this is a late model wellcraft a 240 coastal,'00,fuel tank is leaking-not good huh ? fuel tank is 10yrs old,it's time for a new...this is not a fun job,there's no tank access,the deck had to be cut to gain access...
here's a few pictures...










take note of the foam around the tank,not much space to get this one out huh ?

here's my method of removing a foamed in tank...i use a sawzall with a 12" blade and i cut the foam around the perimiter of the tank,then i use a hand saw and i cut again,till i hear the saw hit the hull...then dig the foam out...i pull the sending unit and i have a piece made up that i drop in and it spans around the tank-i then atach my cherry picker to the tank and pump it up...i allow it to sit for a while,sometimes you have to leave it sit overnite,this will usually pop the tank...not this time...i broke the box steel for the cherry picker,that's correct,i broke box steel,think this tank's in there ? "plan b" now...i atach a piece of box steel to the fork on my fork lift,do the same thing forward and i atach a second cherry picker to the aft section of the tank-i pump them all up and let 'em sit...overnite....still nothing... "plan c"...cut a small section out of the forward cabin bulkhead to gain access to the tank's front end...use my "porta power",i chisel out the foam and slide in the wedge-it works by hydraulics...i pump the wedge up to max,lift the forks,and pump the cherry picker to max...let it sit...no good !!! still won't move...this is a testament to 2 part foam...the boat was actually lite on the blocks...scary stuff here...

check out the pics...

















at this point in time,the tank will not move,only choice is to cut it out and remove it in sections-fun stuff huh ?

remember this when you get an estimate to repair your boat...alot more to this than meets the eye huh ?

anybody wanna see what a grady looks like under the deck hatches ?

let's give you guys a little update on this rig,shall we ?

the tank was filled with water,then cut into a few pieces to remove,the tank was set in foam approx 2" thick,it would not break free...i had to do what i had to do...
replacement tank was fabbed at patriot marine,paul is the man !!
the replacement tank has been etch primed and epoxy coated...a "ledger board" was made up for the deck to go back down on,it's 3/4" marine grade ply wood,laminated with west system epoxy to the existing deck,covered in glass and sealed,then the deck is laminated in place using the same epoxy mix...
seems are filled and then awlgripped to match...

here's a few pics...we're on drying time,the seems are filled-no paint yet,that's tomorrow...

rest of the pics...

That's where I had my tank made last spring, they did a great job on it.

been using patriot marine for 12yrs...danny,former owner,was a great guy,and paul,current owner is a great guy too...the work is fantastic-i use no one else,nor do i reccomend anyone else...


you floating big joe ?

Floating yes, running no. Low pressure fuel pump is on the fritz, making all sorts of weird noises.

not what i want to hear joe...ya know what they say,right ? bad start,good ending...you're gonna have a great season...

I hope so. I am getting sick of bad starts.

ya know i forgot to post finished pictures of this rig...
sorry...