Need aluminum or plastic fuel tank
 

My tank has a hole in it! :(

With todays gas prices I can't afford any of spilling into the bilge.

Anyone have any recomendations on where I can buy or have made a new tank. The tank holds 150 Gallons and is roughly 2' wide X 14" deep X 8' long. I would prefer to find someone in New England to avoid shipping costs but I will take any suggestions.

Thanks
502ss

Can't help you with a tank, but I hope your comment of "today's gas prices I can't afford any spilling into the bilge" was made in jest.
That's a very dangerous situation, as well as just asking for EPA problems when the bilge dumps it over the side.

I bring this up partly because I received a reply letter today from our Senator in regards to the current proposed regulations to not allow dumping of any water from recreational boats - fortunately he is in agreement that the proposal is too stringent.

Yes, It was a joke! The boat is actaully sitting my yard as I renovate it! Just one more thing I found that needs replacing :(

I thought so.
I've seen your other post's on your boat's, and I know you're pretty serious about how they are put together, and I didn't want to leave that hanging out there without a clarificartion.
Too many people read this board, and they could read that the wrong way.
Good luck in the fuel tank search - sorry I can't be of any help.

Hey BIG Daddy i'll look thru the reciepts at the shop tomorrow and get you the web site for poly tanks and damn reasonable too

Sweet! You Da Man!

:D

Hey BIG Daddy
http://www.marinepowerservice.com/
732-751-1200 Easy people to deal with and they have everything ...good luck

Thanks man, I will give them a call! :cool-smiley-027:

502 let me know how that goes. I have to buy one as well. I may have one made up for me local (Gloucester, MA). Airtime on the board had found a place in MA that makes them as well. Maybe we can get a better price if we both go in there together.

Jon

Jon,

Whats up with your tank?

I have to get mine removed so I can find out why it's leaking. Someone on this board sent me a private message. He is out of manchester, CT. He said he can repair the origional or make a new one. Again maybe we can go together and get a better deal! I am going to try to get the tank out today, I will let you know

...Jim

Good luck getting that tank out without damageing it...Mine fought me every step of the way. We ended up running a chain from the filler neck to the sending unit hole and putting a 4x4 across the boat and using a chain fall. It looked like a coffin when it came out.

Hey BIG Daddy did they help ya out ??? i needed 2 tanks and was gettin prices of 700.00 - 900.00 each ,and they were like 250.00 shipped

No luck man, I called them and the biggest tank the can get is 55 Gallons, They said the company they used to get there larger tanks from went out of business! Thanks Anyway

Did you have to remove the rear seat/firewall?

Is the tank actually bolted in anywhere or just foamed in?

I was kind of hoping you would chime in, considering you have been down this restoration road with the same boat!

Rear seat needs to come out...no bolts...just alot of foam. Use a big pry bar to scoop the foam down the sides of the tank. Then when you have the sides clear pour a bunch of acetone in there to break up the foam on the bottom of the tank. That is the hard part-trying to get the bottom foam to pop loose.

Is the tank rectangular? or does it have angles on the bottom?

If I have to replace the tank which is the direction I am leaning in I may just use brute force to rip it out, kind like you did, I have a chain fall that I will attempt to rip it out with!

It has about an 8" flat spot on the bottom then angles. When I pulled my old tank out it was a real mess. I ended up going with a little thicker material on the new tank. He was able to make my tank wit one sheet of alum. which helped out on the cost of the tank. Make sure you have the new tank built with baffels. Also I took the time to prime and paint the new tank before I foam it into place.

Boy does this look like a real bear to get out!

I took the rear seat out but it looks like I may have to cut the firewall(the fiberglass that sepeartes the engine compartment from the passenger compartment. This looks like a real suck pill!

It will come out without cutting the firewall...You have to lift from the front of the tank. Of all the stuff I did on mine the fuel tank was the worst part.

ok, Thanks! I will let you know how I make out!

