Looking for a used Diesel Port Fuel tank for 97 Sundance Part 775627

B

bobcaptord

New Member
Dec 17, 2012
16
South FL
Boat Info
1997 450 Sundancer
Engines
420 Cats
My 1997 45' Sundancer's Port fuel tank is leaking on the bottom forward portion. Looking for part #775627, or, a reputable mechanic in the Deerfield Beach, Fl area who can repair and or remove and install a used or new tank. Thanks Capt. Bob
 
there was just a thread on this.....use search - it is a huge job......frank w walked the guy through it and even knew who had the blueprints to make the new tank (original supplier)
 
First, you don't want to buy a used tank because you will just be buying a future problem. Your tanks has holes in it because water got in the tank somehow. The water lays on the bottom of the tank until the aluminum corrodes thru. If you could see to the bottom, you would see "clouds" of corrosion in several places, which is why you don't want to try to repair the tank. It may last a while, but every leaking diesel tank I have seen, and there have been several, showed corrosion in several spots.

The fix for this is to replace the fuel tank with a new one from Florida Marine Tanks, who is the Sea Ray vendor for the aluminum tanks. FMT has the construction records and the drawings for the tanks, but you will probably need to contact Sea Ray customer service and ask them to give you the vendor part number. The number in your post is a Sea Ray part number that means nothing to anyone out side of Sea Ray's dealer network or their internal system. This isn't a particularly difficult repair but you pretty much have to tear the boat apart to do it. The cockpit interior has to be removed, the cockpit sole has to be removed, the engine and transmission has to come out to access the tank and to do that you will have to remove the prop and slide the shaft back to almost the shaft log.

Good luck with it..........
 
Sorry to hear of your problem. I just replaced the port tank on my 400. I'm finishing up and reinstalling the engine this week. Atlantic tank built my new tank for me. All they needed was overall dimensions and locations of fittings. The tank is the easy part. Every thing else is the pita. I had my new tank made 1/2 inch narrower than the original to make installation easier. Keep us posted and good luck.
 
Thanks for your information and best wishes. The price quotes I've received are from reasonable to armed robbery without a weapon! Will keep all advised. Thanks again, Capt. Bob
 
Frank, First thank you for all the advice which is sound and the right way to proceed. Any advice regarding cost? Smooth seas and fair winds, Capt Bob
 
Depending upon if Florida Marine Tanks will sell to you direct, the tank is going to be in the $1400 to $2000 area. The remainder of the work is just labor and that depends upon what boat yard you use, if you can do part of the work yourself and your relationship with them so here is a guess:

Haulout $540
Laydays in the yard $2/ft/day for 10 days $900
Remove interior and icemaker 6 hours @120 $720
Remove cockpit deck 2 men, 2 hours @$120 $480
Partial shaft removal 2 men 2 hours @$120 $480
Remove engine and transmission 4 hours @120 $480
Crane/forklift w/ operator $250
Break loose and remove old tank 8 man hours $960
Install and plumb new tank 8 man hours $960
reinstall engine and transmission 4 hours $480
Crane/forklift w/operator $250
Reinstall cockpit deck 2 men 2 hours @ $120/hr $ 480
Reinstall ice maker and cockpit interior 6 man hours $720
recouple the shaft 2 men 1.5 hours $360
check alignment 2.0 hours @ $120 $440
Sea trial 1.5 @ $120 $180


There are some ways to reduce the cost.......carefully mark all the engine and transmission mounts and their position so a huge realignment job won't be needed, label everything, insure that the interior, the deck and the engine and transmission are stored in a clean dry place.

Also, unless you have identified the source of the water in the bad tank and know that situation doesn't exist in the other one, then you should consider changing both at the same time. A lot of the work for the second tank like the haul out, removing the cockpit interior and cockpit deck will already be done if you replace both tanks at the same time. I you don't then when the other tanks fails, you will have to go thru this entire process a second time.

Good luck with it.............
 
You know that some airplanes have a bladder in the wing that hold the fuel. The bladder is removed and installed through the fill hole which is about 3" in diameter. Seems like someone ought to develop a technique for installing bladders in fuel tanks on boats.
 
peterkvs said:
You know that some airplanes have a bladder in the wing that hold the fuel. The bladder is removed and installed through the fill hole which is about 3" in diameter. Seems like someone ought to develop a technique for installing bladders in fuel tanks on boats.
Click to expand...

Thought about that also. Then it hit me. The baffles.
 
Part Number...: 775627 TANK, FUEL 450DA 200GAL PORT

FLORIDA MARINE TANKS - 252-438-3241

Supplier Part#:SR-196AP

We changed the tank part number a few years later but that was only due to sender upgrade, not tank.

Replace the tank!

Capt. R
 
Seems like we have heard of 3 or 4 people with 450DA fuel tank leaks, is this a common issue with the 450. Reason I ask is, we are considering selling our 500DA and have been considering the 450.
 
I've seen two instances where they chose to go through the side of the boat instead. Was was on a 450DA, the other a 500DA.
 
bahamabreisus said:
Seems like we have heard of 3 or 4 people with 450DA fuel tank leaks, is this a common issue with the 450. Reason I ask is, we are considering selling our 500DA and have been considering the 450.
Click to expand...

No, it is very unusual.

This is the 3rd one I've heard about.....,,compared with about twice that many for 400/410Da's. The cause is water in the fuel tank that lays on the bottom and corrodes the tank. There are 2 potential sources of the water....... The deck fill is either left loose or the o-ring isnt sealing. On the 450DA, the deck plates are on the transom and sit at roughly a 45˚ angle to vertical. Water won't pool on them but part of t he deck run off is right above the deck plate so rain water runs over them in a hard rain. The other cause is poor fuel system management. Bad quality fuel unfiltered at the pump just pumps water and sludge into the fuel tanks. Failing to use fuel treatment that has moisture dispersants in it contributed but the biggest cause of water in the tanks is condensation from failing to keep the fuel tanks full.

Any of the above can happen with any diesel powered boat, no more so on the 450DA than any other model.
 
Frank, thanks for the reply. After seeing your estimate for replacement, I had to go to the emergency room to get my heart restarted. (just kiddin"). I have also heard of people using bleach to clean engine room, big no no, that caused the tank to rot, by water with bleach getting under the tank.
 
Saw it happen recently at Bahia Mar to a 380 DA......owner was never around - leaked so much the bilge pump started dumping it into the ICW.....Had to boom it and everything - a huge mess and expense
 
The new owner of our 450 just replaced both tanks, port started to leak so he had both done while they were in there. Mechanic mentioned two dissimilar metals on the tank bottom( not sure what that's about) that could have caused the issue also. The first thing I did was to replace the fuel tank o-rings when we purchased the boat and also the fresh water tank. Through the years of ownership I kept an eye on the o rings for visual cracks and replaced when needed.
The new owner replaced all the hoses in the engine room from waste to fuel to intakes. He did it right had the $$$ and when he decides to sell she will be a great 20 + year boat to have.

Good luck with your project,

Tommy
 
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