Alan Gomes
Sustaining Partner
Congrats! Glad you didn't take my advice! 
E35-3 replacing fuel tank
- Thread starter frostbiter
- Start date
Good opportunity for an inspection port installation.
Prairie Schooner
Jeff & Donna, E35-3 purchased 7/21
These are images of the corrosion which seemed bad enough to leak. As with other folks, it’s in the areas which are lowest in the tank.
These are some basic dimensions for the tank from our boat. Probably not enough to build a new tank, but perhaps they will be helpful to someone, someday. It appears to only have one baffle. I'm trying to imagine this volume and eight 5 gal. buckets in the same space. It seems smaller than 40 gallons. But that's what the tank says. The fuel was about 1" - 2" below the top when I started pumping out diesel. It filled five 5 gal. jerry cans.
We went to the fabricator today. He said the rest of the tank didn’t look bad at all and he could weld patches. When asked, he said if it were his boat, he’d replace it. (of course to him, his labor is kind of free)
The installation in our boat is really tight. To create ready access to monitor the tank would require rebuilding part of the cabinetry to be removable. And we’d have to check it on a regular basis. If the tank did start leaking again, it could damage the new sole we’ll be installing. Donna and I discussed it and decided to go with a new tank.
I may still try to make some kind of ‘dipstick’ (maybe with aluminum flashing) with some cloth to slide down in front of the tank. After dealing with all this, we’ll likely be paranoid.
The fabricator gave us a rough price and lead time of 3-4 weeks. Once we get the firm quote, I’ll report on that and construction specifics. However, the new tank will have access ports for each side of the baffle.
Prairie Schooner
Jeff & Donna, E35-3 purchased 7/21
Fuel Gauge??
This is what was in the tank. We’re responsible for providing the capacity monitor and pickup tube. We could put this old one in the new tank, or find a new float/dial unit, or put in a sending unit for a gauge to be mounted elsewhere (near the nav desk?). The tank mounted float gauge seems fine for us. It’s easier to install and has fewer parts to malfunction. But are there compelling reasons to go with an electric/electronic sensor/gauge?
These are the related posts I’ve found here thus far:
- https://ericsonyachts.org/ie/threads/fuel-tank-35-mkii.9315/
- https://ericsonyachts.org/ie/threads/fuel-gauge-whoas.19904/#post-157233
- https://ericsonyachts.org/ie/threads/fuel-sending-units.19417/
- https://ericsonyachts.org/ie/threads/e26-fuel-gauge-sender-and-ground.18913/
Thanks,
Jeff
This is what was in the tank. We’re responsible for providing the capacity monitor and pickup tube. We could put this old one in the new tank, or find a new float/dial unit, or put in a sending unit for a gauge to be mounted elsewhere (near the nav desk?). The tank mounted float gauge seems fine for us. It’s easier to install and has fewer parts to malfunction. But are there compelling reasons to go with an electric/electronic sensor/gauge?
These are the related posts I’ve found here thus far:
- https://ericsonyachts.org/ie/threads/fuel-tank-35-mkii.9315/
- https://ericsonyachts.org/ie/threads/fuel-gauge-whoas.19904/#post-157233
- https://ericsonyachts.org/ie/threads/fuel-sending-units.19417/
- https://ericsonyachts.org/ie/threads/e26-fuel-gauge-sender-and-ground.18913/
Thanks,
Jeff
Prior thread with pix of our sender and also the gauge mounted near the main power panel:
ericsonyachts.org
That gauge and sender are still working with no problems. Our OEM tank did have the pivot type float on an arm, as pictured above. It's really nice to have the tank level info adjacent to the main panel at the nav desk.
As built, the cushion needed to be lifted aside and then I'd remove the panel above the tank top in order to read the gauge. If doing this again, I would follow the same design parameters as our replacement tank.
Fuel Tank - 35 MkII
I have a 1974 Ericson 35 Mk 2 and am in the process of replacing my original Atomic 4 with a new Beta Marine 25. I am wanting to install a fuel gauge in my original 22 gal. steel fuel tank but before I drill a hole to install that, does anyone know if the original tanks came with baffles or is...
As built, the cushion needed to be lifted aside and then I'd remove the panel above the tank top in order to read the gauge. If doing this again, I would follow the same design parameters as our replacement tank.
Prairie Schooner
Jeff & Donna, E35-3 purchased 7/21
We got the quote. $1150. Gulp. - But, we're going to proceed. "The bends are rather complex." This price includes inspection ports. .125 aluminum.
Jeff, it's just a single boat buck! I actually think you're getting a good deal, mine was $750 for a 19 gallon aluminum tank in 2016...
After I had it made and installed I thought I should have specified a drainage port at the front bottom of the tank so I could easily drain any sludge or water out. I'm not sure if this is up to ABYC spec but I would certainly draw a little sample out every so often if I had such a thing.
The floating-arm style gauge I bought wouldn't fit in my boat because the arm hit a baffle. I went with a similar model in which the float rises and falls vertically, and doesn;t need "room."
Before ordering, probably wait to have the tank in hand, since depth of tank and location of baffles can matter.
Before ordering, probably wait to have the tank in hand, since depth of tank and location of baffles can matter.
Prairie Schooner
Jeff & Donna, E35-3 purchased 7/21
The vertical float on a spiral strip is what I'm looking at Christian. I wondered if it would get stuck more than the floating arm style. Have you had good experience with it?
Prairie Schooner
Jeff & Donna, E35-3 purchased 7/21
$1.15BB sounds a lot better, doesn't it? (Do I recall correctly, it's Doug?) And with your price, I feel a little less bad about our quote.
The drain port would be tempting, tho I've heard others say it's verboten by ABYC or Coast Guard. The other thing is there is no room in the 35-3. In my post #19 you might be able to see (area A) where there is less than 1" clearance between the tank front and the cabinetry for the Q-berth. And about the same below it. I'll just rely on the inspection ports to look at things. I got fairly adept at using the 12v and hand pumps to pull out fuel.
Even after cleaning, the electric pump wouldn't draw through the inline filter so I switched to the hand pump I use for oil changes. The filters are cheap enough to be disposable.
wondered if it would get stuck more than the floating arm style [float fuel sensor]
The vertical design seems to work fine, I have about 125 gallons on it now.
You know, I never believed in fuel gauges (or refrigeration). I have to admit I have been enjoying both.
The vertical design seems to work fine, I have about 125 gallons on it now.
You know, I never believed in fuel gauges (or refrigeration). I have to admit I have been enjoying both.