Are trims tabs worth it? - Page 6

reelapeelin · #51 05-14-2010, 05:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by whatknot

All is well on the SS Whatknot. Ran great all the way to my secret fishin hole called "the titty bar".
Caught 5 stag bass and managed to catch one small enough to legally keep. Thanks for the 2 micron heads up Ferm!

So what's the story behind how the "Titty Bar" go it's name...I know there's one in there somewhere...and congrats on gettin the fuel probs settled...

RidgeRunner · #52 05-14-2010, 10:18 AM

Thanks for the tip on the Bennetts Spare. I have installed several pair w/o a problem so I know exactly what you are saying. It never gets that tight feel, the plastic just keeps on swelling. I've been putting it off because access to the inside is a PITA on the port side of this Whaler. I will take it off completely for the repair and report back. Also I need some of the little 90 degree radius makers that Bennett supplies in their kit. Annodized steel aint cutting it.

The fuel problem stinks. The Whaler has fuel from Thanksgiving. Stabilized but still, all my Opti has is the filter under the cowl.

spareparts · #53 05-15-2010, 09:23 AM

you don't still have the fiberglass factory tank in your whaler do you, if you do, chunk it now and relpace it before it screws everything up, believe me, it will

Destroyer · #54 05-15-2010, 11:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by spareparts

you don't still have the fiberglass factory tank in your whaler do you, if you do, chunk it now and relpace it before it screws everything up, believe me, it will

Spareparts, I'm always curious and ready to learn. What is the problem with a fiberglass tank? I have an alum tank in mine so I don't have that problem, but I have no problems asking the teacher when I don't know something. Is it just the Whalers fiberglass tank or all fiberglass tanks in general?

THEFERMANATOR · #55 05-15-2010, 11:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Destroyer

Spareparts, I'm always curious and ready to learn. What is the problem with a fiberglass tank? I have an alum tank in mine so I don't have that problem, but I have no problems asking the teacher when I don't know something. Is it just the Whalers fiberglass tank or all fiberglass tanks in general?

MOST fiberglass fuel tanks are made with resins that are NOT ethanol compatible and they will dissolve basically when ethanol enriched fuels are used as the ethanol will eat the resin and turn it into jelly. Then all your gas ends up in the bildge where it can eat the resin that makes up your hull.

spareparts · #56 05-15-2010, 12:34 PM

worse than that. I worked on a 17 whaler last year that the tank had gone soft from ethanol. I checked compresion on the engine(4 stroke Mercaha), and found two cylinders at 0. I could hear the vlaves tapping, so I pulled the intake off and sprayed power tune on the intake valves till I could free them up. Everything had a red gluey substance on it. took forever to get the carbs cleaned(and the kits retailed for $150 each, took four). By the time I put a new tank in the boat, replaced the fuel lines, installed a water separating filter,replaced all the filters and primer bulb, got the compresion back up, rebuilt the carbs, set up the carbs(PIA), tuned the motor, changed teh oil and filter, water tested it, etc. The bill ended up being around $1600, and I didn't charge him no where near the actual amount of time I had in it. The ethanol disolved the resin from the tank, and once air hit it, it turned back into glue. This guy was lucky I was able to save the motor. As far as i know, it affects all fiberglass tanks(poyester/vynilester resin), not sure about epoxy resin, I emailed MAS epoxy about it, they didn't recomed epoxy for fuel tanks period, neither would West. Point of story, if you have a fiberglas tank, get rid of it. If you are using cheap plastic portable tanks, throw them away every four to five years and replace them with new one(don't ask how i learned that lesson), its cheaper to replace them than to repair the problems that arrise.

Destroyer · #57 05-15-2010, 01:11 PM

Fermanator and Spareparts.. THANK YOU BOTH for the lesson!!

These are the kind of things that you don't hear about until it smacks you in the face!.. I'll be certain to keep an eye out for them in the future.
All my present tanks are either Alum or SS, so I'm thinking i'm ok.. but I do have some spare 6.5 gal plastic tanks I use for long distance runs.. Might have to get new ones in a few years.. thanks for the info guys!!!

whatknot · #58 05-15-2010, 05:49 PM

"the Titty Bar" gets it's name from the fact that I have to cross the Ga state line to fish this spot.
All the good titty bars are just across the state line in South Carolina. Don't really need to travel to those any more. Sorry it wasn't more exciting than that..... I could make something up...

whatknot · #59 05-16-2010, 10:17 AM

Up at 4:30 and prepped the whatknot for another try at cobia this morning. Idled out of the creek and,.... BAM! It was like my lower unit hit something. Mototr started idling really rough again, so back to the hill. Shucks.

I took her out last thursday and ran it hard and fast. Ran like a top.....
What the PH?

RidgeRunner · #60 05-18-2010, 08:03 AM

SPARE the tank in the Whaler is aluminum. I checked that out early on. 160 gallons worth in a 23 footer. The only time I have to worry about filling up is when I go somewhere and spend a week on the water.
SO I have a dilemma. Stale gas, constantly. (3 boats don't help) A solution to the water build up in the fuel is to keep your tank full. BUT my average outing I am only burning 30 gal. or less and I like the way the boat feels with about half a tank and the trailer likes it too. (500 LBS LIGHTER) Stabil is working thus far but the one filter is a concern.