If a tank has to be replaced it may have to be removed in sections due to the structural access limitations of the vessel.
A new tank may even require large deck sections to be removed to gain access to the origional location... or several smaller tanks have to be fabricated and placed one after the other due to access issues.
A new Fiberglass Resin has been developed to allow an easy in-place construction of the fuel tank that enables use of all available volume. That is... additional space that could not previously be used by the typical large box like tanks, can now be considered for extra fuel capacity.
This new construction concept requires a small amount of framing work to smooth out the usual ups and downs found on boats due to the ship's keel or ribs.
Method:
A piece of fiberglass cloth is cut to the appropriate size and dipped into the Resin... it is then held or tacked in place and immediately cured with a hand held UV Light source.
Additional wet fiberglass pieces are added and immediately cured to form the four sides and bottom... the top is left open for access to build up the structure and increase the strength of the tank. Of course, one could build the sides, back, top and bottom leaving the front face open for ease of access and make "it" the last piece of construction.
The coating of each new fiberglass layer has great bonding ability with the previously cured layer... if the layers are staggered so as not to create weak corners an immense strength can be achieved with this method.
No special molds of forms are required as the first layers of cured fiberglass create the structure upon which the new tank will be created.
This new resin absorbs no water, diesel, gasoline or ethanol nor do acids affect the cured material.
Internal baffles will have to be created (made easily with the instant cure resin) and fittings installed and sealed.
No special ventilation is required as the resin has ZERO VOCs and therefore nothing to volatilize.