SUNK! ? about fuel tank

[brushfly]

My beloved old 17' Sea Ox sunk in slip. 3/4 sunk with only the bow and casting deck out of the water as the stern was being held up by frog clips.

The intake on the fuel system was above water but the purge valve on the line was underwater so safe to assume plenty of salt went into the tank. The tank is the original one on the 1981 boat. It's 20 gallons and was 95% filled at time of sinking.

Not sure if I'm going to repower and rewire the boat but also concerned about the tank and what should be done in the event I keep the boat?

Dale?

Appreciated.

[DaleH]

Sorry to hear about that unfortunate experience ...

I think, if it were mine (being an '91 vintage) worries about the fuel tank would probably be way down there on the list as KentFab or Atlantic Coastal Welding could replace it for $400 or less. Re-wiring would probably run you a good $300 if you did it yourself.

I'd be most concerned with where the water got into the hull, deck, stringers et al. Good news, bring salt water, it'll take 20-years to rot the boat, but she'll be heavy and water will have made ingress. Not sure if this is a liner/deck/hull made boat (thought Sea Ox were all built via chopper guns) but I'd pull everything off that boat I could and would give her a long rest over the winter time and would turn it over upside-down so the bottom of the hull is up ... 'hoping' water will drain out out of every feature.

In warmer months or while even on warmer days I'd probably even use a heat gun or propane heater to warm up the inside of the boat ... to slowly 'bake' the moisture out of her, throwing a tarp over her to make like a tent.

Honestly, lots of variable here ... method of construction, whether bottom of deck was fully encapsulated, etc. Sounds like a project boat for sure. But do-able, if recoverable, and worth salvaging. But alas, without seeing it or intimately knowing the boat's construction details ... I'm really just guessing.

FWIW if you pickled the motor it could be saved.

[z-drive]

as far as the tank goes just drain it, put some more gas in it, drain it again, and it should be good. run it through a fw seperator, take some samples, and use it for less demanding applications.

as long as it doesnt sit long i wouldnt worry about the tank too much assuming it was in good shape to begin with.

[brushfly]

Thanks Dale and Zdrive.

Not sure where I'm heading. The boat is now on land. Seeing it makes me want to restore but not sure. Zdrive, if I had the money on hand, we'd seriously talk about your Nauset. Still for sale?

Thanks again.

[z-drive]

kinda-sorta, its in the backyard with a sale pending and deposit in the bank. waiting on me to get home from work (i am :brow ). i in the process of replacing the steering cable and a few other odds and ends the buyer wants done.

i can let you know if it falls through. should have it finalized by the 17th.