Permanently installed fuel tanks

[frameshop]

Does anyone know of a good source for permanent gas tanks to be installed under the decking. I would prefer a stock unit as it would cost less.The plans call for a custom built aluminun tank of 105 gallons, I only need about 35 - 50 gallon size, anyone know who makes them. I have seen the tempo" tanks in the Defender catalog and their TP50n would fit with csome minor modifications to the floors if I run it lenghtwise. The ideal is a saddle tank with fill and overflow at the sides. Any other choices out there.

[chesterm]

I have seen the tempo catalogue, also try Ronco, they have a big selection. I have a pretty specific size need in stainless and will be looking for a custom fabricated tank maker in the Connecticut area. any input here also appreciated. regards, mitchell

[capt jake]

I saw one design where they actually built the fuel cell out of wood/glass and epoxy (can't remember where though). They probably coated the inside with that sealer that you can get at the motorcycle shop.
Hey, just another thought. Or you may consider building it yourself (if you have access to a wirefeed/mig welder. Not really that hard to do).
http://media5.hypernet.com/~dick/ubb/smile.gif

[Noah]

My Westerbeke diesel engine manual says that you can use fiberglass tanks if they are well sealed with a gelcoat inside. Otherwise you can get fuel contamination.

[Nevismark]

Hi to you all, this the first time on the forum so i hope it is correct Iwould like to build a fuel tank for my boat in plywood as on the island here there is no metalworking shops so i like the idea of wood and resin so if any body has made one before i would be gratful for the imformation on the project thanks Mark.

[ken mcclure]

Jesus. Nevis said all that without taking a breath! I couldn't even read it without taking a breath.

[ken mcclure]

Clicked the button too fast.

Welcome to the group, Nevismark! I'd be willing to bet that you'll get more than one solution!

And the usual request -- post some pictures of your boat if you can!

[capt jake]

Aye! Me hair be fallin' out! I be darned if I can remember where I saw it! I'll keep lookin', as ye sparked me imagination also.
http://media5.hypernet.com/~dick/ubb/smile.gif

[ken mcclure]

Seems to me Beuhler talked about it in his boatbuilding book. I'll hafta dig around here too.

[JimConlin]

And in the Gougeon book, too.
I think they've recanted, per lawyers' instructions.

[Mike Keers]

Per the Gougeon's book, I made holding and water tanks for my boat from ply and 'poxy, never a problem. I always wondered if they still advocated diesel fuel tanks, as my copy of the book is older.

This question comes up every once in a while, and it's always controversial.

I agonized over this for some months, and when I priced aluminum tanks for the 28-foot cruiser I'm building and found they were about $700 each, I decided to build them in, and by that I mean using the hull and structure as sides of the tanks, not just making separate plywood tanks that drop in.

My reasoning is that the cold-molded hull bottom is a full 1" thick, the sides are 3/4", as is the internal structure (bulkheads, etc)....if I built a 40 gallon tank, 3/8" would be considered adequate for the thickness, so I'm getting way-heavier duty tanks, and they take the best advantage of the available space, better weight distribution.

I already have three coats of FCI googe on everything, and I plan to coat the insides of the tanks with a 3:1 tank coating from FCI after the hull is rolled over.

[capt jake]

only thing I have found came out of devlin's book;
Tempo Products
PO box 39126, Cleveland OH 44139
(metal and no-metalic tanks)

Vetus Den Ouden Inc.
PO Box 8712
Baltimore, MD 21240-0712
(stock non-metalic tanks)

this still isn't what I was thinking of, but maybe it will help.
Jake

[nedL]

Unless things have changed in recent years, I dodn't think I would recommend "glass" tanks - for gasoline anyways. As I remember, in the early 1970's there used to be a production built sport fisherman called "Jersey" (nothing to do New Jersey built boats) that had glass tanks. After a while insurance companies didn't want to touch them because the fiberglass tanks would weep, and if you rubbed your hand on the outside of the tank you could smell gasoline on your hand. -- Maybe there would be better luck with today's epoxy resins.
Also with reference to "fill and overflow at the side", I believe the C.G. allows no openings in the sides or bottoms of fuel tanks. -You should check this out.

Finally - Don't forget to ground the fuel fill deck plate to the tank (if metal)with a piece of wire so you don't blow yourself up from the static electricity generated while fueling.

[capt jake]

good comment about the grounding. That could ruin you day (and the boat). http://media5.hypernet.com/~dick/ubb/smile.gif

[Nevismark]

hi to all . Sorry about the grammer . My boat is a grey snot boat a vancouver 32 and is a boat i found on the beach here with a great big hole in the side which i have repaired. the reason for talking on the forum is to find out more about woods for fitting out the boat, can you still be in on the forum if you have a glass boat if you talk about wood ?. question 1 , is purple heart good for your cabin sole as there is alot of it here on the island . if so what glue to fix it together.
Up to now I have been on the project for 19 months and it is looking good . when i draged it of the reef we used the only crane on the island which could lift 9ton and the boat was about 9ton so we draged it up on big tyres and on its side till she was on the beach ,then took the lift the crane on the frist lift tipped up abit so i had to climb into the boat and throw out all the rocks and sand clothes etc then we had one more go she lifted up onto the beach , then the next day we stood here up and cleaned her out for inspection ,then somebody said mark you can repair her and have a good boat . that was 19 months ago some times i thought i was going mad with all the work plus there is no boat shops or workshops here but iam getting there should be in the water by april 2002 . so all the best Nevis mark.