How to Repair a Marine Plastic Fuel Tank

Marine plastic fuel tanks are generally made from fiberglass. There are a multitude of patch kits on the market for the repair of anything from a small pinhole to a good-sized crack in this type of fuel tank. You can purchase these kits from marine suppliers. Some of the kits come with a tape-like patching compound, and some are more like putty. Regardless of the type you choose, proper surface preparation will make the difference in the life of your patch.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• 320-grit sandpaper
• Patch kit for marine usage with plastic fuel tanks
• Marine-grade fiberglass cleaner
• Marine-grade fiberglass degreaser
• Putty knife (optional, depending on kit type)
• UV light (optional, depending on kit type)
• Scrub brush
• Bucket

1. Scrub the area to be patched using warm water, fiberglass cleaner and the scrub brush.

2. Allow the washed area to dry.

3. Scrub the patch area with the scrub brush and the fiberglass degreaser and allow the area to dry.

4. Sand the area to be patched. The idea is to remove any shine and rough up the area so that the patch has a better surface to adhere to.

5. Wash the area again with the cleaner, water and scrub brush in order to remove any sanding dust. Allow the area to dry thoroughly.

6. Apply the patch material, either by removing the backing if your patch is a tape product or with the putty knife if your kit contains a putty-like substance. Be certain to make the patch cover over at least 1 1/2 inches wider than the crack in all directions.

7. Allow the patch to dry according to packaging directions. Some patch kits will require you to expose your patch to UV light. Simply leave your patch in direct sunlight, if possible. If you are indoor, or the sun is otherwise inaccessible, you will need to use a UV lightbulb for this purpose.

References

• Crack patching information

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