Parker 2530 Fuel Tank Leakage

[ambiance]

I have a 1996 2530. Anyone out there have any issues with fuel tanks leaking. The starboard tank appear to be leaking around a welded on tab about midway down the tank. This tab ties the tank to the deck stringer. Also looks like I have a leak around the gauge sending unit. I pulled it and removed the sponge gasket and cleaned everything up and re-installed with Permatex, but looks like I will need to redo and make a gasket as it is still leaking. My port tank also leaks, but I drained it and was operating off the starboard tank. I am considering cutting up the floor in the main cabin and installing a new tank there and abandoning the tanks under the aft deck - has anyone done this? I could use a weight shift as this boat is really stern heavy with my 225 Honda 4 stroke and 9.9 kicker hanging about 30" aft of the stern.

Any feedback would be appreciated.

 

[ambiance]

Update. Port tank repair 1996 2530. Fuel leaks developed at both weld on tabs at top mid-tank location. Cut hole in deck to match outline of future deck hatch, cut off the tabs, drill-stopped the cracks, cleaned tank to bare metal, applied generous amount of epoxy (PC-7), reinforced with new aluminum angle iron imbedded in epoxy, installed new deck hatch. Sand and clean all surfaces with acetone Prior to applying epoxy. The weld tabs are a crappy detain as the welding removes some of the parent material thinning the tank and they create a “hard” spot which when flexed over the years forms a crack.

 

[warthog5]

I pulled it and removed the sponge gasket and cleaned everything up and re-installed with Permatex, but looks like I will need to redo and make a gasket as it is still leaking. My port tank also leaks, but I drained it and was operating off the starboard tank. I am considering cutting up the floor in the main cabin and installing a new tank there and abandoning the tanks under the aft deck - has anyone done this?

Well What "Permatex" did you use? As to the rest....Sorry But that would be about the dumbest thing you could do.

#1 Your boat can't be running true IE: Listing, due to fuel in only one side.
#2 The boat was designed to have weight "Where" the tanks are at now.
#3 The tanks are 24yrs old.....It's Time.

Cut the deck....Remove the tanks....Have tanks built to match.....Wipe the tanks down with wax & Grease remover using 2 rag method....DA sand the tanks with 80gt....Wipe the tanks down with wax & Grease remover using 2 rag method again. ....Roll 2 coats of Coal Tar Epoxy on the tanks......At this time ALL fuel hoses and hardware get Replaced.......Deck gets replace.....Cockpot gets recoated...Gellcoat or painted.

Do the Job right.....Don't Screw the boat up!