fiberglass fuel tank leaks 68 tricabin

[fnuttersny]

Caution purchase older Hatteras yachts.. all three fuel tanks on my 68 tricabin leak. Have located the ones in the aft cabin but center tank will probably be impossible to find….IRONY..main reason I chose an H is for the the fiberglass tank construction

 

[MikeP]

That's a bummer!

It's the first time I have heard of a Hatt FG tank leaking on a diesel-fueled boat.

I guess you have determined positively that it is the fuel tanks themselves that are leaking, NOT the associated fittings, hoses, or copper tubing?

If the tanks themselves must be removed/replaced, I can't even imagine how that can be done...

 

[Cricket]

Never heard of Hatteras frp diesel tanks with a leak either. We've had trouble with pickup and return plates because the gaskets were shot, even had to cut a piece of wall out in the hall to make a proper repair but that's it. ATL in NJ makes custom tanks from "fabric" than can fit inside of a built in original tank by removing part or all of the tank top and any baffles. There's quite a few very nice boats using this solution instead of removing a bad tank, all of the ones I know about were aluminum tanks.

 

[fnuttersny]

I've exposed the tanks in way of suspect areas and found fuel weeping from seams. First thought only starboard but after transferring oil to port I became suspect and sure enough found only weeping from tiny spot in rear near exhaust hose. Center tank turning bilge water red but I take on very little so removed weekly. Center tank near full so so plan to lower oil level until no traces found once I can transfer back to repaired tanks. Boat is full time live aboard and aft bed room remodel was in the plans just never thought fuel tanks would be issue. will send pics.

 

[Boatsb]

Seams?

My glass tanks have no seams except where the top attaches.

 

[fnuttersny]

Seams probably wrong term.. looks like kind of faired in layer coming down from top of tank about half way down the side and tappers…this runs the entire length of tank. This could be part of the top of the tank construction..oil seeps out of there in four locations. I cleaned what had accumulated over time and rags easily kept up with the oozing but left unattended would stink things up quickly. Fortunately the entire area under the aft cabin has access panels so that area has been cleaned.

 

[rsmith]

Never heard of a 68 tri cabin you sure it's a Hatteras?

 

[lake of the woods]

I think he is referring to a 1968 - 44' triple cabin. Right?

Mark
Lake of the Woods
1989 40 DC

 

[fnuttersny]

Yes 1968 tri cabin and is a two cabin version of that model. On further inspection…looks like the the top of the tank has kind of a "cap" that is glassed in to about half way down the side and is some what jagged and forms a kind of flap that is glassed over running entire length. very sloppy looking. Fuel is seeping where "flap" is glassed to side. To make maters worse it is in aft corner in way of support for exhaust hose a few inches forward. Now seriously considering removing tanks and redoing entire fuel system..simply don't trust any of it. Time to walk away from it for a while.
(talking about port tank now that fuel was transferred to and is full)

 

[willpelton]

Hey what's the latest on this triple cabin and the leaking fuel cells? I've got a 68' with a compromised gasoline tank so I'm keeping up with these fuel tank stories.

 

[jim rosenthal]

Yes 1968 tri cabin and is a two cabin version of that model. On further inspection…looks like the the top of the tank has kind of a "cap" that is glassed in to about half way down the side and is some what jagged and forms a kind of flap that is glassed over running entire length. very sloppy looking. Fuel is seeping where "flap" is glassed to side. To make maters worse it is in aft corner in way of support for exhaust hose a few inches forward. Now seriously considering removing tanks and redoing entire fuel system..simply don't trust any of it. Time to walk away from it for a while.
(talking about port tank now that fuel was transferred to and is full)

This sounds like someone might have monkeyed with these tanks after the boat left the factory, although I can't imagine why they would.