Sealing screws

[Homer_Jay]

Just bought my first "real boat" a v19c, after having little tinnys all my life. Anyway i have been busy since i got it cleaning up the interior, re-flowcoating and just tidying things up after about 30 years of dirt, mud, ues and abuse. Anyway getting ready to put everything back in and just wondering what should i seal the screws with so that water doesnt seep in and rot the floor? Also when i removed the under floor fuel tank it was put in with that expanding foam around it. Over time this had just become all water and fuel logged (dangerous with an inboard i am guessing). When i put the tank back in what can i use around it to hold it there? Can i just use rubber mat to stop it rubbing on the floor? Or does it need the foam to take up all the air space so that fuel vapors dont accumulate? I dont know alot about sterndrives and just want to be sure i am doing the right thing and not making a time bomb.

I am glad i found this chatboard, its great and i am sure to be asking plenty of questions as i learn about my new boat.

Homer

[Blackened]

G'day
as for sealing screws and the like, you cannot go past sikaflex. Lots of it where it's needed and you should have no worries. As for the fuel tank, the ones i've seen have just had rubber matting to stop them slip and slide in the available space. Best off checking this bit out as much as you can though.
Dave

[Chimo]

G"day Homer_Jay

I have a seafarer too so I'm assuming that you have a stainless steel tank in your Seafarer, if its not and it is a FRP tank then rubber mat should could be ok. From experience with Seafarers I can tell you that a stainless steel tanks stitting on the FRP bed is not a good move and that eventually electrolysis (pin holes) will give you a fuel leak that with an inboard with a spark could, may, will give you a pretty nice fire if not an explosion if your fuel air ratio in the bilge is in the right range.. What"s your bilge blower like?

Lindsay Fry at Seafarer uses thin strips of teflon not unlike high density cutting boards to support the ss fuel tanks off the FRP bed. That not only prevents electolysis but with a small gap under the tank it allows a freshwater wash out every so often. Personally I'd rather be able to get in easily to check rather than try to seal it off; personal preference tho I guess.

Another option as you do your refurb may be to ring Seafarer, if you quote the boat HIN (stamped on the stern on mine) they should be able to tell you about the boat etc. Not an advert, I don't have shares, I just keep spending. Seriously I find them pretty helpful on most things to do with their boats.

Hope this helps

Chimo

[Blackened]

G'day
Um... chimo. If you're referring to seafarer for homer jay to find out about his boat thats well and good. But last time i checked, a V19C was a haines?
Dave

[Chimo]

Hi Blackened
Dave, thanks for that.
Oops Sorry must have been doing a "brain thingo" thinking of the VC.
Anyway Homer_Jay Forget calling seafarer but their method, if your tank is SS, may still be of interest.
Sorry again for my confused state re the boat breed.

Chimo