Polyethelyne tanks

[67hat34c]

I just got off the phone with Ocean Link, they tell me that the tanks do not have baffles in them. They claim that since tanks are one piece molded that they do not need them. sloshing of fuel will not damage the tank. He said it seems bertram and hatteras owners want baffles because they are worried about handling properties with fuel sloshing around.

Since these tanks are one piece molded, there is no way they can ever have baffles in them. I would guess that to comp you would have to use 2 60 tanks in place of a single 120 etc.

I guess the plus is that the tanks are very light weight. However our tanks are on the stringer with no support, plastic needs a shelf which will add weight so mabe the weight difference is not that much.

 

[34Hatt]

Steve look again there is a piece of 3/4" plywood In-between the stringer. On Magic Hatt we are putting 3/4" duraply on top of stringer and over hanging them 2" so that the tank has complete support all the way across.

 

[Maynard Rupp]

I really have a problem with unbaffled tanks. The fuel sloshing will affect the boats lateral trim. Worse than that;e everytime that gas hit a sde wall it will flex. How many flexing cycles does it take to break or split the plastic? If I have to replace our tank I will make a new baffled fiberglass tank. Our 36 Hat has a 366 gallon tank. That is just under 2200 lbs. of gas. Weight like that swinging to and fro can't be a good idea.

 

[SKYCHENEY]

It's too bad someone has not figured out a way to line these tanks. It sure seems like there has to be some substance that could be pumped in that would adhere to the surfaces within a the tank and then just pump out the excess. I guess that's just too good to be true.

 

[Hank Wawryck]

As I mentioned, I just installed a pair of Moller tanks. The 90 gal. tanks have two round holes formed top to bottom about a 1/4 in from each end,and dead center end to end. they ae about 2 1/2" in diameter and they should act a type of baffle. The tanks are very substantail, and I don't think I will have any worrys.

I would be very carefull with a new pair of fiberglass tanks. If I was that concerned, I woud go with monel.
Good Luck,
Hank Wawryck
"Horsefeathers"34c

 

[34Hatt]

If I was that concerned, I woud go with monel.

Monel is the way to go has anyone price a Monel tank?????

 

[Maynard Rupp]

I was told that both monel and stainless tanks tend to leak at any welds. I don't know much more except that is the answer i get when i ask why we don't use either of those metals for fuel tanks. My sailboat has a stainless tank and after 20 years it still is fine. Who knows?. On that subject I don't know why the don't fill those poly tanks with practice golf balls. These are the ones with the holes all over. They are used in most oval track and formula one car fuel tanks to prevent crushing in an accident. I am sure thy act as a baffle also to slow the transfer of fuel from one side to the other.

 

[WishFull Thinking]

That last message is interesting! Has anyone tried anything like that? I have a problem with a water tank, in that the water POUNDS back and forth when I'm lying to in a beam sea, and the tank isn't right full.

 

[Boss Lady]

We use a company to armor fuel tanks for our armored vehicles and they add a foam core to them, I will see what type of foam they use for gas and diesel fuels since make both types. Also racing fuel tanks have a foam in them, and a lot of these tanks are roto molded too. I will see if we can get access to the foam.