Fiberglass fuel tanks

[Miss Swivel]

[FONT=&quot]I apologize in advance if this topic has been covered. But, I couldn’t find much information about it. Anyway, do Hatteras yachts have many problems with leaky fuel tanks? I have had 4 big (to me) boats. 3 with aluminum fuel tanks and 1 with fiberglass (Hatteras 43). Of the 3 with aluminum tanks, 2 had tanks crack and leak. On the 3rd, we used a plastic day tank because the aluminum tanks were so full of crud they were unusable. The Hatteras fiberglass tanks never leaked a drop (50 year old tanks). The first aluminum tank failure was a 25 year old Californian with significant saltwater use (Florida boat). The current tank failure is a 25 year old gas Formula that has never seen salt water. So, I’m thinking aluminum fuel tanks are not in my future. But, if you guys can enlighten me on Hatteras’ use of fiberglass tanks and issues if any. [/FONT]

 

[Pascal]

As long as they are used for diesel or non ethanol contaminated gas, they are pretty much bulletproof proof and will last as long as the boat.

On gasers, tanks built before the mid/late 80s used resin that is not compatible with ethanol.

 

[SEVEN]

46 years and still no leaks.

 

[bigbill]

53 years and no leaks

 

[Miss Swivel]

Also, do any of the other notable builders (Bertram, Egg Harbor, Ocean, Post, Viking) use fiberglass tanks?

 

[SKYCHENEY]

Hatteras fiberglass tanks were the only tanks that were UL Registered. They were built and pressure tested before being installed in the boat. I don't think you can do any better.

 

[Miss Swivel]

Hatteras fiberglass tanks were the only tanks that were UL Registered. They were built and pressure tested before being installed in the boat. I don't think you can do any better.

Did they stop using fiberglass tanks? If so, when?

 

[Captain Ralph]

47 year old FRP tanks in our Bertram. Zero issues.

My gas BlackFin with alloy a tank had a leaking seam.
My gas AquaSport with alloy tank failed completely from a bad seam.
Lots of our past customers had alloy tanks and seems 20 years was the threshold for tank failures to start developing. Gas Carvers seemed to start just past 15 years of age.

If I was young and famous (richer), I would never have alloy tanks in my next boat.

 

[SKYCHENEY]

Did they stop using fiberglass tanks? If so, when?

They always had fiberglass tanks.

 

[Miss Swivel]

47 year old FRP tanks in our Bertram. Zero issues.

My gas BlackFin with alloy a tank had a leaking seam.
My gas AquaSport with alloy tank failed completely from a bad seam.
Lots of our past customers had alloy tanks and seems 20 years was the threshold for tank failures to start developing. Gas Carvers seemed to start just past 15 years of age.

If I was young and famous (richer), I would never have alloy tanks in my next boat.

Do you know how long Bertram used fiberglass tanks?

 

[Captain Ralph]

Do you know how long Bertram used fiberglass tanks?

I would be poorly guessing.
First SWAG; Till Ferretti took over.

 

[Scarlett]

I love aluminum tanks! Had a boat at our Yacht Club that had a leak and being in Ca. They wanted tons of money to pump out the fuel and dispose of it, so I bought a cheap pump at Harbor Freight and pumped about a 120 gallons of diesel into my boat to help them out. I am such a nice guy that I did not charge them anything for my service. lol.