advice. I’ve never worked on a Key West and don’t know what it would take on that boat, but their customer service dept. could be a lot of help. Even if you don’t have them do the work.
The above photos were from a 20 year old Grady White and the first thing I did when I started the project was contact GW customer service dept. They had a complete tutorial for dealers on exactly where to cut the console and deck to remove the tank, how to do it and how to rebuild the structure. It took about 10 minutes to get pdf files on the whole process as well as the original dimensions and build files on the 50 gallon tank emailed to me. I rebuilt it exactly to factory specifications, plus some. I don’t want to ever see it again:smiley: It’s rebuilt better than it was originally built.
For tanks I use www.speedytanks.com. They will build to any custom dimensions and specs, and have files for most production boat tanks. Cost are roughly $11 a gallon, little more on small tanks , little less on big ones.
Capt. Larry Teuton
Cracker Built Custom Boats
“Ships are the nearest things to dreams that hands have ever made.” -Robert N. Rose
How do you leak test a tank? I assume with pressure, but With the tank hidden, where/how do you search for leaks?
I doubt mako has the kind of customer service as GW or key west.
Mako 1901 Inshore-Honda 130
10% of the people catch 90% of the fish.
Gasoline leaks are best and usually first detected by the nose. If you smell gas you have a small leak. It doesn’t take much gas to smell. If your bilge is full of gas you obviously have a big leak.
The only way to test it is to plug all the hoses at the far end of their runs, rig up a pressure gauge and a pump, small pump like a bicycle tire pump. Pressurize the system to 4 or 5 psi, no more, and see if it will hold the pressure for 12 hours or so.
Mako is a very good company, not quite what they used to be IMO but still a very good company. All boat builders take fuel tank issues seriously, they really don’t want and can’t afford anybody getting blown up in their boats from fuel leaks.
Capt. Larry Teuton
Cracker Built Custom Boats
“Ships are the nearest things to dreams that hands have ever made.” -Robert N. Rose
larry
you test to 4-5 psi?
we never go above 1 psi
I put 4 psi in a 40 gallon aluminum tank once, and it looked like it was going to explode
after that, we decided to stay at 1 psi overnight
Yes Chris. the USCG requires a minimum of 3psi. 4 is considered the industry standard. I’ve got a brand new tank in the shop now, I’ll see what it’s sticker says it was tested at.
Reference http://www.uscgboating.org/regulations/boatbuilder_s_handbook/fuel_standards_partq.aspx
quote:
Testing pressure can be supplied by pressurized air or compressed inert gas. The tank?s rated testing pressure is marked on the tank, but in no case will it be below 3psig.
Capt. Larry Teuton
Cracker Built Custom Boats
“Ships are the nearest things to dreams that hands have ever made.” -Robert N. Rose
Here ya go, 5 psi from the manufacturer.
Capt. Larry Teuton
Cracker Built Custom Boats
“Ships are the nearest things to dreams that hands have ever made.” -Robert N. Rose
Double post, sorry [:I]
Before I retired I saw tanks tested at 5 PSI with nitrogen. For what it’s worth.
ZX
Just a question, if you pressurize to 5lbs and the air going in is cool and you leave it in the sun on a hot day could that rise to an undesirable level if no leak??
Seems like it could.
NN
07, 23 Key West, Twin 115 Yammys
“Coastal Bound”
DoubleN,
I had the same question. Thermal expansion of air might hide a small leak. Worse, if the tank has any liquid in it, water or fuel, as that liquid warms it will evaporate and significantly skew results - could hide a decent sized leak. I don’t see how you could get dependable results from such a test without doing it in a temp controlled place. 'Not in the business, though. So, there is a lot I don’t understand about such things.
Short answer for me, a while back, was to replace the tank. Had it pressure tested and it passed. Filled it with fuel a few days later and found numerous tiny holes! Lucky for me, my old HenryO has a deck plate over the fuel tank hold. It wasn’t a trivial fix. But, it did not require any cutting of fiberglass. And, gave me a good chance to rewire the old girl completely while the consoles were out.
17’ Henry O Hornet
26’ Palmer Scott