Foaming in your fuel tank, maybe not a good idea?
01-10-2014, 06:20 PM
#1
Crazy Energy
Platinum MemberThread Starter
iTrader: (4)
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Oklahoma God's country no one else wants it.
Posts: 4,334
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like
on
1 Post
Foaming in your fuel tank, maybe not a good idea?
I'm think this makes pretty good since, If you ever dug out a foamed in fuel tank it makes even more since.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sAzpPO4Hn7I
Results of a foamed tank
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=578vjHfcmJg
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sAzpPO4Hn7I
Results of a foamed tank
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=578vjHfcmJg
Last edited by Velocity Vector; 01-10-2014 at 06:27 PM.
01-10-2014, 06:50 PM
#2
Registered
iTrader: (1)
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Ontario, OH
Posts: 2,465
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
It depends on the boat and how it is used. My 100 gallon fuel tank wasn't foamed in originally. At least 3 of the 6 tabs that were used to bolt it into the stringers were broken off of the tank (22 years old at the time of removal), other than that the tank was in very good condition both inside and out. I did a lot of research prior to re-installing the tank, there are a lot of differing points of view. The conclusion I came to is there is nothing wrong with foaming in the tank, provided a few extra steps are taken.
A couple different options:
1) Coat the raw aluminum tank prior to installation, preferably with coal tar epoxy - I used Por-15 with an aluminum prep because I had it on hand already.
2) Fiberglass around the entire tank prior to installation - preferably with a fuel resistant resin
Then seal off the fuel cavity so its very hard for water to get in there. I did not cut a drain hole in the bottom of my cavity, and sealed the floor piece that covers it after it was installed. I also foamed around the filler/vent hose and pickup hose where they ran thru the stringers/bulkheads, I do have access holes to look in there, but even after getting stuck in the rain I have yet to find any water in the tank cavity (fingers crossed).
Personally I like the way Superboat does there tanks from looking at some of their build threads. The tank is installed, then foamed into place, then the foam is cut even with the top of the tank, then the tank/foam is fiberglassed over. Completely isolated, no air voids and very secure.
[ATTACH=CONFIG]516113[/ATTACH][ATTACH=CONFIG]516112[/ATTACH]
A couple different options:
1) Coat the raw aluminum tank prior to installation, preferably with coal tar epoxy - I used Por-15 with an aluminum prep because I had it on hand already.
2) Fiberglass around the entire tank prior to installation - preferably with a fuel resistant resin
Then seal off the fuel cavity so its very hard for water to get in there. I did not cut a drain hole in the bottom of my cavity, and sealed the floor piece that covers it after it was installed. I also foamed around the filler/vent hose and pickup hose where they ran thru the stringers/bulkheads, I do have access holes to look in there, but even after getting stuck in the rain I have yet to find any water in the tank cavity (fingers crossed).
Personally I like the way Superboat does there tanks from looking at some of their build threads. The tank is installed, then foamed into place, then the foam is cut even with the top of the tank, then the tank/foam is fiberglassed over. Completely isolated, no air voids and very secure.
[ATTACH=CONFIG]516113[/ATTACH][ATTACH=CONFIG]516112[/ATTACH]
Last edited by c_deezy; 01-10-2014 at 06:55 PM.
