[Public-list] Gas Fuel Tank

[Robert E Johns]

Hi all,

I have a 16 gallon aluminum gas tank mounted behind the engine, It is 
seeping gasoline and needs to be changed. I had replaced it many years 
ago and, as I remember, was able to do it without removing the engine. 
However, since then I have installed a 100 amp alternator driven off a 
pulley on the front of the Atomic 4, installed an ampere-hour 
electrical system that includes a large filter-suppressor, and the 
exhaust system has been changed and the present exhaust system may not 
be as easily removable as the original, all of which blocks access to 
the tank.

In addition to the tank problem I need to have the shift cable changed. 
I am going to have the boatyard fix these problems. (I have gotten too 
old and cricky to do it myself.)

The boatyard thinks that the engine will have to be removed  to remove 
the old one and install the new one. They also said that if the new 
tank were mounted someplace other than behind the engine they could get 
the old one out without removing the engine as long as they did not 
have to put the new  one in the same location. (I am a little leery of 
having the boatyard remove the engine.)

I am thinking of having the new one go in the starboard sail locker. I 
see from the A30 list that several people have done this. Mike Lehman 
and Michael Grosh installed 18 gallon tanks and John Manza an 11 gallon 
tank in the starboard locker. I realize that storage space will be lost 
in the locker. Is there any any problem with access to the engine 
instrument panel with the tank located here? Is the gas gauge sensor 
accessible? Is it possible to use a dip stick to measure fuel level?

With the rear mounted tank removed It should also give better access 
when replacing the shift cable. I would appreciate any advice about 
this and especially advice concerning how to specify to the boatyard 
the way things should be done.(In the past I have done almost all of 
the work on the boat except for the complete overhaul of the engine a 
few years ago.)

Many thanks.

Bob Johns
Wind Call #397