18' Fuel Tank Compartment

[follybob]

And a quick question - is there a way that fuel or water can get from the tank compartment to the bilge? I want to get leaked fuel out of there.

[erebus]

When I replaced the fuel tank on my 1975 18' last year, I was surprised to find the fuel tank coffin a sealed box.
No drain, or any way for moisture or liquids to get to the bilge.
Good and bad I guess.
A fuel leak cant drain to the bilge, but then neither can any nuisance water. I'm pretty sure that's why the original aluminum tank rotted out, sitting in a nice swampy mess for 40 years.

[follybob]

Dang. Smells like gas still

[erebus]

Heres what it looked like after I got my tank out.
My fuel fill looked a lot like the one you yanked out. Rotten, rotten, rotten!
The coffin was filled with gas soaked foam at the front end, and a swampy fuel saltwater mess at the other end.
Horrible.