is this true?

[brian4190]

i have a 1966 28 sf I am restoring. i came across this today on the hull truth boat forum. i cant believe the tanks are made out of fiberglass covered wood not solid glass.

Yes the Bertram tanks will probably fail as well. The big difference is the Bertram tank is solid fiberglass, in many cases gelcoated and much thicher than the Hat. The Hat's tank is thick but only because of the wood core. I have cross sections of a Hat tank and the fiberglass on the inside is really thin. I suspect lots of these tanks have already failed. Failed in my mind is the wood is gasoline soaked. Maybe the outside fiberglass skin is not yet leaking. The crosssection I have came from a tank not subjected to ethanol; but the wood was wet with gas.

 

[Hows Hatt]

Hi Brian! I absolutely doubt it! I have my tank of my 28 SF completely removed as part of my restoration and it sure looks like solid fiberglass to me. I had both access ports off completely and found nothing but solid fiberglass. All of the sides, the front and back and the bottom also appear to be solid fiberglass. I don't have x-ray vision, but from the apparent thicknesses the tank appears to be solid fiberglass through and through.

BTW, how are you coming on "Mitoi"? Keeping the name? I hope you're having some great boating and that it hasn't been all work. Please keep me posted on your progress. Best Regards, Howard in West Michigan

 

[34Hatt]

So much for the Truth part in Hull truth I have seen Hatt tanks cut up they are solid. And many of the Bertram tanks started leaking through. I have not seen or heard of one Hatt tank doing that. The tank are about 3/8 thick on the top and 1/2 on the bottom.

 

[Genesis]

Sounds like complete BS to me too.

 

[jim rosenthal]

Hatteras tanks are solid fiberglass. Not only have I cut a section out of one of mine and glassed it back in, but I have seen several out of the boats, and every last one is FRP- no wood in there. You have to vet your forums carefully, as the wide-open web lets anyone post anything they please.

 

[Pascal]

i visited the hull truth a few times, not much of interest there... very imature crowd...

 

[brian4190]

i thought it sounded crazy. howard, i am keeping the name mitoi (heard it is bad luck to change a boats name,and i have enough problems as it is) florida still is not useing ethanol gas but it is going to happen someday so while i would like to repower with gas (currently i have 1976 vintage 350 mercruisers) i am thinking of a diesel conversion. I am getting the boat ready for its first bahama trip right now lots of work to do before its ready. i am installing a 9000 btu a/c right now and its a bitch. it fit (barely) in the space under the dinette seat behind the drawer. in south florida this time of year a/c is a must. i question every day as i am sure you do why i didnt buy a newer boat but then i step back and look at her lines and know it is worth it.
keep the faith, brian

 

[Traveler 45C]

My owner's manual states for certain that my tanks are glass ('72 45C).

You can always contact Hatt to find out for sure....

 

[Trojan]

I have seen water tanks made of glass over wood, but not fuel tanks. I do not think that it is legal to put fuel in a glass covered wood box. I sure as heck would not ever have a boat with a tank made that way. Just think of the legalities of that if it would leak or rupture.


BILL

 

[first230sl]

Actually - at least in my boat ('71 58' YF), the water tanks are also solid glass. At least the aft one is. I know because I damaged two corners of it while re-seating my rudder ports. I had to cut out and replace two sections. No wood.

Take care - Murray

I have seen water tanks made of glass over wood, but not fuel tanks. I do not think that it is legal to put fuel in a glass covered wood box. I sure as heck would not ever have a boat with a tank made that way. Just think of the legalities of that if it would leak or rupture.


BILL

 

[Capt.Erich]

This is a post I made on a previous thread:

"I found this release from Boats US interesting. It does specify Hatteras and Bertram (because they were the first to use fiberglass) but says nothing about the construction of the tanks. IMHO, who ever told you the fuel tanks were cored with anything had no idea what he was talking about. Hatteras has ALWAYS built their own tanks in house and only used solid glass. I suspect Bertram did the same."

http://www.boatus.com/news/releases...tober/alert.asp