Leaking 330 Signature fuel tank

[ChessieBay]

My 2006 330 Signature started leaking gas into the bilge and didn’t stop until the tank was dry.
Now the marina has the challenge of getting the tank out of the mid-cabin floor. It is not yet clear how much cutting is required besides removing the floor.
Does anyone have experience with a tank replacement in a similar boat? I understand this is not terribly uncommon in Chaparral boats.

 

[Denny]

My 2006 330 Signature started leaking gas into the bilge and didn’t stop until the tank was dry.
Now the marina has the challenge of getting the tank out of the mid-cabin floor. It is not yet clear how much cutting is required besides removing the floor.
Does anyone have experience with a tank replacement in a similar boat? I understand this is not terribly uncommon in Chaparral boats.

Years ago I had a gasoline issue on my 9 yr old Chap. It was a manufacturing issue, and they offered to help out with some of the cost. Your girl is 20 yrs old, it might be worth a call to Chap. But I think that you need to find out if it is the fault of the product or the installation first. Either way you need to decide If it is worth the cost and time without her to you to have the repairs done, and you need to have someone that has the experience of doing this type of work. This is going to be a major operation. Not so much in the tearing apart everything to do the work, but putting everything back together as if it were never taken apart. My issue was in and open area, but still it was a dirty mess.
Good luck, please keep us in the loop.

 

[Denny]

Another thing to consider is, that there are people out there that will buy projects like this.
Right now make sure that she is well ventilated. Your foam around the leak is like a big sponge!

 

[ChessieBay]

Thanks Denny. The hatch is open a few inches and she is in the hands of my trusted mechanic of 10 years. My rationale is that I cannot buy a 35 ft boat of any kind for what it will cost to fix this problem.

 

[Denny]

Thanks Denny. The hatch is open a few inches and she is in the hands of my trusted mechanic of 10 years. My rationale is that I cannot buy a 35 ft boat of any kind for what it will cost to fix this problem.

Tough call, you have to make the choice that suits you best. The positive part, is it happened at the right time of year. I'm gauging by your ID, that you are on the east coast. Good luck, progress report and pictures please. Could help someone else, and educate the rest of us too.