Fuel Tanks Hat41 Aft Cabin 1966

[Luker410]

I would like to replace my 2 150 gal gas fuel tanks. Dimensions are 7' x 2.5' x 1.4'. Would be interested in used or new tanks, preferably fiberglass built in late 80's and newer which will resist ethanol.

 

[Sparky1]

Out of curiosity, where did you come up with those dimensions? I have a '65 41DC and wondered how difficult it would be to remove/replace these tanks, but with those dimensions it shouldn't be any big deal.

 

[Luker410]

These tanks are laid beneath the aft cabin beds and conveniently will fit up through the salon hatch and then the entry hatch. Ethanol ate through one of the corners of one of them, which I was able to patch with layers of epoxy and fiberglass matt.

 

[Sparky1]

I assume your '66 uses the same size tanks as my '65, but maybe not. No doubt mine are 150 gallons each and are located in the same position as yours.

No doubt all would agree that you need to stop running your engines until you get this problem addressed. Otherwise you'll end up with engine damage if you don't have it already given how your tanks have deteriorated. Luckily ethanol hasn't made it into the marinas around here yet, but I'm sure it's just a matter of time.

Good luck in finding replacements. I'll be watching this thread to see what you come up with.

 

[UNIQUE_NAME]

between this site and the bertram site i have only seen custom aluminum or stainless tanks used as a solution. everyone wants the glass, but haven't seen any makers offer any. i don't remember the dimensions offhand, but my tanks did fit up the aft and saloon stairs.(with ALL fittings removed). all the people i've seen or spoken too with the ethanol problem had big engine issues before their tanks were comprimised. if this really is the tank delaminating from ethanol, i would follow sparky's advise and not run the engines any further. in fact i would pull the carb and look for the telltale black shellac like substance in the intake manifold. if you find it, pickle the engine until you are ready to pull the heads. if you run with this junk going thru the engine, the fuel tank cost will just be the start of the nightmare.

 

[mike41tc]

High Tide Marine is selling replacement fibreglass fuel tanks for Bertram boats that have the same problems as the Hats. I don't know if High Tide makes or has someone else makes them for them but maybe they could duplicate Hatteras tanks too. High Tide is like Sams but they sell mostly Bertram parts.
www.hightidemarine.cc
Mike

 

[Sparky1]

Maybe if enough of us 41DC/TC owners approached guys like this, we could get something in the way of a package deal. I can only assume ethanol-resistant glass tanks would be less expensive than aluminum or stainless, but maybe not.

 

[J's Dream]

You guys need to get together, figure out how many people are SERIOUSLY interested in fiberglass tanks, and contact Tom Slane. Who better to make replacement parts for your Hatteras than Tom?

www.slanemarine.com

 

[Sparky1]

Sounds like a plan to me. Maybe somebody should post another thread about this in the tech section as I'm sure it would get more exposure there.

 

[Luker410]

I contacted Tom Slane and he is checking to see if Hatteras still has the molds for the old tanks. If they do, it would make the tanks affordable. To make the forms and then buy the tank is about $10,000. So I will let you know if he has any luck finding the molds. the bad news is that they usually destroy them. I would be interested in a group buy if we can get a list going.

 

[Sparky1]

I'm a bit confused. Are you saying Slane will charge you $10K to build the molds and turn out one pair of tanks?

That sounds to be the most expensive option I've heard yet. I'd say there's no chance the old molds would still be around.

 

[Luker410]

No the charge would be a onetime cost as I understood it. He realizes that he will make much more money by selling tanks to us. First he was going to research whether the orginal tank molds were destroyed. I don't know what the charge per tank would be. Do you have another way to replace my tanks that would be easy and cheap. I am very open to any ideas. My original yacht broker said that he is aware of a class action suit concerning ethanol effects. Does anyone have any info on this? Luke

 

[Luker410]

that wasn't clear either. I think the cost would be in his consideration of what to charge for newly formed tanks. Obviously the more tanks he could sell, the cheaper they would be. Luke

 

[UNIQUE_NAME]

Do you have another way to replace my tanks that would be easy and cheap. Luke

boat, "easy and cheap" never go in the same sentence. all the hatteras' i know who have done it have used aluminum. some betrams have used stainless. obviously the less expensive path is to do it yourself. we aft-cabin owners have it much easier than the sportfish crowd who have to rip up their back decks.

 

[NAN-PO 41]

According to my owners manual (1966 41'tc #10) if you have hull #46 or lower the fuel tanks are two 150 gallon tanks. If your hull # is higher than that you have two 200 gal tanks. One size of tanks won't fit all of the boats.
Fred

 

[Sparky1]

My original yacht broker said that he is aware of a class action suit concerning ethanol effects. Does anyone have any info on this? Luke

I saw something on BoatUS over a year ago regarding a class action suit concerning the effects of ethanol. There was no effort made to inform the public of these consequences despite the fact they were very well known.

Hopefully there will be some way for marinas to purchase fuel without ethanol being added as this is done at the distributor level. So far, so good at my marina here in TN as we haven't seen it yet. It would take years for a class action suit to go anywhere, and even if it's won, we will all get a check for $1.98 as compensation after all the legal fees are paid.

 

[rrrestorer]

Correct attitude there Sparky! Don't plan to retire on the proceeds of any class action suit, unless your'e the lawyer!