1986 F 20 CC fuel tank

[jetblue319]

hi had a difficult time removing the 60 gal fuel tank out of my 86 V20 CC. i used a saw to cut out the foam , i used a power washer no help, i used an engine lift on the deck no help, i even attached a come along on to a tree limb and it was lifting the boat off the trailer. I finally vented the fuel tank with water to remove any fuel vapors. we cut off the top of the tank with a wheel cutter, removed the baffles and with a hole saw cut circular holes into the bottom of the tank, (swearing bullets , worry i would drill into the hull). it weaken the tank enough that i was able to remove the tank using the come along and a sling . pictures enclosed. i purchased a new 60 gal tank from RDS alum in Perry, Florida i paid $500.00 $100 was for s/h to Yankeetown florida. i then coal tar epoxy the tank to protect it.

[jetblue319]

more fuel tank photos

[jetblue319]

more fuel tank photos , hope this helps

[SkunkBoat]

once I got ALL of the foam from the front and rear of the tank, it wiggled out by hand

[sandcrab2]

Thanks all for the tips and pics. RDS also quoted me $550 for 60gal tank this week.

Any thoughts about lifting my center console + t-top off? I've thought of renting one of the trailerable man lifts and lifting it off with that. Might see if one of my neighbors with tall trees would mind using one of them. t-top aluminum with fabric top can't be that heavy, I'm thinking less than 500lbs? around 2-300?

[phatdaddy]

i used a 0ne ton chain hoist from harbor freight stuck a couple of 4x4's across the rafters of the boat shed. is the t top attached to the console? if not, can u just slide it and the console toward the bow.

[sandcrab2]

Yep, my t-top is bolted to my console, hadn't thought of sliding it forward, that might work. Or maybe could slide it up and on top of forward bow area,