2008 Sea Pro 206 Fuel Tank Replacement

[seapro206center]

I have a 2008 Sea Pro 206 that needs a fuel tank. It has a 75-gallon tank. It looks to me that I'll be able to get the tank out without removing the center console. The tank sits about 1 foot under the console and has over 4 inches of clearance between the tank and the deck. I believe I have plenty of room to hoist the tank out by lifting the back of the tank and sliding it out from under the console. It looks to me that Sea Pro also intended it to come out this way by looking at the non-skid outline in the gelcoat where they want you to cut the deck. Has anyone attempted this or am I the ginny pig lol.

[gnrphil]

I replaced my tank in my 2007 220cc (105 gallon), well should I say I had it replaced. Console had to come off on mine as the tank goes under the floor.
I'll find some pics and post them here.

[gnrphil]

I only have pics of the deck back on.

[gnrphil]

Oh and welcome aboard, sorry you're going through this.

[seapro206center]

My 206 is very similar to yours. It looks like the only difference is my tank is shorter. I will soon find out if I can sneak the tank out from under the center console. Right now I'm battling cutting through 5200 under the seat posts.

[seapro206center]

For anyone struggling with 5200 I found keeping it soaked in acetone and working a paint scraper underneath worked like a charm. I first tried piano wire and a heat gun but all that did was start to melt the gelcoat and discolor the stainless. Tomorrow, I cut the floor. Got a quote from Florida Marine Tanks. $1360 for the tank and $320 shipped. 6-7 weeks. 

[gnrphil]

Post some pics of the process if you can, I planned to but they didn't call me when the tank was out so I could have a look inside.

[gnrphil]

Jan 24, 2023 13:08:26 GMT -6 seapro206center said:

My 206 is very similar to yours. It looks like the only difference is my tank is shorter. I will soon find out if I can sneak the tank out from under the center console. Right now I'm battling cutting through 5200 under the seat posts.

Yep I have a larger tank and boat is 12" longer, other than that they are the same.

[seapro206center]

I will start taking pictures. I just finished cutting the floor all the way around. Was only about 1" thick in most places. Used a circular saw along the sides, a jig saw on the corners and a cutoff wheel on the front and back. Now I need to figure out how to separate the floor from the stringers. I tried prying it up but it's attached pretty good. Next, I tried to slide a jack between the tank and the floor, but my jack is about an inch too tall. Now I'm thinking of adding an access hatch above the sending unit so I can use that hole to hoist up on the floor. 

[gnrphil]

Just had a thought, doesn't your tank go under the rear seat? mine does.

[seapro206center]

Tank is out. Took a while to cut all the foam out. Especially around the front of the tank. I had to lay on top of the tank and reach under the center console using a long screwdriver to get the foam out. The tank needed to slide forward about one inch to clear the back. It cleared the center console no problem. The sides were pretty easy. I used a Sawzall extra-long blade and a big pry bar.

To get the floor up I ended up cutting the top of the jack off. Slid it between the tank and deck. Worked great. Note that when cutting the deck go deeper so you go all the way through. I had one place where I didn't, and it tore some of the fiberglass off the bottom of the floor.

I will post some pictures when I upload them.

[seapro206center]

[seapro206center]

[seapro206center]

Yes, I had to remove the rear seat. Seven nuts held it in from underneath. A bit of a pain to get to. 

[freezerfiller]

Wow! that is great you didn't have to remove the console. Keep us posted.

[985crabs]

That's some impressive work there. Great photos. Let's see the install and reseal too.

Welcome aboard.

[gnrphil]

Awesome, thanks for the pics. Are you going to barrier coat the new tank ?.

[seapro206center]

The guy who is building the tank is putting a coal tar epoxy on it. He also suggested putting half inch thick plastic strips along the bottom of the tank, so it doesn't sit in water which I thought was a great idea. The tank actually has barnacles growing on the bottom. I don't see any drain holes in the back so I'm thinking they glassed right over them when they built the boat. 

When I dropped the old tank off to him, he said the new tank will be a lot heavier because it will be made out of .125 aluminum. I said the sticker on the tank says it's .125. He looked at the sticker and then the sending unit hole and said that is not .125. So, I guess RDS was charging Sea Pro for .125 tanks and only using half the thickness aluminum. Scammers everywhere you go these days. 

[seapro206center]

[seapro206center]