ethanol damaged fuel tanks

[Bertramp]

For folks with gas engines .... who are they using to build new fiberglass tanks or are they switching to aluminum ?

 

[smoothmove]

Though there has been considerable discussion here about alternative materials - epoxy coatings, fiberglass, monel, galvanized steel, bladders etc., I don't recall anyone saying they actually used anything besides aluminum.
as Pascoe points out, Aluminum is not ideal in this application, but it is about as good as you can do.

I imagine we'll hear from the opposing views here soon.

I can recommend speedytanks.com (Atlantic Welding) Nice guys, easy to work with, fast.

Eric

 

[akintosyali]

I replaced with Aluminum too.

 

[Bertramp]

Is the lack of use of fiberglass tanks on Hatterases due to no one specifically making tanks for Hatts ?
Bertram has/had the same tank problem and there are builders that specialize in tanks for their boats.

 

[ohiohatteras]

Went with aluminum.
KSH Marine made them and did an excellent job! The owner, Brian, is very accomodating and helpful. They get my recommendation!

 

[Sparky1]

Is the lack of use of fiberglass tanks on Hatterases due to no one specifically making tanks for Hatts ?
Bertram has/had the same tank problem and there are builders that specialize in tanks for their boats.

Steve, surely you don't have gassers in that 45C.

The topic of fiberglass replacement tanks came up a while back but never really went anywhere. http://www.samsmarine.com/forums/showthread.php?t=11159

I'm still OK here in TN where ethanol is concerned as it hasn't made its way into the marinas around here yet. Hopefully it will stay that way and some government moron will finally figure out this whole thing is a scam. It's funny, but it never occured to me that my tanks could have possibly been replaced when my 41 was refit and repowered back in '93. I highly doubt it, but I'll check it out.

Does anyone know if the tanks can be viewed short of removing the bunks in the aft stateroom of a 41DC? I'm thinking maybe they can bee seen through the hatches in the lazarette, but I've never looked.

 

[34Hatt]

Steve even most of the Bertram guys are going with Aluminum. The Glass one's are very expense very high amount of labor and costly materials.

I will take a guess at 99% of everyone I have heard of has gone with Aluminum.

 

[Bertramp]

I have diesels ... tired diesels, but diesels just the same. Was going to re-power with 6v92s, but with market as it is and with inability to find a depedable mechanic to do it, I'm selling the 692s that I bought and just keeping after my Cummins 8v370Ms.
This is being asked for a friend down here that is looking at an older Bertram.

 

[Sparky1]

Try these guys.

http://bertram31.com/newbb/index.php

 

[Bertramp]

Thanks Randy
I was a regular on there in a prior life (hence the "bertramp" tag) ... had a 31 .. great boat, just not great for going away in October in the Northeast with 3 folks on board. In the right scenario (24 Topaz - sold), I would consider one down here in FLA..

 

[humdinger]

Betramp,

When I saw your post I could not help to respond. - I am a representative of a company called Vital Power Solutions and we specialize in tank replacements. You can visit our website vitalpowersolutions.com or give us a call @ 888-383-5002

We mostly replace all tanks with Aluminum. However,there are resins available that are resistant to Ethanol but due to cost people usually steer towards aluminum.

 

[31FlyCruzr]

Perhaps you could expand on "resistant to ethanol", when I contacted resin companies directly I could not find one that had a resin that was compatible with ethanol.

 

[Beckytek]

I have a 1988 40" DC and have been using ethanol gas for the last 3 years and haven't noticed any difference or any problems. Ron

 

[Boatsb]

resistant to how much ethanol is the question.

 

[ohiohatteras]

I have a 1988 40" DC and have been using ethanol gas for the last 3 years and haven't noticed any difference or any problems. Ron

Pretty sure you are "past" the years with the "problem fiberglass". Actually.... the ethanol is the problem...not the glass!

 

[mike41tc]

Randy, You should be able to see the back end of your tanks in the lazarette.
They go thru the aft cabin wall about 6 to 8 inches, thats where all the fuel fill and outlet connections are.
Mike