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Six fuel tank

Posted: October 11th, 2017, 8:20 am
by williamnugent
We’ll, it’s been a great season and I’ve learned a lot. Boat’s out of the water now. Winter’s coming.
One issue I need help with...
My ‘96 355 Aft Cabin has an “Auxillary” fuel tank. I had inadvertently filled it (via the port aft access port) a year ago when I bought the boat. I tried to use the fuel in the tank this season only to completely gum up the fuel filters to both engines. I’m not surprised considering how difficult it was to find the selector valve under the salon sofa. My hunch is that the fuel in that tank has been sitting there for years.
Now I simply want to pump it out and not use the tank, but I can’t find it.
Does anyone know how I access the Auxillary fuel tank on a 355 Aft Cabin (1996)?

Re: Six fuel tank

Posted: October 11th, 2017, 8:31 am
by g36
aft aux tank will be under the swim platform but why not just connect a small electric fuel pump up to the fuel line coming from it to the fuel selector valve if you can get to it and just extract it from there into portable gas containers. on my 405 which is similiar there is access panels at the aft wall that allows access to my fuel tanks in the swim platform should be pretty similiar on your 355

something like this
https://www.ebay.com/i/172886258914?chn=ps&dispItem=1

Re: Six fuel tank

Posted: October 11th, 2017, 10:12 am
by williamnugent
Thank for the advice. I never thought about looking under the swim platform.
Bill

Re: Six fuel tank

Posted: October 12th, 2017, 4:50 am
by mjk1040
The head board/wall of the aft berth can be disassembled to get there too. But from what I have read its a PITA! Good luck, as I think I am going to have to do the same with our 1998 355 aux. tank.

Re: Six fuel tank

Posted: October 12th, 2017, 8:55 am
by williamnugent
Admiral,
Before you disassemble anything, make sure you have a separate Auxillary tank. I’ve spoken to 2 other owners of “vintage” 355 ACs (‘94, ‘99), and including my ‘96 all have had different arrangements of their fuel tanks. Mine was the only one with this ridiculous isolated tank.
Bill

Re: Six fuel tank

Posted: October 12th, 2017, 12:52 pm
by tomschauer
My 1998 355 also has the aux tank in the platform. Access is through the aft cabin.

Re: Six fuel tank

Posted: October 12th, 2017, 8:21 pm
by mjk1040
Oh I have and aux. aft tank. I hope we are all taking about the same model? 1998 355 MY/AC! You listed your boat as a 1996 AC 35?

Re: Six fuel tank

Posted: October 12th, 2017, 10:32 pm
by Lyndon670
I installed underwater lights in my buddies 95 355 and had to access through and over the aux tank in the swim platform of his boat. As with what other members have said, access through panel on aft bulkhead.

Re: Six fuel tank

Posted: November 4th, 2017, 9:06 pm
by buster53
Do you 355/356 owners actually use the aux tank?
It's a fair chance my next boat will be a 356 and I would have no use for the tank. I assume it would be a major PIA to remove it.

Re: Six fuel tank

Posted: November 5th, 2017, 9:35 am
by tomschauer
I use mine, only because its there and I want to keep it clean and active. I do plan to change the generator so it draws from the aux tank and not the port. I would then just use the aux tank for the gen and run 20-50 gallons through it a year.