Need your input on new fuel tank
 

I have an in-hull fuel tank which has a special resin designed to be impermeable to alcohol and it has worked quite well. But I have noticed that there is water in the tank because my water separators show it and I have drained the tank twice showing water. I decided to open up the tank not knowing what I would see. I did this after pressure testing and finding only a hair of a leak. (No fuel ever leaked from the tank.) I am considering:

1. closing the tank with the same resin again.
2. installing an aluminum tank inside of the existing tank and starting fresh with that one.

In either case, I plan to have an additional tube input to the very bottom of the tank so that in the even that there is any condensation (since Im in Florida and there is a lot of humidity and temperature fluctuation within 24hours) I can pump the bottom of the tank out until I see fuel, this way I will know all the water is out.

Any opinions?

Thanks.

I would put in an aluminum tank. I don't think fibergalss tanks are coast guard approved.

Thanks, and as far as a stepped hull is concerned, how would you fabricate the tank, as a straight line?

Yep........we put a flat panel under the tank for support and so the water can drain to the bilge. Foam the tank in and then we cover the top of the tank in fiberglass.

Was the flat panel bearing all weight on the stringers? Do you have any pics?

Let me see if I can find some pics the flat panel sits in the v....a bridge so to speak.

mini
 

If you put an aluminum tank in make sure you pu some mini stingers thats a large panel to not have structure.

Just asking because I don't want any structure to sit on the bottom itself...Mini stringers? Can you elaborate?

Here is a picture of the stringers on a 26 Joker before the fuel tank is in.

I think he's saying dog ears.......outside of the stringers.

Cool, but if you had a stepped hull and the steps are reflected in the shape of the tank, I have to build a new tank above those steps I suppose. Do I hang cross beams across the stringers to bear the weight of the aluminum tank?

The furthermost photo on the very fist post of this thread shows the graduation of the step, reflected in the fuel tank. I suppose I must fill that gap in with foam and have an entirely flat tank on the bottom (v shaped, but with no step)?

Half section
 

Composite one sells a foam some what triangle shaped piece 4 ft long they are only 1.25 inches tall glass them in under the tank to create an ibeam so to speak, on a 45 degree anlgle fom the keel outward

Composite One is a company?

Anybody else?

http://www.fuelsafe.com/

http://atlfuelcells.com/

Does it make sense to simply close the tank back up with the same resin that is working well and to install a tube at the bottom of the tank to release water?

Still looking for help. Does anyone have any pics of a tank going into a stepped hull boat. Would love to see what the tank looks like and what the hull inbeteween the stringers look like before install. Boating season coming up quick. Please help.