Removing fuel tank 97 202 B&B

[BigMouth]

Please tell me this is possible? I believe I have the 41 gallon model, one piece. I've remove batteries, oil tank and all connections. It just doesn't look like it'll fit through the hatch.

[kris_tx]

It should come out. VinceJE recently took his out for the transom rebuild.

[siskiyoucrash]

I think it is closer to 50 gal. but it will come out

[pmgoffjr]

Real question is not if it will or not, but why???

[kris_tx]

That is a good question.

[Mr Gambler]

Yeah Brian, why?????

[BigMouth]

Have you guys been paying attention?!?! LoL! If it wasn't for bad luck I wouldn't have any luck at all, I totaled my beloved 203 and truck during one July weekend in Las Vegas.

Then shortly after buying my 97 202 B&B I've had to spent over $6K on fixing stuff. The air compressor went out. Don Weed found four out of six injectors were bad or marginal, F'it! replaced them all, the fuel rails were crudded up so badly he recommended they be replaced, the VSC had damage to the diaphragms and was also crudded up to the point that it required a rebuild.

After all that my wife and I felt relieved that 2013 was finally behind us and maybe our luck will change. Two hours after the New Year began my mother-in-law died and my wife had to fly back to Singapore. With flight and long drives to replace truck and boat as well as a number of other money robbing problems, we've had money pouring out of every orifice we own or possess in the last year!

I've been stranded on the water due to various problems three times! Last time out it appeared to be a simple wiring problem. Upon examining the problem I realized I have ten pounds of shitty oily wiring in a five pound bag. Dead-end live wires, old unused wires, shorts, blown fuses and with so little room to work it just seemed a better idea to take out everything and replace all the old wire, organize and string new wire before the boat burned to the ground, along with my newly built boat shed and our home next to it.

I also decided to convert over to Smartcraft gauges, clean out the oily dirt, garbage in the bilge. Not to mention all the transom talk/scare going on around here that with my luck, I had better check the transom and jack bolts before I need to replace rather than repair. I'm not looking forward to the news.

I want to change the way the rear hatch opens. As it is now, i.e. it opens towards the bow, it is next to impossible when on the water to get into the rear area to check/repair, jump dead batteries or get something stored back there.

Besides fishing sucks and that's the best reason to take down a boat to do repairs, changes or just get it setup the way I want so that I can relax while I fish and not have to listen to my friend "Mr Grumbler" on the four to six hour troll back to the ramp.

[BigMouth]

I think it is closer to 50 gal. but it will come out

Can't find a reliable number or the Coast guard required plaque that states how many gallons the fuel tank holds.

It should come out. VinceJE recently took his out for the transom rebuild.

That's good to know but did it come out before or after cutting the transom out?

[kris_tx]

97 202 has a 41 gallon tank.

[BalsaBee]

I want to change the way the rear hatch opens. As it is now, i.e. it opens towards the bow, it is next to impossible when on the water to get into the rear area to check/repair, jump dead batteries or get something stored back there.

You better hope you never forget to latch it down.

[MMosher]

Mines got a 31 gal

[BigMouth]

97 202 has a 41 gallon tank.

That's what I thought but have found different numbers using the "Wayback Machine" and other sources.

No worries, rethinking this I guess the point is moot since I've drained the tank and will note the capacity at next fill up.

Mines got a 31 gal

Quite a difference between the two, do you have under-seat storage?

You better hope you never forget to latch it down.

It fits real snug and flush with the deck but yes that is a consideration. However, it will assist greatly in "Breech Stops!"

[BalsaBee]

It fits real snug and flush with the deck but yes that is a consideration. However, it will assist greatly in "Breach Stops!"

If the lid gets to bouncing a little bit in rough water you might just find out!

[Lea]

The 97 brochure shows the 202s (both Elite and Tournament series) as having a 41 gal tank. It also shows an option of an 18 gal auxillary tank, which eliminates the under-seat cooler.

