In the case of my boats fuel door was perched all the way up on the front deck and the fuel and vent lines had to travel almost 4 feet before they reach the fuel tank. The problem with that was they had to go under the deck and traveled on a downward angle before they came back up into the tank causing significant vapor lock. Over the past 3 years that I've owned the boat it has become a major headache to put gas in the boat. Put it this way, I'd spend nearly 30 minutes to put six gallons of gas in to an eighteen gallon tank.....not fun!

To start things out I had to figure out where the fuel line intake and vent line were, which was difficult if you don't mind drilling a few inspection holes in the deck. Once I located the the tank and the lines I was on a roll......started out by cutting a hole for the fuel lines to come out of the deck and be relocated in a new platform directly above the intake and vent line.

Steps to fallow.....

First thing was to build a new box/platform for new fuel door and access hatch and glass is all in.

In the process of removing the front deck hardware (bow cleat, old fuel door, and trolling motor plug) I noticed some wood rot around the front hatch from pour glass work and sealant over the passed 18 years and decided to tear out the rotten wood and for now replace it with a center support.

After the box/platform and center support was built and installed came the fun......fiberglass, itchy stuff!

I put down a coat of epoxied on all the bare wood and followed that up by a few layers of glass and sanded everything down. Once everything was sanded and cleaned thoroughly it was time to lay down some paint., two coats later she was looking good.

Last thing to go in was the new fuel door, 4" hatch, trolling motor plug, and bow cleat......all of which were installed and sealed with 5200 marine sealant. You've gotta seal these type of thing guys other wise you'll be doing it all over again before you know it because of water damaged wood! Through bolted or screwed down, it doesn't matter SEAL IT!!!

Here are the picture from start to finish......hope this will help someone one day.

[B]fish4reds online
sienna Wilderness Systems Commander 120 Angler
16' Aqua Force "The Gray Ghost"

I'll have to take you up on that invite Paul as long as you don't show me that stingray wound.

Thanks for the props on the glass work, but I have to admit....it looks better in the pics then it does in person, but I'm still figuring things out.

Yes, the fuel fills so much easier. I ran up to the gas station last night and filled it up (only took 12 gal.), including adding the 2 cycle oil, startron, and gas I was in and out in less then 10 minutes. That normally would have taken at least 20 to 30 minutes. on a good day. The new vent location worked like a charm and spit some mist out when the tank was full and never over flowed into the boat like it did in the past.

Only one more thing to do now....install a gas gauge, but for now if I figure I can run about 50 miles on a full tank I'm good. 

 


[B]fish4reds online
sienna Wilderness Systems Commander 120 Angler
16' Aqua Force "The Gray Ghost"

I think it looks fantastic,your starting to get the hang of that Glass-Work Austin....Now we need to make a Mold,quit our jobs,and start making boats for a living

We`ll have to run out to that YAK-SWAP so you two can meet,and so Paul can get a feel for a bunch of differant yaks

Not Just Another Cracker !