On Mon, 12 Feb 2018 05:08:44 -0800 (PST), Tim
wrote:

Bill
- show quoted text -
Got the last couple gallons out. Mostly water.

—-

How’d all that get in there anyhow?


===

Yes, that needs to be understood, otherwise it will happen again. It
sounds like it was a lot more than just condensation or ethanol phase
separation.

It could have been a bad fuel purchase, sometimes happens. More often
it's from a leak around the tank fill, possibly correctable with a new
O-ring.

We had something a little more exotic on our last Caribbean trip -
lots of symptoms of something going on, but no show stoppers thanks to
a good set of large Racor water separators. It was getting worse
however so needed to be solved. After doing a number of thought
experiments I figured out that it was likely the fuel cooler on the
return flow to the tank, something unique to large diesels. We had a
mechanic in the BVI pressure test the cooler and that turned out to be
the problem. Blind pig finds acorn on first try. :-)

We still had a lot of water in the port side tank however so had to
pay a fuel polishing service in St Martin to run it through a big
centrifuge: Lots of $$$ for that and about 40 gallons of discarded
fuel/water mixture.

---
This email has been checked for viruses by AVG.
http://www.avg.com

wrote:
On Mon, 12 Feb 2018 05:08:44 -0800 (PST), Tim
wrote:

Bill
- show quoted text -
Got the last couple gallons out. Mostly water.

—-

HowÂ’d all that get in there anyhow?


===

Yes, that needs to be understood, otherwise it will happen again. It
sounds like it was a lot more than just condensation or ethanol phase
separation.

It could have been a bad fuel purchase, sometimes happens. More often
it's from a leak around the tank fill, possibly correctable with a new
O-ring.

We had something a little more exotic on our last Caribbean trip -
lots of symptoms of something going on, but no show stoppers thanks to
a good set of large Racor water separators. It was getting worse
however so needed to be solved. After doing a number of thought
experiments I figured out that it was likely the fuel cooler on the
return flow to the tank, something unique to large diesels. We had a
mechanic in the BVI pressure test the cooler and that turned out to be
the problem. Blind pig finds acorn on first try. :-)

We still had a lot of water in the port side tank however so had to
pay a fuel polishing service in St Martin to run it through a big
centrifuge: Lots of $$$ for that and about 40 gallons of discarded
fuel/water mixture.

---
This email has been checked for viruses by AVG.
http://www.avg.com



The fuel fill is raised a little above the deck, so maybe slowed down water
intrusion. I replaced the tank in about 2002. Had a corrosion hole in
the top. Maybe I need to pull the deck and see if there is a hole. Deck
is screwed down covered plywood. So not a big problem to pull.

On Mon, 12 Feb 2018 19:22:11 -0000 (UTC), Bill
wrote:

wrote:
On Mon, 12 Feb 2018 05:08:44 -0800 (PST), Tim
wrote:

Bill
- show quoted text -
Got the last couple gallons out. Mostly water.

?-

How?d all that get in there anyhow?


===

Yes, that needs to be understood, otherwise it will happen again. It
sounds like it was a lot more than just condensation or ethanol phase
separation.

It could have been a bad fuel purchase, sometimes happens. More often
it's from a leak around the tank fill, possibly correctable with a new
O-ring.

We had something a little more exotic on our last Caribbean trip -
lots of symptoms of something going on, but no show stoppers thanks to
a good set of large Racor water separators. It was getting worse
however so needed to be solved. After doing a number of thought
experiments I figured out that it was likely the fuel cooler on the
return flow to the tank, something unique to large diesels. We had a
mechanic in the BVI pressure test the cooler and that turned out to be
the problem. Blind pig finds acorn on first try. :-)

We still had a lot of water in the port side tank however so had to
pay a fuel polishing service in St Martin to run it through a big
centrifuge: Lots of $$$ for that and about 40 gallons of discarded
fuel/water mixture.

---
This email has been checked for viruses by AVG.
http://www.avg.com



The fuel fill is raised a little above the deck, so maybe slowed down water
intrusion. I replaced the tank in about 2002. Had a corrosion hole in
the top. Maybe I need to pull the deck and see if there is a hole. Deck
is screwed down covered plywood. So not a big problem to pull.

===

Good plan.

