Getting High On The Lows

In the last exciting episode you'll recall Daz and I were suspicious that we might have a leak in the fuel tank. Well the fuel tank is welded into the boat under the floor. So before we tore the the boat apart, we wanted to be pretty sure that we weren't imagining things. So it was agreed that we needed to fill that tank to the brim and inspect it closely for leaks. First step Daz Ripped up the carpet, then pulled up the flooring so we could see the tank. It was already half full and not obviously leaking any more, so Daz headed to the servo with a bunch of jerry cans and transferred the fuel into the tank while I grovelled around in the floor feeling the sides of the tank looking for signs of leaks. Sure enough at the back port corner about 2 inches for the top there it is. Fuel leaking out of a pin head sized hole in the tank. Well that proves that.

The next step is we're going to need Sam to help up fix it. It will definitely mean we have to remove it and that's gunna mean power tools and sparks and welting and...fuel vapors. Sounds like some precautions are in order.  So we decided to drain the fuel tank. Well that sounds like a simple thing right? WRONG! 

Turns out neither Daz or I are particularly adept with a siphon  hose. Or at least we tend to chicken out when the fuels comes out your nose. We tried a few different techniques including different hose diameters, and a battery drill inline pump but it was no good. Eventually I got it to run with a fairly small hose and a fair bit of chugging down a few gulps, but it was working!. 

Due the the small hose diameter it took about 3-4 hours to empty that tank. And due to the foul taste of swallowed fuel there was not other option than to crack out some rum and cokes while we did the job. Needless to say there are some parts of that afternoon that I just cant remember. But Bruce and Daph sure seemed proud of their daughter when I sms'd them that I wasn't sure if I was higher or pisseder. 

Anyway, the next weekend it was off to see Sam. He removed the tank and decided on the spot that he'd just weld up a new one. He had a few horror stories to tell about welding up fuel tanks, and it turns out that he likes living. 

Out leaky fuel tank

Out with the old

Red Dirt!...Where'd that come from?

So a few weeks later and here's our new tank! there's no suspicious leaks or smells coming out of this one.

Daz putting the flooring back in after the new tank has been fitted/

While that's all been going on there also been a bunch more trip planning happening on parallel. I've spent a couple of days with tide charts and nautical charts working out a boating itinerary that revolves around tides and fuel consumption (looks like we'll be clocking up about 1000km by sea at this stage with 3 fuel top-ups totaling about 800L per boat. At aprox $3per litre that's gunna hurt).  I've also finished sorting out WA fishing permits, applied for aboriginal access permits, made midge nets for the boat and water tank liners in the kill boxes so we don't rub holes in the fuel bladders. 

Itinerary Planning

Working out tides & distances

Midge net solution

Midge net solutions 

Daz has fitted another battery into the hull of the boat and spent a LOT of time scraping old glue off the deck of the boat so that he can re-fit it with new flooring after hit ripped it up to get to the tank. With a bit of help from Sam he's created a module that fits onto the back of the boat to hold to cooker and double up in the day time as a table for cleaning fish (and other things.) 

Partially finished washing up/ cleaning table

...and stove module 

We're only about 3 weeks from Easter now so the race is on to get it all ship shape in time for 3 day dress rehearsal in the Great Sandy Straits with Bruce and Daph.