Eddie,

Do you remember which brand of expanding foam you used. I found this stuff and it seems like it will do the trick.

http://www.marinefoam.com/polyuretha...ink_type=image

Thanks
Jim

I think I used evercoat...But the stuff you found will work great. I am sure you will use a couple of gallons.

I might be a little late to this conversation but last summer I pulled my tank out. I had to cut the floor and back seat but left the super structure intact.

I had a custom tank made identical to my original from a manufacturer in Florida for about $1300 and shipped.

I can share my experience with you, I took a lot of pictures through each step in order to post here later.

Let me know what you need and I will be glad to help in any way. and I used a 2 part 2lb.foam but I need to look at the invoice for the name.

Good Luck.
David

Your not too late, I havent pulled the trigger yet on a new tank. Do you happen to remember the name of the company in FL where you hade the tank made?

Thanks
jim

Make sure you use at leaste a 2 pound foam. I am still looking for a tank myself. I am considering a stainless tank.... Will be more costly but there will be no concern with the Ethenol.... I read some stuff that Ethenol can corrode alluminum as well!!!! The other thing that some one mentioned to me was the use of a bladder tank?

Jon

As for the foam. I am going to get mine from Composites 1. I have an account with them. I am sure that since I have to buy in bulk that I will have left over. Maybe we can go in on the foam and you can grab the left over. The price that you are showing on that other site seems a bit high to me. Of course last time I purchased the stuff was a few years back so.....

Jon,

I also did some research regarding ethanol and what I read was 10% ethanol by volume is accectable for aluminum tanks but any more then that and you have problems, I have only seen fuel with 10% ethanol being sold so I figured aluminum would be fine. In regards to the foam, I have calculated that I will need 7.5 cu.ft of foam to fill the space around my new tank, how much were you planning to buy and when do you plan to get an updated price?

I decided to go with a local guy to build my tank, he built my jet boat tank a few years back and did a great job! He quoted me a price of $900 for a 131 gallon tank. I called a place in Jersey and they wanted $1150 + $200 to get it shipped to my house.

I can give you his number if interested, It would probably be an hour ride for you!

...Jim

Hour ride is no problem for me. I am waiting on a quote from a guy in RI now. I guess the question is are they going to get rid of Ethenol OR are they going to start to go with a higher percentage.... That is the scare obviously. The guy in RI that I am waiting on is going to quote me a allum. vs. stainless option.

Jon

I heard rumors it was going away! When do you think you will have a price? I would be interested in what your guy comes in with for a price both alum. and stainless Let me know!

...Jim

Ok just got some more info. Stainless is illegal if you use gas. So Stainless is out...

This guy was going to use 3/16ths thick alluminum and would be around 1400. So I guess we would need to compair the thickness and quality of the alluminum that they are using...

My price was for 1/8 and I believe it was 5052 alum. 6061 is no good for bending, it tends to fracture at the bends. I have been told 1/8 is fine for capacities up to 150 gallons, No need in the additional weight, I already have a heavy hull! The tank will have 3 baffles in it.

...Jim

I stepped up to 3/16th.

btw

Here is the design. The capacity is approx. 131 gallons down from the original 150 which will make the tank a liitle shorter and easier to install in the boat and take out if god for bid it ever has to come out.

Mine is damn close. Little easier because I would not have to have the top bevel in there. I will try and get over to the shop ASAP and get you my measurements. Maybe we can get him to deal a little if he can make the parts all together for 2 tanks. May have a buddy that is going to need one for a 18 Donzi soon also. Could be looking at 3.

Is this guy insured and what not for marine tanks?

Jon

I am not sure about insurance, I mean he has insurance I am sure but he is is a metal fabricator, he doesn't specialize in marine tanks. What about your guy in RI?, Any idea how much for 1/8 alum? What about senders and stuff? I ordered an centroid type, I have one in my jet boat and love it!