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Post by byarmo5 on Dec 15, 2019 12:44:59 GMT -5
My starboard fuel tank on my 2006 3880 is leaking into the mid cabin hatch that contains the forward bilge. There is no sign of any gas leaks or any smell in the engine compartment. Leak appears to be coming from a very low area of the tank but no way of seeing where it originates. How do I gain access to see the bottom of this tank. Thank you
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Post by gofast24 on Dec 16, 2019 10:53:40 GMT -5
My thoughts = Dont mess around with finding a fuel(assume gasoline) leak anywhere in your mid cabin area or anywhere else on your vessel! Get a certified marine mechanic to check for leak!! You dont want to be messing around with a fuel leak, any static discharge or just scraping a steel screw driver against any metal and boom!! Your life and boat are worth more than paying a marine mechanic a few $ to investigate. Also, make sure you have at least two operable fire extinguishers on boat.
Gas leak / fumes in engine room/cabin/bilge anywhere are serious, dont mess around finding the leak yourself!
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Post by nobuoys5 on Dec 16, 2019 22:02:04 GMT -5
I do have a mechanic searching for it but wanted to know best access to tanks in the 3880
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Post by gofast24 on Dec 17, 2019 10:56:41 GMT -5
If your mechanic is familiar with Regals he should know where to look for your fuel tank on a 3880. Again, dont recommend you start a search for a leak. Even if you find it, most likely you wont be able to safely fix it yourself (i.e. crack in aluminum tank or welded bulkhead pipe thread fitting on tank, leaking fuel hose or fitting to/from tank to fuel pump, etc.)
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Post by cstoerzinger on Dec 17, 2019 11:40:56 GMT -5
nobuoys5,
I have the same exact problem right now in my 3880. I have narrowed that my port tank is leaking into the mid bilge. I have contacted regal and got feedback from them that the tank can be accessed under the salon, the steps can be taken out and the carpet pulled back. Then the flooring can be pulled up and the tanks can come out. Sadly I have also talked to the original manufacturer of the tanks and it was going to be upwards of $5K to get one shipped to WI. I have looked into some coast guard approved plastic tanks that could replace the originals for significantly less. Also note that I am going to replace both instead of having it happen again to the other one in the next couple of years.
I had my boat pulled into heated storage yesterday and plan to tear into the flooring this week and throughout the weekend. My insurance company has also noted that they will cover anything but corrosion.
Feel free to direct message me with further questions.
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Jon
Full Member
Posts: 32
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Post by Jon on Dec 18, 2019 10:23:58 GMT -5
They are aluminum and can be repaired the same way they were made. Get them pressure tested after the repair and probably be out a few hundred (not including R&R). No way $5k though.
Florida Marine Tank does OE stuff not sure about D2C though. Check them out.
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Post by gofast24 on Dec 18, 2019 12:10:30 GMT -5
Agree, but if aluminum and a crack/leak I am sure they won't do the repair/welding with the tank in situ, will have to pull tank, totally clean out any/all gas/fumes and then do repair and re install. That can get pricey but no other way to safely do it. Hope you can get this fixed but from WI ( where I came from in 1986 to GA) you should have about 5 months before spring boating season starts again. Dont DYI with a gasoline fuel leak!
Merry Christmas and happy new year or Happy Holidays!
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Post by cstoerzinger on Dec 18, 2019 17:01:05 GMT -5
Jon,
I hadn't really looked into repair yet due to not knowing the extent of the damage. I did reach out to Florida Marine, since they were the original manufacturer of the tank and they quoted me the replacement cost. I will have a better idea of what I am going to do once I dig deeper.
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Post by gofast24 on Dec 19, 2019 11:42:09 GMT -5
Florida Marine, since they were the original manufacturer of the tank = Might want to ask them why a correctly manufactured tank is leaking and if other tanks they manufactured have had the same problems on other vessels/different size tanks?. Dont believe a properly manufactured tank (mostly aluminum welding) and installed would just develop a leak after a few years of service? Possibly google the company and check out any BBB complaints or litigation pending with their products? This is absurd that a fuel tank should start leaking after 14 years, possible a fuel hose has cracked or bulk head fitting in the tank is loose vs. a actual crack in the tank? Also possible (from experience many years ago) if there was water in the tank and got into the fuel line it may have frozen and split the hose open. Happened to me on a Formula 18' I/O when I stored it in a unheated barn in MKE county in 1978.
Good luck.
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Jon
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Post by Jon on Dec 19, 2019 15:47:28 GMT -5
Jon, I hadn't really looked into repair yet due to not knowing the extent of the damage. I did reach out to Florida Marine, since they were the original manufacturer of the tank and they quoted me the replacement cost. I will have a better idea of what I am going to do once I dig deeper. Hopefully like Gofast says its a hose or fitting perhaps. Good luck. |
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Jon
Full Member
Posts: 32
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Post by Jon on Dec 19, 2019 15:49:52 GMT -5
Also FWIW i'd be looking at everything besides the physical tank first. Like Gofast said it'd be very strange to just have an AL tank spring a leak. Do you see gas or just smell it? Smells can be misleading of course.
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Post by gofast24 on Dec 20, 2019 11:56:01 GMT -5
Usually the smell of gas(oline) is easily recognised, I have been smelling it for many years (then Diesel the last 35 years ). I am still highly recommending (OP) byarmo5 doesn't try to save a few dollars and try to find or fix this himself, regardless of the cause of the leak!!
Hoping all Have a Merry Christmas, happy Holidays, and Happy New Year!
PS: Still dont know where OP is docked/located and if boat is trailered or dry docked for winter? If dry docked, would suggest have dry dock marina mechanics check for the cause of leak?
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