Salt Water Around Fuel Tank

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JAS
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Joined: 12/16/12
Posts: 258
Salt Water Around Fuel Tank

On my last trip out my bilge kept filling full of water on the way to Catalina and on the way back. I tasted the water in the bilge and it was salt water for sure. I tore the boat apart looking for the leak and finally discovered the leak was coming from a lose hose on the the raw water anti-siphon inside the seat locker against the port side of the hull, which is directly above the fuel tank. I also pulled the fuel tank cover off in the aft cabin and found quite a bit of standing sea water around the fuel tank and under the aft cabin cushions. I dried what I could, but I could not reach anywhere close to all of it, much of which is under the tank. I kept sliding paper towel in and out of the tiny gaps under the fuel tank until mostly dry in those spots, but a good portion the platform that supports the tank must have pools of salt water under it. I'm just wondering if I should worry about the pooled sea water still under the tank? Any suggestions on how to dry it up short of removing the tank? Also, I'm six feet tall, wide frame and 230 lbs, and I can't imagine getting into that seat locker let alone getting out again. It's a much tighter fit than the MK11. Have any captains as big and tall and as wide as me got in and out of there to do work on the anti-siphon and lived to tell about it?

Joel Schwartz
s/v Get-A-Grip
1993 Catalina 36 Hull #1259
Newport Beach, California

JAS's picture
JAS
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Joined: 12/16/12
Posts: 258

Just had the bright idea of turning mini shop-vac into a blower, and blowing underneath all the gaps between platform and fuel tank. The air was blowing warm to boot. I'm going to leave a fan on it after that. I'm feeling a lot better about the tank now...except for all the sea salt residue that has undoubtably formed under there. Hopefully that won't corrode the metal fuel tank also.

Joel Schwartz
s/v Get-A-Grip
1993 Catalina 36 Hull #1259
Newport Beach, California

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