On Mon, 12 Feb 2018 19:22:11 -0000 (UTC), Bill
wrote:

wrote:
On Mon, 12 Feb 2018 05:08:44 -0800 (PST), Tim
wrote:

Bill
- show quoted text -
Got the last couple gallons out. Mostly water.

?-

How?d all that get in there anyhow?
- show quoted text -
===

Good plan.
.....

I was wondering. Instead of a fuel “tank� I was wondering about a collapsible rubber fuel bladder like what’s used on some aircraft? I’m thinking there wouldn’t be room for air and condensation, would there be?

On Tue, 13 Feb 2018 10:03:04 -0800 (PST), Tim
wrote:


On Mon, 12 Feb 2018 19:22:11 -0000 (UTC), Bill
wrote:

wrote:
On Mon, 12 Feb 2018 05:08:44 -0800 (PST), Tim
wrote:

Bill
- show quoted text -
Got the last couple gallons out. Mostly water.

?-

How?d all that get in there anyhow?
- show quoted text -
===

Good plan.
....

I was wondering. Instead of a fuel “tank� I was wondering about a collapsible rubber fuel bladder like what’s used on some aircraft? I’m thinking there wouldn’t be room for air and condensation, would there be?

I am not sure you can put a bladder like that under cover in an
enclosed space.
If he determines that the tank is compromised and he has access, I
would just buy a new tank. The plastic ones really seem to work fine
as long as they are ethanol compatible, and most are.
Then corrosion is not an issue. They make them in lots of sizes and
shapes. When I was rebuilding my boat (1989) I found the tank I wanted
and made a fiberglass console to cover it.
http://gfretwell.com/ftp/console.jpg
Bill may have fewer options since he is working with an existing
compartment.

12:46
On Tue, 13 Feb 2018 10:03:04 -0800 (PST), Tim
wrote:


On Mon, 12 Feb 2018 19:22:11 -0000 (UTC), Bill
wrote:

wrote:
On Mon, 12 Feb 2018 05:08:44 -0800 (PST), Tim
wrote:

Bill
- show quoted text -
Got the last couple gallons out. Mostly water.

?-

How?d all that get in there anyhow?
- show quoted text -
===

Good plan.
....

I was wondering. Instead of a fuel “tank� I was wondering about a collapsible rubber fuel bladder like what’s used on some aircraft? I’m thinking there wouldn’t be room for air and condensation, would there be?

I am not sure you can put a bladder like that under cover in an
enclosed space.
If he determines that the tank is compromised and he has access, I
would just buy a new tank. The plastic ones really seem to work fine
as long as they are ethanol compatible, and most are.
Then corrosion is not an issue. They make them in lots of sizes and
shapes. When I was rebuilding my boat (1989) I found the tank I wanted
and made a fiberglass console to cover it.
http://gfretwell.com/ftp/console.jpg
Bill may have fewer options since he is working with an existing
compartment.

.....

You’re right about the plastic tanks. I have a tin bilge tank in my boat but also have an extra 12 gal Mohler red plastic tank I’m adding for a reserve. Mohler makes good stuff but like any of that type plastic, I wouldn’t let it stay exposed to the sunlight for long periods (like all summer) because the dry out and obviously turn orange and get brittle.

Tim wrote:

12:46
On Tue, 13 Feb 2018 10:03:04 -0800 (PST), Tim
wrote:


On Mon, 12 Feb 2018 19:22:11 -0000 (UTC), Bill
wrote:

wrote:
On Mon, 12 Feb 2018 05:08:44 -0800 (PST), Tim
wrote:

Bill
- show quoted text -
Got the last couple gallons out. Mostly water.

?-

How?d all that get in there anyhow?
- show quoted text -
===

Good plan.
....

I was wondering. Instead of a fuel “tank� I was wondering about a
collapsible rubber fuel bladder like what’s used on some aircraft? I’m
thinking there wouldn’t be room for air and condensation, would there be?

I am not sure you can put a bladder like that under cover in an
enclosed space.
If he determines that the tank is compromised and he has access, I
would just buy a new tank. The plastic ones really seem to work fine
as long as they are ethanol compatible, and most are.
Then corrosion is not an issue. They make them in lots of sizes and
shapes. When I was rebuilding my boat (1989) I found the tank I wanted
and made a fiberglass console to cover it.
http://gfretwell.com/ftp/console.jpg
Bill may have fewer options since he is working with an existing
compartment.

