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Inspection port

  • January 16, 2025 7:17 PM
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    Message # 13451394
    Anonymous member

    I'm about to install 2  6" inspection ports on my W 28 diesel tank . I got them from a Co. called Boyd . They weren't all that expensive (70.) ea . and nice quality . 

    Anyhow , my question , has anyone done this to a 28 tank ? Where is the baffle ? I'm thinking just one in the center port to starboard .  

    Thanks , Mark .

    Last modified: January 16, 2025 7:19 PM | Anonymous member
  • January 19, 2025 10:59 AM
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    Reply # 13452303 on 13451394
    Anonymous member (Administrator)

    Mark: 

    You didn't mention the type of material your tanks are made of .. 

    On Pygmalion, the 2 saddle tanks are made of stainless steel. I added a 4" round inspection plate to the stb tank a few years ago. 

    As I recall, the baffle was in the center of the tanks length across the width with large openings on the bottom. 

    If the tank is SS maybe you can see on the outside where the baffle is welded and/or tap the tank to locate where the baffle was installed?

    Also a small camera/scope might help but with my saddle tanks installed - it was very hard to see inside the tank from the filler. 

    I've added pics from my installation in 2020.

    I've NOT had any issues with leaking fuel from the inspection port!

    HTH

    Jay

    (former Pygmalion W32 crew chief.)

    8 files
  • January 20, 2025 7:12 PM
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    Reply # 13452824 on 13451394
    Anonymous member

    Thanks for the reply Jay , the (1) tank is Aluminum . That is a good point , to look for a weld mark , and tap around .

    My tank has 2 small holes , from bow to stern  that I could get a scope into , the one hole is for the sending unit and the other one a guy put in there when I had the tank cleaned back in the 90's , and that job I'm sure didn't really get the tank clean .

    I have heard it said that you need to get your arm with a rag in there to get the job done right .

    Last modified: January 21, 2025 12:36 AM | Anonymous member
  • January 29, 2025 4:46 PM
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    Reply # 13456732 on 13451394
    Anonymous member

    greetings mark

    i cut two 6" dia. holes in my W28 aluminum fuel tank several years ago; one on each side of the baffle, which was easily identified by the weld marks.

    after emptying the tank, i had enough elbow room to scrub all surfaces inside the tank including the top.  i used an aggressive detergent solution made for cleaning bilges and got the whole inside shining.

    there were several small shiny pit marks here and there, but none had penetrated to the outside.  the specs. indicate a 1/8"  thickness for the aluminum; mine was only 3/32"

    the fuel pickup tube was making contact with the bottom of the tank. and moved a little when i pushed on the top of the tank. the top of the tank pops in and out like an old fashioned oil can. i filed a little off the bottom of the tube to stop this contact.

    i fashioned cover plates from 1/4" aluminum. i used countersunk bolts to fasten four (two for each hole), 1/4" thick, crescent shaped, backup plates to the underside of the top of the tank. the plates were drilled and tapped for the bolts. i then bolted the cover plate to the backup plates, again drilling and tapping the backup plates, sort of sandwiching the tank between the two sets of plates. i inserted a nitrile rubber gasket between the tank and the cover.    i can send you a detail of this if you like.


    james templeton


     
  • January 30, 2025 11:06 AM
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    Reply # 13457057 on 13451394
    Anonymous member

    Thanks for the information James . The check plate assembly's that I bought are exactly like you have described how you made yours . Thank you for the offer of sending information on them .

    I haven't started  to look at things yet so I don't know what thickness my tank is , all I really know about it it's not leaking .

    When we first bought the boat back in 94' the fuel system was set up with a day tank and a Jabsco wash down pump to fill it , I wonder if that was a Westsail design or owner design . 

    Anyhow it was all leaking , so I got rid of it  . 

    Also the guy we bought the boat from told me the pickup tube was touching the bottom of the tank (like yours) we never had a problem with it so I never messed with it .

    Good idea about the bilge cleaner , thanks for the tip .

    Mark .