washing and letting it vent will probably not work.

BE SURE TO INFORM SERVICE PERSONAL OF THE FORMER PRESENCE OF GASOLINE.
Otherwise you may face a costly lawsuit for wrongful death.

Only way to weld it is to leave it filled with water which will displace any
air needed to create an explosion.

The gas tank, to do it properly, needs to be emptied, cleaned by several
rinses and then inerted with gas while it is being welded. Your welder will
have a procedure for this.. His inerting gas must be what ever is suitable
for aluminum welding (mig or tig).

Cleaning and gas freeing the tank is a small problem. It would be the gas
freeing of the bilges that concerns me since it sounds like you have to do
some cutting to get into them and the tank.

You ask about builders responsibility.. I would say yes, but you would have
a hard time getting him to do anything if you can't take it to his
facility... He's not going to want to pay for the gas free and welders
services in someone elses boat yard..

In the typical US boat yard, your talking about several thousand even if
everything were simple.. It cost money to have a job like this done
correctly and safely..

Steve
s/v Good Intentions

Find a shop that does aluminum boat and fuel tank repair and leave it up to
them. rec.boats.building is fine for discussion, but I'd seriously consider
a more prudent approach to your tank repair problem.

As far as who's responsible, it comes down to warranty. If you have it then
fine, but it sounds like you don't, else you'd know, right? As far as law
goes, well ...it's a reasonable expectation that the tank does not leak,
assuming the boat was new. Have your attorney write a letter...

--
http://www.advantagecomposites.com/tongass -- My 22' Tolman Skiff project
http://www.advantagecomposites.com/catalog -- Discounted System Three
Resins products


"Steve" wrote in message
...
The gas tank, to do it properly, needs to be emptied, cleaned by several
rinses and then inerted with gas while it is being welded. Your welder
will
have a procedure for this.. His inerting gas must be what ever is suitable
for aluminum welding (mig or tig).

Cleaning and gas freeing the tank is a small problem. It would be the gas
freeing of the bilges that concerns me since it sounds like you have to do
some cutting to get into them and the tank.

You ask about builders responsibility.. I would say yes, but you would
have
a hard time getting him to do anything if you can't take it to his
facility... He's not going to want to pay for the gas free and welders
services in someone elses boat yard..

In the typical US boat yard, your talking about several thousand even if
everything were simple.. It cost money to have a job like this done
correctly and safely..

Steve
s/v Good Intentions

Funny, but warranties only serve to limit liability. You have the best
warranty when there isn't one in writing. Fitness for use is a robust
concept. I'd say the builder is liable and should fix the thing. Getting
them to do it may take some legal action though. Try giving them a call and
see what happens.

--


Keith
__
Don't let your mind wander -- it's too little to be let out alone.
"Brian D" wrote in message
news:VDJcc.86505$JO3.44526@attbi_s04...
Find a shop that does aluminum boat and fuel tank repair and leave it up
to
them. rec.boats.building is fine for discussion, but I'd seriously
consider
a more prudent approach to your tank repair problem.

As far as who's responsible, it comes down to warranty. If you have it
then
fine, but it sounds like you don't, else you'd know, right? As far as law
goes, well ...it's a reasonable expectation that the tank does not leak,
assuming the boat was new. Have your attorney write a letter...

--
http://www.advantagecomposites.com/tongass -- My 22' Tolman Skiff
project
http://www.advantagecomposites.com/catalog -- Discounted System Three
Resins products


"Steve" wrote in message
...
The gas tank, to do it properly, needs to be emptied, cleaned by several
rinses and then inerted with gas while it is being welded. Your welder
will
have a procedure for this.. His inerting gas must be what ever is
suitable
for aluminum welding (mig or tig).

Cleaning and gas freeing the tank is a small problem. It would be the
gas
freeing of the bilges that concerns me since it sounds like you have to
do
some cutting to get into them and the tank.

You ask about builders responsibility.. I would say yes, but you would
have
a hard time getting him to do anything if you can't take it to his
facility... He's not going to want to pay for the gas free and welders
services in someone elses boat yard..

In the typical US boat yard, your talking about several thousand even if
everything were simple.. It cost money to have a job like this done
correctly and safely..

Steve
s/v Good Intentions

Most welders will not weld any tank that has ever held gasoline. Could be a
big clue here!
"terry" wrote in message
...
washing and letting it vent will probably not work.

BE SURE TO INFORM SERVICE PERSONAL OF THE FORMER PRESENCE OF GASOLINE.
Otherwise you may face a costly lawsuit for wrongful death.

Only way to weld it is to leave it filled with water which will displace
any
air needed to create an explosion.

It just takes care. If you can, you wash out the tank. Regardless, you
purge it with air for many hours to guarantee it is dry. You fill the tank
with inert gas such as argon, then weld. Same process if you weld tanks of
unknown condition or which had unknown contents. Welders do it all the
time.

Brian


--
http://www.advantagecomposites.com/tongass -- My 22' Tolman Skiff project
http://www.advantagecomposites.com/catalog -- Discounted System Three
Resins products



"Dave W" wrote in message
...
Most welders will not weld any tank that has ever held gasoline. Could be
a
big clue here!
"terry" wrote in message
...
washing and letting it vent will probably not work.

BE SURE TO INFORM SERVICE PERSONAL OF THE FORMER PRESENCE OF GASOLINE.
Otherwise you may face a costly lawsuit for wrongful death.

Only way to weld it is to leave it filled with water which will displace
any
air needed to create an explosion.

"Brian D" wrote in message
news:9Qmfc.39212$wP1.153766@attbi_s54...
It just takes care. If you can, you wash out the tank. Regardless, you
purge it with air for many hours to guarantee it is dry. You fill the
tank
with inert gas such as argon, then weld. Same process if you weld tanks
of
unknown condition or which had unknown contents. Welders do it all the
time.

Once the tank is inerted, I would still be concerned about the residual gas
fumes in the bilges. An area where you can properly perge or inert.

If it doubt, or you can't test it before welding, then the tank should be
removed from the boat.

Steve
s/v Good Intentions

Steve wrote:
"Brian D" wrote in message
news:9Qmfc.39212$wP1.153766@attbi_s54...

It just takes care. If you can, you wash out the tank. Regardless, you
purge it with air for many hours to guarantee it is dry. You fill the

tank

with inert gas such as argon, then weld. Same process if you weld tanks

of

unknown condition or which had unknown contents. Welders do it all the
time.


Once the tank is inerted, I would still be concerned about the residual gas
fumes in the bilges. An area where you can properly perge or inert.

If it doubt, or you can't test it before welding, then the tank should be
removed from the boat.

Steve
s/v Good Intentions


why not inert those areas as well?

--
A significant part of courage is realizing that only you need to know
how terrified you are..

"dazed and confuzed" wrote in message
...

why not inert those areas as well?

The problem would be to effeciently purge and then keep the inert gas in the
area. Most all effective inert gases are lighter than air and would be lost
as fast as you could pump it in.

Steve

Steve wrote:
"dazed and confuzed" wrote in message
...

why not inert those areas as well?


The problem would be to effeciently purge and then keep the inert gas in the
area. Most all effective inert gases are lighter than air and would be lost
as fast as you could pump it in.

Steve


co2 is heavier than air, Argon or nitrogen are cheap. Just let it flood
the area while you are working....For the time needed to do the cutting
or welding, the losses are negligible.

--
A significant part of courage is realizing that only you need to know
how terrified you are..