Trojan Boat Forum

We've barely had time to relax since replacing the fuel tanks, and have discovered that our starboard water tank has sprung a leak

Of course it's original. Of course it's galvanized steel. Of course it's jammed up tight between the hull and the engine.

Looks like it may be leaking where it rests on its wood cradle, but we haven't gone much further than that yet.

Any words of wisdom from any f-28 owners out there?

I have two new food grade 30 gal plastic barrells for mine.

Changing is simple, you just have to pull the power packages.

Fortunately my engines are out. If you have chain steering the one on starboard is a smaller barrel and the mount must be altered to get the plastic one in. Otherwise the 30 gal plastic drums fit perfect and there is a bung with fitting threads in it and a knock out which facilitates fitting attachment.

My tanks looked pretty good but the bottom fitting was corroded and were broken off. Trojan put a small amount of padding where the barrel sets on the supports.

There is apparently only two ways to get them out, cut em up in place, then you cannot get new ones engines due to clearance issues with engines, or pull engines and replace tanks while engines out.

BMiller has an f28 also and has been been thinking about those tanks as well. I think he was going to remove them period, don't know if he did or not.

As a temp repair . if you can locate the the leak , try some on the plumbers type epoxy or the type that will cure under water ( You can use it when the leak is still dripping ) . That way you can put it off until the off season . Your season is just to short for down time .

3m 5200 marine sealant will seal in water as well! Might get you by this season.

Wests g-flex will make it like new...capable of curing under water...youtube has a couple good videos of it.

What kind of fuel tanks did you use. I have two 75 gallon ones to go into my f28, custom built of aluminum. It is a real joy getting the deck up after your remove the salon furniture.

Thanks everyone!

larryeddington: haha. funny. sure, easy, pull the engines. no big deal!! lol stoopid water tanks. Good to know about the different sizing though.. yah, we have chain steering too.
We had custom built fuel tanks too - approx the same size as yours.. .we're not totally sure what our capacity is now, but we think about 290 litres each, which works out to be about 75 gal. It'll be nice to have the extra range!!! We're fortunate to have a friend in the industry who did it for us, and he was pleasantly surprised to see how basic it was to disassemble all the furniture and floor.... guess he was anticipating that it would be much worse.

Everyone else: thanks so much for the suggestions! We're trying to lift them in place and trying to get at the leak. We'll have to cut the strapping and then replace that when we're done. Good to know that 5200 cures under water.. we always have a few tubes of that on board! Watched the videos on the g/flex, and that looks intriguing if we have to go at it from the inside...

prowlerfish: you're so so right... our season really is too short!!!

pnmudge wrote:Good to know that 5200 cures under water..

Water makes it cure. It will cure in about 20 minutes under water - so watch working time (probably not an issue with this patch job).

rossjo wrote:

pnmudge wrote:Good to know that 5200 cures under water..

Water makes it cure. It will cure in about 20 minutes under water - so watch working time (probably not an issue with this patch job).

New one on me , will have to check it out

learned something new

prowlersfish wrote:learned something new

Ahhhhh , so you can teach an old dog new tricks!
Who'da thought...

who you calling a dog ?

prowlersfish wrote:who you calling a dog ?

...Monroe.

I believe the 'key' word was OLD.......not dog like you thought Prowler!!

Now get back in the yard....and stay on the porch....