Rick,

If you do this, please do not plumb the two tanks together directly. The
value of having two tanks is that your fuel is separated in two tanks, so I
recommend connecting to the fuel system through a manifold. I did this on a
fuel tank rework and incorporated a fuel polisher off the manifold and
separate valves for both the main engine and den set. Inside the cover of
the recent Latitudes & Attitudes KTI has an ad for Boss dual filter and
booster pump (1st class), however they also have illustrated a fuel polish
unit.

Many do not know or value the use of aboard fuel polishing while this
removes most if not all fuel problems that you might encounter down the
road. The fuel polish unit you can build yourself if you have a spare
Racorfilter and willing to buy a fist full of parts.

I wish you well on this project it is one of my favorites if you think I can
add any recommendations to your project feel free to contact me.

Dave
S.V Bella
Ens, BC, Mex

On 5/30/07, Richard B. Emerson <pavilion@pinefields.com> wrote:
>
> As Star Trek's Dr. McCoy said to Capt. Kirk, "He's dead, Jim." Our fuel
> tank is certainly heading for flat-line country due to rust, including a
> large mound at the very bottom of one sidewall (now that would be fun if it
> opened up!). The problem has been how to replace it without a) boogering up
> the interior, and b) having a plumber's nightmare tying multiple (sub-)tanks
> together.
>
> Over the weekend a friend came up with a solution that seems very
> promising: cut the old tank apart and remove it piecemeal (no surprises
> there), make up two tanks 3' 3" long (the original tank is 6' 6" long) and
> following the original tank's shape (narrow and deep at the aft end, wide
> and shallow forward - all differences are on the order of a few inches),
> install the aft tank, install the forward tank, and weld the tanks together
> in place (see below for details on the welding phase). Without removing any
> floors or cabin sole, there is about 3" clearance above the existing tank.
> It appears that, at most, the floors, and maybe some of the sole, might have
> to be removed, as opposed to removing the inboard end of the galley
> cabinetry (which is never going to be made really "as before" short of
> museum grade restoration). There seems to be no issue of not having enough
> room in the cabin to move the tank(s) forward and sliding them aft into
> place, as would be the case with a single six foot long tank (just isn't
> room for that). Air vent, fuel filler and pickup routing remains as before,
> with the exception of adding what ever might be needed to vent air between
> the two sub-tanks.
>
> The welding phase... there is a single point of contact between the
> sub-tanks: the forward end of the aft tank and the aft end of the forward
> tank. A spigot (size driven by at least the diameter of the fuel filler)
> would be welded, during tank fabrication, onto one bulkhead and a hole, to
> receive the spigot, would be made in the corresponding bulkhead of the other
> tank. An alignment plate, welded to one tank and extending under the other
> tank (but not welded, as it'll be inaccessible when the tanks are in place),
> will help set the tanks up initially. Using access ports, the spigot would
> be welded to the other tank and then reinforcing plates added to the tank
> tops. Air venting between the sub-tanks can either be via external hoses or
> an additional spigot. As an added bonus, this approach puts a large baffle
> in the middle of the [two] tank[s] and requires large access ports, all of
> which is very desirable.
>
> Has any Baba 35 owner done anything similar? I'm obviously also
> interested in comments regarding issues involved in welding aluminum,
> particularly inside a boat. The goal is to wind up with only two signs the
> tank was replaced, a shiny aluminum tank in the bilge and (only facing
> reality) a bill in my hand. Added fillers, transfer valves, day tanks, etc.
> all would not meet these criteria.
>
> Cheers,
> Rick
>
> P.S. I read the recent Practical Sailor article on fuel tanks, which was
> really little more than a rehash of tank basics, printed in many sources. I
> hoped for more and better...
> ----------------------------------------------------------- Baba Panda
> and Tashiba Owners Mailing List -- For more info, please check out the
> FAQ... http://www.ballreich.net/hypermail/baba-l/faq.html

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Received on Wed May 30 08:43:07 2007