And how it all began...
Every once in a blue moon W/ would say she smelled diesel. I knew inside the engine room I would get diesel from when changeing the filters. I didn't think much of it. Hauling out in Krabi Thailand things changed.
The bilge pump ran and in the bit of water there was some diesel. On the hard we investigated. I opened up the hatch and the diesel diaper we kept in there was full. We pulled it out and watched. The sump slowly filled with another liter of diesel overnight. In the blog you can see how it was mixed with water from a leaking fresh water pump - since replaced.
We developed a Rub Goldberg system of removing it and containing it. Over the time hauled we captured several liters. What tank was leaking? There began our hunt. We couldn't see under tanks. I checked all the fittings and none indicted a leak. I made sure by a slight tightening of the connections and the inspection port. I ordered an endoscope to be able to look under the tanks in the bilge.
Fortunately we were about half full of diesel. I figured I could move fuel from one tank to another. I first emptied the starboard tank. We still collected a liter or a little more of diesel. Day one was a bust. Ok... put fuel in the starboard tank and empty out the port tank. Two days later we had our answer. No more diesel in the bilge. Port tank is leaking.
What to do? If we were in a country with the vast boating resources it would be easy. We're in Malaysia. Now, there is nothing wrong with Malaysia. My research indicates the better way to go is to replace the black iron tanks with Aluminium. Thus,we need a good Al welder that can get the correct Al and pressure test the tanks. Plus, we don't have the tools and workspace to do the work ourselves. Nor maybe do we want to anymore. Thailand does; and we know of a place.
Phuket Inter Wood Work Company, owned and hands on operated by Nai is excellent. She has completed projects for others we know and trust. We made an appointment and headed off to Thailand. Whew! Haulout at Phuket Boat Lagoon was expensive. And we needed a place to stay. Luckily, a long stay at the NH resort was within our budget. So here we are, ensconced on land while experts begin the process of cabinetry, fuel, and tank removal. Then; eventually make it all whole again.