We are back! We went sailing aboard the Schooner Isaac Evans out of Rockland Maine. Thanks to the Captain and Crew for a great time! We are back to work now, cleaning, painting, and installing the fuel tank. Bob installed the last of the windlass wiring and then built a base plate to mount it on the boat! We also made a run to Connecticut to pick up our new engine.
When we removed our old fuel tank we found the cradle in need of repair. We replaced the parts and put the cradle pieces together. The bottom piece that supports the lowest point of the tank, it was beyond repair:
Front part of the cradle (sitting on end) all back together. This piece goes across the front of the tank and will hold it in place:
Tanya fabricating new pieces out of Mahogany:
Fuel tank cradle in the boat, waiting to receive the new tank. Once the tank is in place the bottom and front pieces of the cradle will be screwed in place. Painted the area with Interlux primer and Bilgekote:
We also painted the engine area. This is just the primer. We’ll coat the area with Bilgkote before the engine goes in:
The new fuel tank is in the boat:
The new tank is aluminum so it’s a bit easier shoving it up into the cradle:
Almost in there:
Tank is in, bottom of the cradle in place:
Front of the cradle in place. We still need to connect lines and strap the tank in place:
Here are a few shots of our new Kubota engine, marinized by Beta Marine:
We went with a Borg Warner Velvet Drive transmission, 1:1 ratio:
It’s very red:
With any luck we will get the engine, batteries, and v-drive in the boat this week. In between everything we will install the new ports. Stay tuned…
Looks good. I am ordering a tank from FMT and expect to start taking the old tank out, now. Did you paint the tank or is that the way it came from FMT? Their drawing shows no coating on the tank. If you painted it, what did you use?
Hi Rudy,
Thanks for the comment! Our tank came with a light primer coating. We never asked for paint but were glad to receive it that way. There were some rub marks from shipping which we touched up with some Awlgrip primer and a brush. FMT was great to work with, great communication, kept to schedule and price. We were very pleased with their service and the tank itself. We got exactly what we asked for and could not be happier. Through this entire refit we have been mislead and disappointed by 90 percent of the venders we have dealt with. FMT did not let us down, it was a pleasure working with them.
Good luck with your new tank!
Dave