02 center ballast tank removal

[t.franscioni]

Removing the center hard tank in my 02 SANTE. Iv read articles about cutting it out but decided I have the time over winter to remove it in one piece in case I ever wanted to put it back in if boat is ever sold in the future.

Removing the gas tank was not a big deal. Then disconnected all the ballast tank hoses and the thru hull water intake for the center ballast tank. Removed the aluminum brackets on the port and starboard that keep the tank locked in and prevent it from sliding backwards. With everything removed that was clearly visable to me I went to slide the ballast tank out and it slid back about 2" and stopped abruptly with no give whatsoever. Feels like it is hitting something solid like another aluminum bracket or bolt or something. Is there another bracket or bolt in the front that is holding this tank in place? Is there a detent molded into the tank that locks in with the hull and I just have really yank on it to pull it out of the detent?

[barefootinjimmy]

I have a 2005 SANTE. I have removed the gas tank and the front belly ballast to route new steering cable. I seem to remember the same issue. Get in the bilge look forward using a light. Did you remove the water input through hull fitting?

[t.franscioni]

Yes through hull fitting removed, fill hose, drain hose, vent hose, sender/pump electrical disconnected and port/starboard rear brackets all removed. Weird because with everything removed and disconnected I yank on it to slide it back and it feels like there's still something solid holding it in.

[Chuck]

Did you ever find anything out? I'm ready to take a sawzall to it now..... Thanks!

[t.franscioni]

Yes come to find out I had to remove the bow carpeted floor panel. It’s difficult because the screws are covered by the carpet so you really almost have to sacrifice the carpet and cut it up and tear it off so you can see the screw heads that secure the floor panel to the hull. Once that panel is removed you should see a screw that is securing the front of the belly ballast. Remove this screw and then the belly ballast finally pulled out easily. Had to remove the fuel tank though to slide it back far enough to get it out. If you don’t plan on reusing the belly ballast tank it much much easier to just cut out.

[Chuck]

Yes come to find out I had to remove the bow carpeted floor panel. It’s difficult because the screws are covered by the carpet so you really almost have to sacrifice the carpet and cut it up and tear it off so you can see the screw heads that secure the floor panel to the hull. Once that panel is removed you should see a screw that is securing the front of the belly ballast. Remove this screw and then the belly ballast finally pulled out easily. Had to remove the fuel tank though to slide it back far enough to get it out. If you don’t plan on reusing the belly ballast tank it much much easier to just cut out.

Thanks, I’ll do that.


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[Chuck]

Yes come to find out I had to remove the bow carpeted floor panel. It’s difficult because the screws are covered by the carpet so you really almost have to sacrifice the carpet and cut it up and tear it off so you can see the screw heads that secure the floor panel to the hull. Once that panel is removed you should see a screw that is securing the front of the belly ballast. Remove this screw and then the belly ballast finally pulled out easily. Had to remove the fuel tank though to slide it back far enough to get it out. If you don’t plan on reusing the belly ballast tank it much much easier to just cut out.

I just unscrewed the carpeted piece, it’s solid fiberglass under there. Maybe it changed within a few years? ♂️

Here’s a picture of under my bow seat. No space at all.


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[t.franscioni]

No mine was same at that. Send a picture of the top with the bow floor panel removed I’ll show you where I accessed the ballast screw from.

[Chuck]

No mine was same at that. Send a picture of the top with the bow floor panel removed I’ll show you where I accessed the ballast screw from.

I unscrewed the Phillips head screw. When I lifted up the carpeted panel, it was all fiberglass under there. No other screws or anything. I’ll take a quick picture in a bit though.


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[t.franscioni]

There should be a gap between the fiberglass bow floor and the rest of the carpeted floor. On the vertical edge of that carpeted part dig around and there should be a Phillips head sunk down in the pile of the carpet. That’s the screw holding the ballast in.

[Alcottawa]

Here's a real hail mary reviving a couple year old thread... I plan on pulling the center tank in my 02 SANTE and replacing with the 650 seat sac bag lots of folks seem to be using. I was definitely planning on cutting out the tank, will this screw and bracket cause problems with the bag potentially or can it be cut out through the bilge as well? I'm not fully keen on pulling up that panel in the bow if it means sacrificing the carpet to get it done but if it means not having a ballast bag get shredded up I'm likely willing to go the hard way and pull the fuel tank to get it all out in once piece.

[t.franscioni]

You can crawl under and cut/grind away the screw and bracket no problem.

[Alcottawa]

So I just finished my center tank removal...
I couldn't find the screw at the bow end of the tank, pulled up the floor, peeled back carpet,,, nothing. Turns out in my 02 SANTE there wasn't a screw in the front, all I had to do was pull the tank back as I cut it out. This was definitely one of the bigger pita jobs I've done for fun haha. Thanks for all the help guys!

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