fuel tank covers

K

kevinnuckles@icloud.com

Member
I HAVE A 2010 CD 22 CRUISER. IS THERE A WAY TO REMOVE THE FUEL TANK COVERS WITHOUT DESTROYING THEM. I NEED TO REPLACE THE FUEL PICKUPS, THE FUEL LINES AND POSSIBLY THE SELECTOR VALVE. I HAVE CONSIDERED CUTTING ACCESS HOLES IN THE PANELS, OR SIMPLY REMOVING THE PERMANENT TANKS AND REPLACING WITH PORTABLE 23G TANKS FROM MOELLER. ANYONE HAVE A SUGGESTION, PLEASE?
 
There are no "covers" to take off. You have to remove the forward panels, the strips or tie downs on the hull bottom, and then disconnect the full, pull them out forward. Nothing destructive about it. Easiest if the tanks are empty, or nearly so.
 
There panels are bolted at the top and screwed in at the bottom. It may differ from year to year. But the idea is to remove screws and slip the panels out. Some have cutouts to reveal fuel level, others don't.

No need to cut anything.
 
kevinnuckles@icloud.com":2ppsn39v said:
Yes. It is those “panels” I am referring to. I wiil try to attach a picture. Not very good at this.
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Before you can add pictures you will need to have a photo album, Which you have but it is empty. (Bummer) because I can't help you with that, you need a kid, 8 to 10 years old, and they can do it in a heartbeat. . . . Me, it takes a month of Sundays and seems like every time it's a different result.

Harvey
SleepyC :moon

0_CD_Cover_SlpyC_with_Classics_MBSP_2009_288.thumb.jpg
 
Bob, you are right about the way they are attached. It is the bulge from 10 years that presents the complication. The panels are wedged by the bulging tank and so will not slide, even on the side that is near empty. I have read that
10 years is all we can expect from the tanks, so maybe it is best to replace the tanks and lines now, instead of just the pickups. My truck is 24 and the tank is sound and never needed a replacement pickup....
 
kevinnuckles@icloud.com":18v6sup1 said:
Bob, you are right about the way they are attached. It is the bulge from 10 years that presents the complication. The panels are wedged by the bulging tank and so will not slide, even on the side that is near empty. I have read that
10 years is all we can expect from the tanks, so maybe it is best to replace the tanks and lines now, instead of just the pickups. My truck is 24 and the tank is sound and never needed a replacement pickup....
Click to expand...

Bulging tanks often come from long idle periods with the tanks full. Probably exacerbated when this occurs in hot environments (I know that my boat can get quite hot, ~130 deg, under the cover during the summer). I tend to get the tanks a low as possible when I anticipate the boat will be idle for a long time. This seems to help with the bulging. My tanks are bulged a bit, but the covers are still easily moved/removed.
 
Just replaced my 2006 22’ cruiser fuel, vent, and fill lines this week. Panels were bolted at the top and had screws at the bottom into a metal bracket. If the panels covering the tanks are bulging out, that seems like serious tank deformation or maybe even blocked vents in hot weather? I have 25 gallon moeller tanks, and after replacing all the lines and scrubbing tanks and the cockpit under them I still have a bit of fuel smell. According to Moeller these particular poly tanks do allow some fuel smell to permeate… not too happy with that as I want to sleep back there under the full canvas, but it is apparently not a level of ignitable vapor. One day maybe I will replace the tanks, but that day was not this week. I dont know if other cbrats have experienced this, but I have seen it talked about on other boating forums with similar references to manufacturers saying it is “normal” to smell fuel from some tanks. If you can get pictures up, it would help us understand what is keeping your tanks jammed on!
 
SnowTexan":9ca885pb said:
Just replaced my 2006 22’ cruiser fuel, vent, and fill lines this week. Panels were bolted at the top and had screws at the bottom into a metal bracket. If the panels covering the tanks are bulging out, that seems like serious tank deformation or maybe even blocked vents in hot weather? I have 25 gallon moeller tanks, and after replacing all the lines and scrubbing tanks and the cockpit under them I still have a bit of fuel smell. According to Moeller these particular poly tanks do allow some fuel smell to permeate… not too happy with that as I want to sleep back there under the full canvas, but it is apparently not a level of ignitable vapor. One day maybe I will replace the tanks, but that day was not this week. I dont know if other cbrats have experienced this, but I have seen it talked about on other boating forums with similar references to manufacturers saying it is “normal” to smell fuel from some tanks. If you can get pictures up, it would help us understand what is keeping your tanks jammed on!
Click to expand...

I used to notice a gas smell after fueling. Turned out that the filler hoses were leaking. After replacing the hoses, there is no smell except from gas that spills during filling the tanks (a common problem). Once this gas evaporates, the smell is gone.

FWIW, I have noticed that the new portable Moeller tanks (unvented) deform quite a bit in hot weather from the pressure of the gas fumes. I expect that the plastic tanks used on C-Dorys can probably do the same thing.
 
My experience with a 2006 and a 1993 C Dory 22 is that both. had original tanks. Sorry to hear about the "Bulging" tanks--it suggests that they have deformed with time. I would agree that blocked vents--and full tank may contribute to this. It is not "normal'.

Hopefully you will get an album and show us some photos.
 
ON A COOLER DAY, I JETTED WATER TO THE BOTTOM OF THE PANELS TO WASH OUT SLUDGE AND ACCUMULATED DEBRIS. I THEN FILLED THE CHANNELS AT THE BOTTOM OF THE PANELS WITH DAWN DISH WASHING SOAP TO CLEAN AND LUBRICATE THE CHANNEL. NEXT I FED A ROPE THROUGH THE"WINDOW" ON THE ACCESS PANEL AND GAVE IT A TUG. THE PANEL SLID AWAY WITH NO ARGUMENT EXPOSING THE FUEL TANKS AND HIDDEN BILGE. WHAT A RELIEF. THANKS ALL. BTW, FUEL PROBLEM WAS LIKELY A SHARPLY BENT FUEL VENT HOSE. [/img]
 
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