[Night_Sailor]

Originally Posted by Destroyer

First, from one vet to another,thank you for your service. Second, welcome aboard. It's hard to sink these boats. (not impossible, just hard). I'd make sure I had a splash board in front of the engine well. (why invite trouble)

You need to find out why there was a cut in the deck by the tank. If the tank was replaced, that's gravy. If however, the PO looked at the tank and decided to sell the boat because he didn't want to fix whatever the problem is you have a project on your hands. Stating the obvious, leaking gas tanks are a fatal disaster waiting to happen.

In all cases, again, welcome aboard. Looking forward to more posts from you. and remember, we love boat porn on these forums, so be sure to post lots of pics.

Thanks, but some of the people I met while serving were REALLY deserving of your thanks. Look up MoH recipient Col Jim Flemming--a fellow with whom I had a lengthy talk--his story the way he tells it would make you cry. Here is a link although it does not do the story justice.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_P._Fleming

Much in not said in the wiki. One of the guys he saved was a friend of his on his fourth tour doing recon. He signed up for a fifth tour and was KIA--this was the fellow Jim Flemming thought was "the bravest man he knew" and he ought to know. I can't remember his name though. The boots on the ground never get enough credit IMHO.

Regarding the tank. There is nothing difficult about fixing this boat up. I've restored my bigger boats and anything under 30' is a piece of cake, I don't think anything of it. I can put in 30-60 minutes a day and before you know it, it's done.

I will pull the tank, just because I want to be 100% sure the tank is in perfect condition.

Here a picture of the console. The Wellcraft tank is not leaking--now anyway. The PO told me the tank was fine and that it is full and stabilized and mixed 50:1. So pumping out 60 gallons will be take a half a day. I'll need a drum to put it in, and maybe a couple of 6 gallon jugs. That fuel is worth $240 right there. I have a 20 micron filter on my DC transfer pump so that will scrub the fuel. I also have cables to ground everything

My helper Marco and I can get the tank out in a day if I first remove the fuel and grind out the tabbing on the console. I might take the T-top off to, so I can repaint it. We have both done lots of this sort of work. I am not afraid to cut up decks or drill holes--that is what stops most people.

So any way, in these pictures you can see someone taped up the edges of the console. I took a peak in an access hole and what I saw doesn't look great. I'm going to stuff a camera in there and get a better idea. I am guessing the tank starts at the front of the console and goes aft to the helm seat? There is a seam sealed with silicone that looks like it was meant to cover a tank. If the tank goes farther forward than the front of the console, then this is definitely the original tank. Can anyone clue me in on that? Where is the front edge of the tank?