Proud new owner

[te102056]

. I bought a 1978 36' Albin about a week ago and have been learning a whole lot about operating and driving the boat. I was lucky to have all of the manuals and history on the boat from the day it was bought. I was also lucky that most of its history has been under cover so the big problems with teak decks etc. aren't a problem with this boat. I was wondering though about the fuel tanks. Do they rust from the inside out or from the water that sets on top from leaks etc?
My first trip is 477 miles from Chattanooga to Kentucky Dam. It is slow going but I am learning as I go. Never locked through before and was really scared at first but now have locked through six times.

[jcollins]

te102056,
Welcome to AOG and congratulations on your purchase.

[RicM]

Welcome and congratulations. We did Lake Okeechobee last January, our first time through locks, and I was amazed at how easy it is after the first one. The first one is very intimidating, but the principle is really a simple one once you see it in action. Most of the lock tenders are very helpful and pleasant, especially in the slow season when they are bored.

[jleonard]

Do they rust from the inside out or from the water that sets on top from leaks etc?

Most often from the top

[bccanucker]

Welcome to the group.
Re your tank leak question. When I was shopping for my trawler last year the info absorbed was that Taiwanese boats have a tendancy that the teak decks will leak and take out the deck underneath and if you dont get it fixed soon enough the water then goes through to the top of the tanks and rusting them out then goes down to the stringers and takes them out. The other caution being that windows leak and need to be rebedded.
The main culpret here being fresh water not seawater.
When we bought the 36' my surveyor had me afraid to wash the boat!!