Fuel tank leak

[FrankJohn]

Hi,
Our 5.85m rib has a leak from the inbuilt fuel tank. I know that this will cause a great deal of work to rectify, I'm wondering if anyone out there has had the same problem and can give a rough estimate of time and cost. The rib was built by Ribcraft, who seem to be poor in returning phone calls, advice etc.
Surely a fuel tank is of utmost safety importance, and should be fit for purpose?

Can anyone offer some advice?

Cheers

[two stroke mick]

I am surprised at the lack of reply from Ribcraft. I do not have a Ribcraft but have e-mailed them over the years regarding several items and found them very promt and helpfull in reply. I also happen to like the ribcraft boats
TSM

[biffer]

You're saying al the right word, safety, fit for purpose, etc but unless the boat is fairly new the words or phone probably won't work, no ones going to put a price on that job, I'm assuming the tank is under the floor and the seat and console are on top of that, lot of work but mostly labour, ie no parts, good luck

[Razorbill RIBs]

You've probably looked (apologies if stating the obvious), but if leaking when full etc, are you sure that the leak is from the tank itself (ie through damage), or could it be /have you checked the gasket /seal where the sender unit (assuming you have one) bolts into the top of the tank?

Best of luck

[Tim M]

Exactly - hopefully it's something accessible like a pipe or sender that's loose. Failing that, is there a way of installing a new tank somewhere else ie inside the console? Would be a lot easier than taking the deck up.

[frankc]

Cannot help you with the RIB, but I had to cut a tank out of the floor and replace it on a 21 ft. Proline. If you do it yourself, be sure to research it on line before trying to install one. There are very important safety issues which must be kept in mind, one of which is crevice corrosion. That resulted in a 65 gal tank with an 1/8 inch hole near the bottom of our tank.

[AJ.]

Those tanks are a minimum of 90l and if it is a standard console there is not much space.

How old is the RIB?

[Burtox]

The fuel sensor is screwed into a stainless steel pipe which is welded to the top of the tank. So my guess is that the don't normally leak or you would see it.. The tank is a triangular shape which follows the contours of the bow. Ok so next job is to work out whether the leak is on the tubes welded to the top of the tank or lower down. Either way its going to be involved. How do you know it's leaking? Do you get fuel coming out of the drain plug in the bilge or it it wet around the top? Hopefully it's around the top tubes. Then you will need to cut out a section of deck in the console and get it welded. After steam cleaning!

I would be tempted to do a pressure test at say 5psi and see what happens. The drill a small hole in the deck back from the tank and poke a fibre optic camera in.

[frankc]

I would be surprised if a stainless steel tank is used. Condensation is a problem with stainless as I remember. I cannot recall why.

Don't know your laws but pressure testing is a standard operation in the States even though they are not meant to be pressure vessels.

[spartacus]

Ribcraft aren't the best when it comes to getting back to you... been there before. Suggest you speak to Charlie and see what options are.

[AJ.]

Originally Posted by spartacus

Ribcraft aren't the best when it comes to getting back to you... been there before. Suggest you speak to Charlie and see what options are.

+ 1 on that been there several times. However Charlie is a good chap, gets back to you and will do what he can to help.

[Burtox]

Originally Posted by AJ.

+ 1 on that been there several times. However Charlie is a good chap, gets back to you and will do what he can to help.

+2 I phoned Charlie on Saturday morning to explain I needed my anti slip deck covering replaced asap. He then phoned the work shop manager at home to arrange to have it done next week. It's now the first job they are going to do at 6am on Monday morning. . Service like this is very rare. Well done Ribcraft.

[biffer]

Originally Posted by frankc

I would be surprised if a stainless steel tank is used. Condensation is a problem with stainless as I remember. I cannot recall why.

Don't know your laws but pressure testing is a standard operation in the States even though they are not meant to be pressure vessels.

While you guys in the states have mostly Ali tanks us in the uk are the other way round, they are pressure tested and if they are below deck they are foamed in with expanding foam, this tank will need to come out, you would need to satisfy yourself and the owner, there are other risks with welding use fuel tank, boom baby springs to mind

[FrankJohn]

Hi,
Many thanks for the comments. I can confirm that the fuel is from the bilge, open the drain plug and fuel/water comes out, the console being dry. If anyone has had the same problems, has it been due to corrosion or welds to the tank?
Many thanks again for your help, all comments welcome.

[willk]

Frank, I have experienced those symptom with a previous RIB. Like you, I assumed the worst had happened. Luckily the issue in my case was a damaged fuel filler hose that was dumping a couple of liters of fuel into the bilges every fill. Sorted with a new hose. You need to check the filler and breather hoses are sound throughout and well joined. Same at the fuel supply spigot and the inspection plate that the fuel sender is most likely set into. You will need to follow the fuel line to the engine too, it could be leaking (although if the engine is running well, it's unlikely.)

After all that, I'd fill the tank to the brim and open the bilge - see what flows...

[Miller]

I had the same problem last year with my boat...I was informed that my inboard fuel tanks had holes in them after doing a pressure test and would have to be taken out. I removed the console, cut up a relatively new deck(2008) and removed the tanks.

They went away to be properly tested only to be told they werent leaking and it was just the gaskets round the fuel senders were gone!! This was the only part of the fuel tank that was visible without removing the deck as it was all housed in a jockey seat!

That was an expensive mistake for me so be sure before you do anything as its a lot of work.

[biffer]

Ali tanks usually get pin holes and stainless usually split welds. You can pressure tanks in situ if you can get near the services to it. Sender. Filler. Etc

[frankc]

Biffer, thanks for the information. After going through a tank replacement on our boat, I feel for the OP.

Over here, we are fighting the problem of alcohol in our gasoline and mydrid problems from it. Do you have the alcohol problem? It eats gaskets, hoses, and vent lines.

One concern we had was gasoline leaked into the bilge and concerns of causing a spark when cutting the deck to get at the tank. After getting most of the gas out of the tank, we ran many gallons of water through the bilge until the wash water lost most of the gasoline smell before making the cutout.

[Beal Bar]

Hi All
I am looking at getting a ribcraft-5-85m but I am a little worried on some stories I have heard about fuel tanks leaking. I am looking at two boats, one of which has had fuel tank fixed, the other which the seller says hasn't had fuel tank issues. Prefer engine on one which hasn't had issues (apparently) to the engine on one which has had fuel tank fixed. The boats are about 17 years old (2000). Any advice? Is this problem common? How can I check about it before spending hard earned cash?
Thanks
Bar

[Xk59D]

It isn't common that ive seen with ribcraft but at 17 years old it is a chance as is anything. All you can do is pressure test the tank, take the drain bung out and see if you can smell petrol worth a quick test too.