Marine Fuel Tank

[CyberianHusky]

Does anyone on this board, manufacture Marine Fuel Tanks? My Aluminum tank has a rust/corrosion hole in it. I didn't know Aluminum would rust.

I think I would rather have a new tank made, than fix this one. I'd hate to fix it, only for some other spot to rust through. I had to tear the floor out of the boat to get this one out, and I want to go back with another Aluminum tank or maybe a plastic one.

If you make these tanks, please email me at [email protected]

My Brother-in-Law, who's doing the floor and fiberglass restoration, said there is a company in NC that will build the tank if I send them pictures and specifications.

I posted the following message on a boatowners board.

I'm trying to locate a replacement below deck fuel tank. I may have to have one made. Can you name some sources that you've used for pre-made fuel tanks, or fabrication companies you have used to make a tank? Metal or plastic? I've measured my tank, and will take pictures.

Specs: 25 gal, 27 inch wide, 31 inch long, 8 inch depth at center. U shape tank with 5 inch sides, 8 inch base, 10 inch from base to side.

I guess there's no way to assure another spot wouldn't rust or corrode through, if the present tank was welded?

Thanks for your help.

Don

[bill grooms]

boat tank

Not long ago at work we had a guy come in with a boat tank with the bottom rotted out. He explained that he had to pull the floor to get the tank out. I told the guy that we could replace the whole bottom, and go up the sides about 2 inches. Everything else was in good shape. I cut a good portion of the bottom out to completely clean the interior. After welding, I checked for leaks by putting compressed air in the tank. We use Ivory dish soap mixed with water for testing. It worked great.

[CyberianHusky]

Thanks, I may have to fix the tank. I'll clean it up, and maybe give thought to repairing it, if I can't find something else close enough to work.

BUT IT WON'T BE ME WELDING ON THAT GAS TANK!

Don

[bill grooms]

boat gas tank

If you would rather buy a new tank, you should check with west marine. You would not believe the boat stuff they have. Just go to west marine . com.
good luck

[ChadRat]

there are some metal shaping yahoo groups like groups.yahoo.com/metalshapers and groups.yahoo.com/metalshaping You might be able to find someone close to you that can either build you a new tank or fix your old one.

[CyberianHusky]

Tank being built

Thanks to all who offered advice and responses!! A friend of mine works for a Stainless Steel Fabrication company here, and after talking to his boss, I've decided to make the tank out of SS. I left the tank there, and they can duplicate it.

And the price was about the same as a plastic tank from West Marine or some of the other metal tanks I looked at.

Don

[John Lannon]

Aluminum tanks do not rust " per say" , whats happening in your tank is hydrocarbon buildup. The build up has a caustic effect on on aluminum . What happens is : when fuel passes thru any sort of steel/iron piping it picks up micro fine particles that settle in in the bottom of your fuel tank, and over time has a serious caustic effect.

I was a Engineman in the navy and used to run alot of smaller boats. We had the same problem as you have described.

I did some research and found that micron type filters help to almost elimate the problem entirely.

Stay away from tank coatings... Companies will swear up and down that they are great, but you usually you will end up with a plugged fuel filter at the worst possible moment.

I recommend ......... Racor.......they are the leaders in marine fuel filters and you can and you they will suggest what micron size you will need and GPH flow ( gallons per hour).

[CyberianHusky]

Thanks John,

In this case the tank corroded from the outside.....And I can see this. According to the guy building the new tank, the old tank area did not have a drain that went to the bilge area. This in turn caused lake water to pool around the Aluminum tank. Over a period of time, impurities in the lake water caused corrosion on the tank, leading to it's failure.

This makes perfect sense when you consider that herbicides they sprayed in the water to control hydrilla growth, caused some problems on the Aluminum pontoons, of boats that stayed in the water all the time.

They have since stopped spraying that chemical, and are now relying on Grass Carp fish to help.

Don

[John Lannon]

Cool beans..............glad you found the source of the problem.

[John Lannon]

Zinc oxide is a good outer coating for aluminum..........that will prevent any external contamination of the metal.........and its marine legal when not exposed to the sea directly.

[John Lannon]

ooops .....I meant E-Chrome 880..........this stuf will withstand almost anything.

[Hobart Expert Rock]

CYBERIANHUSKY...........DID YOU GET THAT FUEL TANK FIXED........ I STILL ALSO THINK I WOULD CONSIDER THE MICRON FILTERS...... IN MY DAYS WITH THE NAVY ON C-130'S AND C-141'S WE USED GO- NO- GO GAS FILTERS WITH HUGH MICRON FILTERS IN THEM....... ANY WATER OR MOISTURE IN THE FUEL AND THOSE BABYS WOULD CLAMP SHUT.............. EVEN WHEN I TRANSFERED TO VXE-6 (HELO'S) WE USED THE SAME FILTERS IN THE FUEL DUMPS................................. BE SAFE......................ROCK...
[email protected]

[John Lannon]

Racor has a good website, and thier technical people are outstanding, all you need to know is the approximate gallons per hour you are pumping through the lines.

I see in your post that you are considering Stainless Steel. Its a good choice , but be careful with your fittings, any vibration with stainless and the fittings are a pain to keep tight. But you probably already know that.

Good luck pards, and happy boating.

[CyberianHusky]

Rock,

The tank is being made, and one thing the weldor wanted to change was the ends. He said the original tank was purge welded, and rather than just bring the metal together in the corners and weld it, he wanted to make the ends extend 3/8" and then weld. If I understand him correctly, he sorta means to weld the ends like a tin can or drum...something like that.

He could do that and stay with the actual dimensions, which would mean a slight loss in fuel volume, or extend the front and back 3/8" which made more sense to me if it still fits. That way, the internal tank volume is still the same. I've got to go look at the boat tonight and make sure that won't interfere with anything else.

I REALLY WANT TO ACTUALLY USE MY BOAT FOR THE FIRST TIME THIS YEAR!

I spent one week of vacation rebuiding the wood in the interior, and then another week tearing the tank and floor out. And the worst part is.....If the leaking tank damaged the motor support on the left side, I'm going to have to pull the motor out to rebuild and Re-Glass the motor support! I'm hoping the water/fuel damage didn't go that far.

Don

[CyberianHusky]

Original tank pictures