Painting Aluminum underfloor fuel tanks
07-04-2023 | 11:44 AM
#1
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From: BC
Painting Aluminum underfloor fuel tanks
I'm looking into painting my Aluminum underfloor tanks.
No foam...aluminum is nice...no white oxidation. Clean inside as well, and no hole etc.
Boat was mostly used in fresh water. Will now be exclusively in salt. Want to keep them in good shape.
Port and Stbd 90 gal triangle hull shaped tanks. Has the soft rubber tube style where the tanks sit on the hull, and lag bolt into the center and outer stringers.
Proper cleaning and primer with good paint, similar to the outdrive leg painting procedure, would be my guess?
Thanks,
Art
No foam...aluminum is nice...no white oxidation. Clean inside as well, and no hole etc.
Boat was mostly used in fresh water. Will now be exclusively in salt. Want to keep them in good shape.
Port and Stbd 90 gal triangle hull shaped tanks. Has the soft rubber tube style where the tanks sit on the hull, and lag bolt into the center and outer stringers.
Proper cleaning and primer with good paint, similar to the outdrive leg painting procedure, would be my guess?
Thanks,
Art
07-08-2023 | 12:27 PM
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From: Atlantic Southeast
I assume you mean the outside and my notes show Interprotect 2000E for primer as that's what a local aluminum tank builder said on boat repair show I used to watch on TV. After that, like you said "a quality paint".
07-10-2023 | 08:05 AM
#5
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From: Chicago, IL
Ive been told by some old timers to use Soap and water to wash it then some Muriatic acid to etch the aluminum and then Coal Tar Epoxy primer then a good quality paint on top...never have had a reason to do it as of yet though....
If the tanks are out of the boat maybe look at possibly having them coated with Line-X or Rhino Liner truck bed coating?? That stuff is nice and tough...
If the tanks are out of the boat maybe look at possibly having them coated with Line-X or Rhino Liner truck bed coating?? That stuff is nice and tough...
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-Wally
Money can't buy happiness, but it can buy horsepower. And I've never seen a sad person hauling a$$!
07-15-2023 | 12:39 PM
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The Line-X i have on my truck bed is amazing stuff for sure. I don't know if having it on the alum would be the best.
Yeah, outside painting. The inside lasted 30 years, with fuel them...and they are perfect.
POR-15 may be an option for sure.
I'll be yanking the tanks out in August.
( the fuel tanks and rubber under mounts plugged up the cuddy water drains when they were installed)
I've heard that rubber support mounts will help eat up the aluminum. Not sure what else to use, not a lot of hull to tank gap on the Cobalt/Carrera.
No foam!!
Yeah, outside painting. The inside lasted 30 years, with fuel them...and they are perfect.
POR-15 may be an option for sure.
I'll be yanking the tanks out in August.
( the fuel tanks and rubber under mounts plugged up the cuddy water drains when they were installed)
I've heard that rubber support mounts will help eat up the aluminum. Not sure what else to use, not a lot of hull to tank gap on the Cobalt/Carrera.
No foam!!
07-16-2023 | 10:38 AM
#8
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From: Atlantic Southeast
The Line-X i have on my truck bed is amazing stuff for sure. I don't know if having it on the alum would be the best.
Yeah, outside painting. The inside lasted 30 years, with fuel them...and they are perfect.
POR-15 may be an option for sure.
I'll be yanking the tanks out in August.
( the fuel tanks and rubber under mounts plugged up the cuddy water drains when they were installed)
I've heard that rubber support mounts will help eat up the aluminum. Not sure what else to use, not a lot of hull to tank gap on the Cobalt/Carrera.
No foam!!
Yeah, outside painting. The inside lasted 30 years, with fuel them...and they are perfect.
POR-15 may be an option for sure.
I'll be yanking the tanks out in August.
( the fuel tanks and rubber under mounts plugged up the cuddy water drains when they were installed)
I've heard that rubber support mounts will help eat up the aluminum. Not sure what else to use, not a lot of hull to tank gap on the Cobalt/Carrera.
No foam!!
How about some delrin mounts in lieu of rubber?
07-21-2023 | 11:48 AM
#9
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From: BC
I've seen some recommendations for using a fibre reinforced support system. That would make sense to have it more resistant to long term abrasion.
The carbon in rubber when in contact with aluminum, is cathodic, and will cause galvanic corrosion.
So I guess rubber support strips are out...lol...
The carbon in rubber when in contact with aluminum, is cathodic, and will cause galvanic corrosion.
So I guess rubber support strips are out...lol...