....

You’re right about the plastic tanks. I have a tin bilge tank in my boat
but also have an extra 12 gal Mohler red plastic tank I’m adding for a
reserve. Mohler makes good stuff but like any of that type plastic, I
wouldn’t let it stay exposed to the sunlight for long periods (like all
summer) because the dry out and obviously turn orange and get brittle.


My tank is under the deck, not exposed to sun. A bladder would probably
work. But if it lasts 15 years, probably cheaper to get a new aluminum
tank and maybe out a rubber pad between the floor and tank.

On Tue, 13 Feb 2018 10:53:01 -0800 (PST), Tim
wrote:


12:46
On Tue, 13 Feb 2018 10:03:04 -0800 (PST), Tim
wrote:


On Mon, 12 Feb 2018 19:22:11 -0000 (UTC), Bill
wrote:

wrote:
On Mon, 12 Feb 2018 05:08:44 -0800 (PST), Tim
wrote:

Bill
- show quoted text -
Got the last couple gallons out. Mostly water.

?-

How?d all that get in there anyhow?
- show quoted text -
===

Good plan.
....

I was wondering. Instead of a fuel “tank� I was wondering about a collapsible rubber fuel bladder like what’s used on some aircraft? I’m thinking there wouldn’t be room for air and condensation, would there be?

I am not sure you can put a bladder like that under cover in an
enclosed space.
If he determines that the tank is compromised and he has access, I
would just buy a new tank. The plastic ones really seem to work fine
as long as they are ethanol compatible, and most are.
Then corrosion is not an issue. They make them in lots of sizes and
shapes. When I was rebuilding my boat (1989) I found the tank I wanted
and made a fiberglass console to cover it.
http://gfretwell.com/ftp/console.jpg
Bill may have fewer options since he is working with an existing
compartment.

....

You’re right about the plastic tanks. I have a tin bilge tank in my boat but also have an extra 12 gal Mohler red plastic tank I’m adding for a reserve. Mohler makes good stuff but like any of that type plastic, I wouldn’t let it stay exposed to the sunlight for long periods (like all summer) because the dry out and obviously turn
orange and get brittle.

I agree about being in the sun. I see that here a lot with pontoon
boats. As long as they are enclosed they seem to be fine.

On Mon, 12 Feb 2018 19:22:11 -0000 (UTC), Bill
wrote:

wrote:
On Mon, 12 Feb 2018 05:08:44 -0800 (PST), Tim
wrote:

Bill
- show quoted text -
Got the last couple gallons out. Mostly water.

?-

How?d all that get in there anyhow?


===

Yes, that needs to be understood, otherwise it will happen again. It
sounds like it was a lot more than just condensation or ethanol phase
separation.

It could have been a bad fuel purchase, sometimes happens. More often
it's from a leak around the tank fill, possibly correctable with a new
O-ring.

We had something a little more exotic on our last Caribbean trip -
lots of symptoms of something going on, but no show stoppers thanks to
a good set of large Racor water separators. It was getting worse
however so needed to be solved. After doing a number of thought
experiments I figured out that it was likely the fuel cooler on the
return flow to the tank, something unique to large diesels. We had a
mechanic in the BVI pressure test the cooler and that turned out to be
the problem. Blind pig finds acorn on first try. :-)

We still had a lot of water in the port side tank however so had to
pay a fuel polishing service in St Martin to run it through a big
centrifuge: Lots of $$$ for that and about 40 gallons of discarded
fuel/water mixture.

---
This email has been checked for viruses by AVG.
http://www.avg.com



The fuel fill is raised a little above the deck, so maybe slowed down water
intrusion. I replaced the tank in about 2002. Had a corrosion hole in
the top. Maybe I need to pull the deck and see if there is a hole. Deck
is screwed down covered plywood. So not a big problem to pull.

If you can plug all the ports, you can get a rough idea of the
integrity with a vacuum on "blow". You will smell the fumes in the
bilge if it is leaking. Trick up a real long hose so the vapor doesn't
get back to the vacuum or you may have a jet engine.
Safer is compressed air but you have to be careful of the pressure.