Did the tanks on my skater,no big deal. Pull the interior and replace the bladders or coat the tanks and re-glass. Factor in the cost of 6-10k and reduce your offer on the boat you want to buy.Because the tanks are leaking or may leak doesnt render the boat worthless.

Every boat manufacturer has had issues from tanks leaking to stringers and strakes falling off.It happens in every facet of life.
Suck it up.

and when you pull the interior out and find out it cant be re-installed for a couple of reasons , ..so its not just the tank replacement .. Just had mine done ..2005 Quattro ... New tanks new upholstery .. And the manufactuers should be doing something to compensate for using a bladder that has a life span of 4 years with no access to remove and replace .

Still sucking it up and not liking it !

Depending on the model it is not that big of a deal. It sounds worse than it really is, but worst case scenerio you have to pull the bolsters and cut the cockpit floor, but if done right, the section that comes out goes right back in, gets glassed and non skidded, and it is as good as new.

When the floor is cut out, a flange can be glassed in for the old section to sit on, and then you glass it smooth.

man I just priced out a 90gal bladder 2800 bucks, going to stick with aluminum a 3rd the cost.

My reply was for purchasing not current owners.Yes you have a right to be pissed as would I, if my boat was a few yrs old.I would think ATL the tank manufacturer would step up and promote itself a little better.I assume the bladders have no warranty and cant be liable for there product Failing?

Fred, I take it Outerlimits is handling the repairs..???

so all the 39' have this tank in 05 -06? since only a handfull were made..?

There was also a 47 that had the problem. I also heard that the factory billet boat has the same issue.

So what actually happens to the tanks? Do they come apart and leave goo in the fuel system?

I'm not sure, but gas vapors enter the cockpit .

Do 2005 46' have models ATL tanks?

BINGO !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!! :drink::drink::drink::drink:

I agree totally with this statement. If this were a car manufacturer, you'd have a recall in a heartbeat. I can't believe boat builders are sticking customers with the bill for this. :mad:

I do believe that a certain 48 turbine cat has issues with the bladder as well . Essentailly any boat with a bladder is a time bomb if not completly accessible to repair or replace

I dont see that much weight savings using a bladder ?

I don't either.. but when you are going for the lighter/stronger method..supposedly with the Carbon, and auto clave I m guessing everything is being taken into consideration for weight savings. To me, stick with what works.. Im old school.. less callbacks, makes more coin for the builder.

Ive had a ATL in my race car before,I bet there would be maybe 20-30lbs difference.They usually sag when not full.I would guess that the fuel impregnates the rubber,maybe giving off fumes?I wouldn't think the ethanol would hurt it.

How do they vent it?

Ive seen a 28 OB Skater tank leak and the hole side of the boat fiberglass was bubbling,delamalating:eek: It had a one year old new paint job on it. Skater charged him 15k to fix it.

You know Aluminum tanks we would figure about a pound a gallon, Now by the time a bladder is installed with all the fittings straps and containment, the weight savings are not what one thinks, also the boat always smells like a fuel tank.

In Race stuff back in the day we would foam in two round tanks just forward of the main bulkhead these I never saw break, To this day I use that round tank mentality, One weld up the joint incredibly strong tank. Foamed in using two pour foam densities 8 and 4 Pound.Here is a fishing boat going together.

http://i56.tinypic.com/5yxpc0.jpg

what year is that picture?????

Before I came back @2000 I think.

very cool

Sir thank you for the nice comment.

i would think with the shops of today they are all accesible ,send that fckur to Pete @ Skater you'll see how accessable it really is:drink::drink:

Doesn't sound like the weight savings is worth it. Are these bladders cheaper than aluminum tanks?

Here is an old thread:http://www.offshoreonly.com/forums/g...dder-tank.html

Just looking at that picture make me itchy....

LOL we get used to the zillion micro splinters and it is all about the love affair we have with these boats that helps block out the "uncomfortable" conditions.

Basic rules learned in my first marrage: 1.NEVER allow a single piece of your work clothing to EVER get mixed with hers in the wash,or even think about using her car to run for a beer after work.

See now Steve I thought it was when she gets you mad toss your cloths in with her undies. :D

Boat business can be hard on marrages wife#3 now, Asian this time she is quick learner.

Nortech?
 

What about any 43 Nortechs of the same year(s)? Did they use same tanks?
thanks

Good Question ,where is Salesmanship?

:eek::drink:

I've worked with FG before. Never again. F that :)

What ever happened on this.. did OL step up to the plate..

Doesn't look like it. But who really knows?

I received a phone call last night after I posted.. apparently OL is not taking responsibility.. or claiming out of warranty. I asked Fred on this thread, and also didn't get a reply.. that tells me something as well..Where is Fountain40IBCM.. he's on every other OL threads...:grinser010: all I want to know is what year did Mike start using those tanks.. Thanks..

I dont think it's just OL that's not stepping up to the plate... I haven't heard of any effected manufacturer actually covering this.

Given the money spent, at a minimum they should be covering this for the original owners. IMO, the bladder OEM and boat manufacturers should be covering this. There's a lot of finger pointing going on and I can see neither the OEM or the builder wanting to be left holding the bag, but it's absolute BS that the innocent consumer is the one left footing the bill on this... especially while someone (builder or independent glass shop) makes even more on this repair work! This should absolutely be covered, it's not just a structural issue, it's a real safety issue!

Or, at least the manufacturer could offer to do it at dead cost or at significant savings.

I think it could be a nightmare either way. If the manufacturer takes resposibility for a vendor's part/problem then they are admitting fault. If they voluntarily foot the bill for replacement then they put themselves in a major financial bind (5-10K per boat X how many boats). Most builders simply don't have that kind of cash laying around right now.

Of course, the worst case scenario is if a lawyer takes the case to the class action level and goes after the manufacturer and the tank maker. If someone happens to get seriously hurt because of a faulty tank then this exponentially ups the ante.

Devils advocate, the tank manufacturers made the tanks within compliance for regular fuels, When did the gov start jamming ethanol down our throats. Seems to me a class action against the gov would yield a better result with many boat manufacturers and boaters united. at least it may give the opportunity for marinas to carry gas with no ethanol in it.

All any tank man and boat builder has to say is the tanks weren't designed for that type of fuel. To me would be no different if someone says I must burn hi octane and I don't.