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Hello WC Folks !! We have been getting alot of rain here in the northeast . Iam wondering how is the water getting in that fuel tank cavity ?? In my 1979 V-22 OR. When I replaced the fuel tank I put in a pump alot like Jeff did and I give him all the credit for the idea . I get water down there and I wonder how I can devert some or most of it ? Is it just getting thru the caulked seamms or are there other ways ?Iam thinking the side panels maybe ? Does that need to be caulked also ? I'd like some imput thanks !!!

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The screws that hold the cover down should be set in silicone, ect., Beckson rings could be leaking, not many other choices.

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I'd agree that you might want to check your Beckson gaskets - they dry our over time and need to be replaced.

And as you said, the other area could be behind the panels under the gunwhales - I would not caulk those panels to the deck, but the truth is that water will definitely roll under there and then into the under-deck conduits, making its way to the fuel cavity.

I just replaced my tank, but rather than foaming it in, I shimmed it with King Starboard and put a brass drain tube in the stern, going to the livewell. The underside of the tank is shimmed with 1/4" Starboard, allowing air (and any water) to circulate around the tank.

Clive

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I had a similar problem with my 84 outrage. I keep it covered and on a trailer when not in use. I would remove the access covers to the fuel tank area when it was sitting and I would also sponge out the excess water from the fuel tank area. What it turned out to be with my boat was that somehow the water was coming from the corroded o ring on the bottom of the drain tube in the anchor compartment. somehow the water would be forced from the drain tube through and into the fuel tank cavity. For this summer I have just siliconed the bottom of the drain tube and solved the problem and I plan on replacing the entire tube this fall. I have already replaced the brass tubes in the transom and found it quite easy to do with the flaring tool I bought along with the tubes from twin City Marine. I know people have allot of suggestions on what is the best way to replace the drain tubes and what material is best, Brass or PVC but i figured if the brass could last 25 years that is good enough for me as i will be 77 years old when they require replacement again.

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I have a water problem as well. As best i can see, the water appears to be coming in through the fuel tunnel. I pulled up both deck plates in the stern, and there is a tunnel that the fuel line passes through from the tank cavity to the starboard side sump. Because my hull is weighed down with water in the foam, the water comes up through the tube, into the sump, fills up and during turns, goes through the tunnel into the tank cavity. On a boat that sits high in the water, I would assume the water would not fill the sump enough to get into the tunnel.

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Mine would come in through the front anchor compartment drain tube and go into the fuel tank cavity then if I elevated the tongue when it was on the trailer it would partially drain into the bilge area and I could pump that water out. but there would always still be water on top of the fuel tank. Since I sealed the area where the bad o ring was i have not had any water in the fuel tank compartment.
Chris