SX Internal Tank Leak

[60drivers]

Hey guys,

My buddy and I bought Kevin's (Ktown) SX last season and had a blast with it. We were just learning to board at the time, so the internal leak wasn't much of an issue to us and we hated to bring the boat into the garage during prime boating season. But we wanna tackle this issue now that we have some time and the lake's a bit chilly. So onto my questions...

I haven't had the chance to troubleshoot the leak, so all my knowledge comes from the previous owner's posts on this forum. With his tests he determined the leak to be toward the aft portion of the port tank. I'm gonna install an access panel on the top of the tank (floor of locker) when I determine a safe place for it. Has anyone done this since last season. Most of the posts on this topic are 1-2 yrs old now so hopefully someone has discovered something. Also, why are there two drain holes on either side of the rudder coming from the tanks into the bilge? I'd imagine its a vent for the filling process, but how are these not sources of a leak?

Thanks for any info,
Brian

[60drivers]

Ok after more research I realized those holes in the back are just bilge drains since there is a small air space behind the internal tanks... so if it is leaking into this space, what would be the cons of putting a temp plug on this hole?

[Capt Rick]

Brian,

Send me the hull number: and your phone number I will advise you on determining the leak>

Capt Rick
Toyotav8bt@aol.com

[Johnny B]

I pulled my SX into the driveway with the back lower than the front and removed the plug, floor panels and rear access panel over the rudder.  Then I manually filled each tank one at a time  with the water hose and looked for water draining out to see if the tanks were leaking.  turns out there is a slight leak on the drivers side but nothing significant and the other side is good.  the leak is small enough that I just fill it up and use it, letting the bilge do it's job to handle the leaking water.  I don't know how to access the tank or remove it, so I figured it's not worth the hassle for such a minor leak..   Maybe this winter I will remove the fuel tank and see if I can fix it for good and also replace the inlet pumps while I am in there.  till then, I am just going to enjoy the summer!

[cyclone]

The hole you see back by the rudder are holes in the plastic bilge liner. THe hull and tanks are underneath that, the leak could be coming from another spot. If the leak isn't bad, I'd just leave it filling all the time and let the bilge take care of it. If it leaks so much that the bilge can't keep up or it drains significantly during a set when the inlet is not submersed, then I'd do something.

I think I would test in the driveway by tilting the boat on the trailer with a half full ballast, test in several positions to see if you can isolate the leak to front or back. Then, remove the gas tank, use the existing forward access plate, put shop lights in there to dry it out. 

You can use a camera to inspect the tank, you MIGHT be able to an obvious bad joint. I know in the internal ballast pics that are in the Old Forum Pics photo album you can see sketchy areas that I would do something about if I had leaks.

You could cut a hole in the V drive storage, it would be really nice to know where the supports are in the tank. Pull the sending unit and take pics around it.

I'd cut a hole, if needed, for an 8" deckplate.  I'd put epoxy and fiberglass mat down inside the tank on the hull to tank wall joint, lowest in the bilge. I'd start with the rear, as the water pushes hard back there when the boat is loaded and you are hitting double ups with five people and full tanks, etc. I'd probably cut a back hole, dry the tanks for a couple of days, Reglass as much as you can reach thru the two access plates. If you don't want to do it again, cut a hole in the storage compartment floor and do the front.

Cutting a round hole and putting in a deckplate will increase the strength of the tank if you install it properly.

I think it is an inevitability in an SX to have a tank leak. The hull is very stiff, it takes the chop way better than my Epic 22 did, but I bet, over time, tank leaks will develop. I don't think it is bad design or construction, I think that it is the nature of tanks built from fiberglass. I know the other Epics have reported similar problems, they run fiberglass tanks.

Capt Rick, do you have anything for the record on the insides of these tanks, troubleshooting and repairing leaks etc? What about HIN numbers of boats that have been repaired, etc.? Any tips on places to look at, known issues?

[60drivers]

Thanks for the input guys. I did end up pulling the fuel cell and peeking inside the inspection port. In all the pictures I took, I can't see any obvious leaks up front which makes sense with my troubleshooting with the garden hose in the driveway. What I did discover, though, is the water that is leaking out of the tank is actually coming out of a tiny (<1") section of delaminated fiberglass way back by the bilge drain. I'll prob glass that back up and run some more tests, but I have a feeling I will probably end up with the 8 inch deck plate somewhere as well to tackle it at the source.