J/30 Class Association Forums J/30 Forum The Boat, Sails and Equipment Pinhole fuel tank leak

I finally figured out that a steady but slow accumulation of clean diesel fuel in my bilge is likely not coming from the engine, but from a hole in the aluminum fuel tank. Does anybody have any way of locating the leak that would not require removing the tank? And does anybody have a recommended method for repairing the hole? Any advice would be most welcome...

The hole is probably on the bottom. You will have to remove the tank and wash it out with detergent. Then find a welder who is used to welding fuel tanks. Some don't know the tricks to doing it safely. Make sure you don't leave any loose hardware under the tank. It will cause electrolysis and make another hole.

Steve,

There is no easy way to do this with the tank in place and do it right. If it turns out you can't get the old tank fixed, go to the top menu and mouse over "Market" then click on "Equipment Suppliers". You'll see two tank sources there with appropriate prints. Bob offers sound advice in his post. We used to weld on full fuel tanks on the submarine with all sorts of special procedures.... you don't want to go there and need to completely void the tank of all fuel and traces of fumes.

I got a new tank last year from Luthers Welding in Bristol I gave them the drawings and it is a perfect replacement. Remember that one pinhile precedes others and not really worth fixing. You have to cut (sawsall) the fiberglass L bracket over the middle of the tank and fiberglass at the rear of the tank and a small amount of finished glass (gelcoat) near the bulkhead where the intake hose and 90 degree bend are. Once you make the decision it is not a hard job. Thge new take came with an electric fuel gauge sending unit which I calibrated this fall with a gauge that I added.