Matt, the 96 brochure shows 31 gals like you have. I guess they decided to go bigger for 97.

[VinceJE]

For the record... Mine has the 2 tank configuration, so the main/rear tank is smaller. I think 27 gallons.??

At any rate, mine isn't too hard to remove. I uninstall the gas spring so the lid can open wider. It's a tight fit & seems to only come out & go back in one way. The harder part is getting the hoses all aloose without cutting. I cut mine becuase I went ahead and replaced them while I was in there. That's just how I roll.

[Lea]

Vince, your main tank should be 31 gals and your aux tank 18. That's according to the 1996 brochure. They went to a larger main tank in 1997.

[VinceJE]

Thanks for the info.

Honestly... I close my eyes at the pump because I don't want to know how much I burned in a day. I pretty much empty the main most full days out.

[Collin C.]

Have you guys been paying attention?!?! LoL! If it wasn't for bad luck I wouldn't have any luck at all, I totaled my beloved 203 and truck during one July weekend in Las Vegas.

Then shortly after buying my 97 202 B&B I've had to spent over $6K on fixing stuff. The air compressor went out. Don Weed found four out of six injectors were bad or marginal, F'it! replaced them all, the fuel rails were crudded up so badly he recommended they be replaced, the VSC had damage to the diaphragms and was also crudded up to the point that it required a rebuild.

After all that my wife and I felt relieved that 2013 was finally behind us and maybe our luck will change. Two hours after the New Year began my mother-in-law died and my wife had to fly back to Singapore. With flight and long drives to replace truck and boat as well as a number of other money robbing problems, we've had money pouring out of every orifice we own or possess in the last year!

I've been stranded on the water due to various problems three times! Last time out it appeared to be a simple wiring problem. Upon examining the problem I realized I have ten pounds of shitty oily wiring in a five pound bag. Dead-end live wires, old unused wires, shorts, blown fuses and with so little room to work it just seemed a better idea to take out everything and replace all the old wire, organize and string new wire before the boat burned to the ground, along with my newly built boat shed and our home next to it.

I also decided to convert over to Smartcraft gauges, clean out the oily dirt, garbage in the bilge. Not to mention all the transom talk/scare going on around here that with my luck, I had better check the transom and jack bolts before I need to replace rather than repair. I'm not looking forward to the news.

I want to change the way the rear hatch opens. As it is now, i.e. it opens towards the bow, it is next to impossible when on the water to get into the rear area to check/repair, jump dead batteries or get something stored back there.

Besides fishing sucks and that's the best reason to take down a boat to do repairs, changes or just get it setup the way I want so that I can relax while I fish and not have to listen to my friend "Mr Grumbler" on the four to six hour troll back to the ramp.

Sounds like you have had a heck of a time with this new rig. Once you get all the bugs worked out you will enjoy it even more.
If im not mistaken didn't that boat come from a guy on here? I remember the color and the pics of the non skid Mat.

[BigMouth]

Well the verdict is in. The fuel tank from a 97 202 Bass & Bay can not be removed without cutting fiberglass.

Grrrrrrr . . .

I've also noticed that the theme of walling in areas, with fiberglass, inside the boat is also done in the fuel/battery compartment. Most areas in my 203 were open on the inside which facilitated access to areas and for running wires and cables. Not so on my 202 B&B with removable consoles. Some have said this is due to those removable consoles but I think it's also has something to do with it being a Bass&Bay model. Did they add more fiberglass to theses B&B models to strengthen them?

In any case my plan is to remove all of the old wiring and replace with smartcraft gauges and a smartcraft starter switch. Run a thick lead from the positive and negative on the main battery to a fuse block up underneath the console. The only thing I need to run from there is a horn, fishfinders and the bow lights. The only other lead i'll need to run is for the manual bilge. I think I can get everything run with about six wires, maybe eight, instead of the godawful spaghetti mess I have now.

Some men tread where angels fear to go, wish me luck.

[kris_tx]

The regular 97 202 battery compartment has walls on side with small access hole on each side.