grant
New Member
Posts: 2
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Post by grant on Jan 11, 2006 12:55:59 GMT
I have recently purchased 52ft Sun Odyssey. The stainless steel keel diesel tank is leaking in several places. I have had different suggestions on ways to fix the problem. From dropping the Keel to cutting an inspection plate. All help suggestions be greatly appreciated. Thanks Grant
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Post by notorious7004 on Jan 12, 2006 13:52:47 GMT
Grant, I´m not familiar with the location of the fuel tank in your particular model; but I had a leaking fuel tank in a previous boat. I very much doubt that removal of the tank would involve dropping the keel; but to fix the leaks you must remove the tank! As water is heavier than diesel, most leaks are in the bottom of the tank. After removing the tank I took it to a fiberglass shop where they made a new one to the exact shape of the old SS one and I had no more problems with it. You MUST fix the leak as fines and penalties for polluting canbe substantial. Anyway, best of luck!
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Post by bottleinamessage on Feb 14, 2006 14:25:16 GMT
FWIW, a friend was sailing his Caliber 40 from Annapolis to the Virgin Islands this fall. Calibers also have fiberglass tanks. As one tank ran low they switched to the other and a short while later the engine began to loose power. Switching back to the first tank cured the problem but that tank was going dry. They had no way to transfer fuel between the tanks and each tank had its own filter. After changing filters and trying everything they could think of a friend back home finally called the president of Caliber Yachts who said the following. Fiberglass tanks can/will shed fibers. Remove and check the fittings. They found the 90 degree inlet fitting to the Racor was plugged with fibers. Cleaned it out and they were on the way again. They had been becalmed for two days. He now carries a fuel transfer pump as well. Long story, but good info I think.
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Post by notorious7004 on Feb 15, 2006 17:38:19 GMT
I´ve had the fiberglass replacement tank in my former boat for 3 years and never experienced any "shedding" of fibers. The company that made it for me (using the old SS one as a model) makes fiberglass boats (Whaler type) with integral fiberglass tanks and honestly, in over 30 years of sailing, I´ve never heard of a "shedding" problem with fiberglass tanks. I would guess that the Caliber guy is referring to where the hole was drilled to place the fitting. If the fibers were not well saturated in the manufacturing process there could be dry fibers which could clog the fitting; but other than a problem during manufacturing, the statement that "all fiberglass tanks can/will shed" makes no sense to me whatsoever. Just my 2 cents worth! Good Luck!
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Post by myblueheaven on Feb 22, 2006 2:41:47 GMT
The replies you received are hardly helpful when considering the tank is IN-THE KEEL. Burried in lead( or steel) with no access port! Not accessible but for the filler tube which is like maybe 1.5 inches to 2 inches in diamter. Is yours like mine?( I say we contact the factory for advice, with out sounding like we want to sue...just helpfull advice). I would love factory pictures of the keel being made and the tank too and how it is in the keel, plus material used.
I have a sun odyssey 51 1991 and I suspect my tank may be leaking...outside??. But I can't find any seeping around the keel-hull joint. But I have heard two different versions as to what the tank is made of. Fiberglass is one and stainless, which you say yours is.. . Obviously, if one could re build a tank the advice you got would be helpfull. But since the tank appears ENCASED is solid lead( or steal depending on who you talk to...the keel), there is no way to FIX it it seems. OR is there? Hard to believe a major manufacturer would design a completley unservicable item as a fuel tank on such a substantial boat. Where is the leak on yours. I am very curious. Outsied the boat...into the water? Or inside the bilges? If you find out info, please let me know. If I do I will leave a new post here. I have to say...if it is not fixable then the only alternative is to drain, clean and fill the tank with anytthing to fill the void( eliminating the tank as usefull) which fills the hole too. Then replace some of your water tanks with ones that can now be for fuel instead. This is not what anyone should have to do. I would like to compare your bilge with mine where the tank filler is and the fuel lines go as well as keel bolts. Mine are covered over from the factory in fibergless( unaccessible) Let me know what you find.
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grant
New Member
Posts: 2
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Post by grant on Mar 1, 2006 22:27:19 GMT
;D
After contacting Jeanneau, who in so many words, informed me:
The problem is really a design fault(the tank being in the keel). It is not ideal to attempt to fix the leaks as they will only re-occur. The best solution is to install a new tank elsewhere and fill the keel.
Thanks for all replies.
Any suggestions on what would be best to fill the keel with would be appreciated.
Grant
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Post by myblueheaven on Mar 3, 2006 7:47:25 GMT
Grant,
I may have to do the same , but I have no idea how the tank resides in the keel? Is it the full length from top to bottom , or rectangular and close to the top and more easily cut into from the inside of the boat from the bilge just above the keel? Jeabnneau said they were going to email me some drawing or diagram they had??? Never did. As for what to fill it with, that really depends on if the leek is leaking to the outside of the keel near the keel-hull joint or is it in the stainless steal tank leaking only into the hollow cavety it resides in with no outside leakage??? If the keel joint is leaking out then bummer, you will need to drop the keel and reseal it anyways so that is when you could cut into the keel to fill, I assume from the top? Or better yet, remove it if possible and have a custom polyethelyn(plastic) tank made by TODD tanks ( they custom make anything to your specs for around 1200 us dollars to exactly fit into the hollow, with an extending "filler" plsy-welded or seamless filler tube protruding up thru the top of the keel into the filler tube( or where the old filler tube was( replaces it). That should last the life of the boat. But if you just wanted to fill the tank to abandon it, you might consider first pouring mixed expanding foam into the hollow space( after steam cleaing to death! initially to fill the bulk or the space leaving the top 12" free , then pour catylized resin or epoxy resin into the rest of the hollow...to the brim, watching for settling. The problem is you need to clean the tank out as much as possible before all this to ensure the tank is , and remaims solid when filled, and devoid of space so water , even if it could work its way past the keel joint would have no means to egress into the tank again. What do you think? Lastly, I would love images of what ever you do for my own knowledge...and others who will or might have this problem. Also, what you do about adding a new tank somewhere, or tanks? Easiest is like I said before, give up two to 4 of your existing water tanks and mafe them diesel. Get a water maker. You still have around 100 gallons in the other tanks so it isn't so bad. I would just get them pressure tested. I have two leaking tanks out of my 8. My sun odyssey is a 1991. Who said stainless doesn't corode?
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Post by grahamlamb on Mar 17, 2006 12:07:49 GMT
Grant , Hello. A couple of years back I had a similar problem, Not with a Jeanneau though. I could not remove my stainless tank. So I was able to cut a large apperture to the top to which I had access and further small appertures for piping fitting etc, to enable me to have a custom made flexible tank to fit inside the leaking stainless tank. This then never gave me any further trouble and was in the end the most economic answer both in cost and time. Good Luck
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