Pumping diesel fuel from sailboat

[ASOLARE]

I have a sailboat in the MH area and need to empty my fuel tank, which is about 40 gallons of diesel so I can calibrate the tank for a new fuel gauge - the calibration process needs to start from empty. Is there a place or service in Marsh Harbour that can pump the fuel from my tank to another container, and then pump or pour the diesel fuel back into my tank ? Once empty, I would probably take the time & effort to clean the bottom of my fuel tank as well.

Thanks - John

[SamFamAustin]

Something tells me you have a great idea and something ... says hold on here a minute. Maybe this is nothing, but I did something like that on a grouper boat over by Tampa, on Anna Maria. In my case the fuel was contaminated with stinky algae from sitting there too long. It cost a pretty penny to have the fuel disposed, maybe 70 gallons or so. Then I figured out that I couldn't really clean the tank unless I used solvents, since I only had a 2-inch fill pipe to work with. So I put in some recommended "glub-glub" and found that it had stripped all the gunk on the tank surfaces into the tank in nice little, filter-clogging turds. Bad move. Myself, I'd save the fuel calibration thingy for when you get hauled and have some pros around. Just a word of caution -it might be worth the piece of mind.

Sam

[Agur's Wish]

Somebody asked this question on the cruiser's net and I think Patti recommended calling Lou Schneider (?). His number in the Dodge Guide is 367-2043.