Fuel Tanks

rnanaples · Post by **rnanaples** » Thu Oct 09, 2008 3:01 pm

Well since the futur eseems a lttle sketchy I am going to contact a few companies that make them and see if we could get a group discount. I am sure if they were making 5 or so it would be a lot cheaper than just one. Thoughts or interested parties ?

lobsta1 · Post by **lobsta1** » Thu Oct 09, 2008 4:05 pm

Rich, Doug can correct me, but I believe that in 1981 Bert changed the size,shape & location of the tanks when they went to the 315 gal. tank. Al

Justinf89 · Post by **Justinf89** » Thu Oct 09, 2008 5:33 pm

Yea, unfortunate for our old 265 gallon tanks... Great idea Rich. I think I might be making my own In a couple of months though so count me out. Thanks anyway. My buddy owns a machine shop and has access to plenty of stainless.

lobsta1 · Post by **lobsta1** » Thu Oct 09, 2008 6:27 pm

Justin, Don't want to be a wet blanket, but how are you going to get a sticker for the tank certifying that the tank has been tested & meets CG standards? Without that sticker, the boat will never pass a survey. Al

Justinf89 · Post by **Justinf89** » Fri Oct 10, 2008 3:30 am

Yea I was wondering about that too. Do you think I could get the coast guard to come out and certify it?

rnanaples · Post by **rnanaples** » Fri Oct 10, 2008 3:37 am

My guess is it would not be cheap mught be worth checking into. Are you going with stainless because of the sketchy info to do with ethanol's effect on aluminum. Also I was thinking about having the tank divided into two sections due to all the crap we are hearing a bout phase separation etc. Anyone have any thoughts on that ?? Lastly hopefully everyone reads this as it seems that there were resins that were sucepatable to this problem and thise that were not. I am sure that bertram has production schedules etc. that would shed some light anyone have a contact there ? quote:Originally posted by Justinf89 Yea I was wondering about that too. Do you think I could get the coast guard to come out and certify it? Justin Fortin 1977 33' FBC Norfolk, VA "Susie Q"

BottomLine · Post by **BottomLine** » Fri Oct 10, 2008 6:49 am

Rich: I have the same boat and have been wrestling about a new tank. My marina still has ethanol-free gas but it's expensive and who knows how long they'll be able to get it. Have you contacted any tank manufacturers yet. Mike Ford

Justinf89 · Post by **Justinf89** » Fri Oct 10, 2008 2:24 pm

My buddy down at the dock says that the coasties will come to certify it but I won't trust him as far as I could throw him. When I decide to make my own tank, I'll call up the aux coast guard and then let you guys know for sure. I'm sure it will have to have a certain amount of baffles and everything.

lobsta1 · Post by **lobsta1** » Thu Oct 16, 2008 4:16 pm

Justin, I think you can forget the coasties, the aux guys or the guy down the dock. I just came across the CG regs. There is a LOT of reading including sections just on how the LABEL is made without even getting into the tank itself. As far as the tank, the manufacturer must test it. Some of the tests are considered destructive so more than one tank must be made & tested. I believe any good shop with a very good welder could make a perfectly good tank. The problem would be they can't certify it. Without that, you couldn't pass a survey & get insurance. Here is the link to the CG regs. It takes a minute to load. http://www.uscgboating.org/safety/boatb ... l/fuel.htm Al

franklyprice · Post by **franklyprice** » Thu Oct 16, 2008 7:45 pm

Al, I know you are technically correct but in the only surveys I've had on my boat, both surveyors didn't even look at the tank. In fact the first one stated that the boat had two stainless gas tanks.. Can you remember having a surveyor look at a tank on your boat?

schultz · Post by **schultz** » Fri Oct 17, 2008 4:59 am

The surveyor I used for my pre-inspection on 7/5/2007 discribed the Tank size,shape, fire retardant molded fiberglass, pick ups. pumps/filters and plumbing, fuel delivery lines and USGC Type A1 hose with swaged fittings. If it was anything other than original he would have stated it on the survey. For insurance reasons you may want to proceed with caution when dealing with a fuel tank change.

Post by **dougl33** » Fri Oct 17, 2008 5:25 am

I agree with Frank. I would not be overly concerned. I had both my boats surveyed by one of the best in the business and he never looked at either tank other than to pull the small access hatch and check the shutoffs.

tmarshall · Post by **tmarshall** » Sun Oct 19, 2008 8:05 am

Yeah I had mine surveyed by the best guy in the area, he never looked for the tank plate. I would however be concerned if you had some kind of fuel related accident, spill etc and the insurance investigation revealed you had built your tank in your buddys tool shed not to CG standards. I think I have a small leak in my tank (diesel) I have to start researching what I am going to do????? I would rather pay the money and know its built right by a pro who has built hundreds before mine and has it certified. I think by the time you pay for materials at retail prices and put tons of time and labor into the project, it probably doesnt save you much money.

rnanaples · Post by **rnanaples** » Sun Oct 19, 2008 12:36 pm

Called a local guy in West Palm he was thinking 1500 am going to try on or two more sources. I am also not goin to hit the panic buttom yet and wait to see hen I will have a problem. To me the info is very conflicting. I ran 100 plus gallons through so far no issues. I am going with a two stage FRam set up on each engine and retaining the merc filters as well. I am at least going to wait for some sign that things are going to hell. This is putting a little too much faith in our government but I cannot imagine that the CG would not be making retrofitting mandatory. As well as insurance companies going nuts to boot. quote:Originally posted by BottomLine Rich: I have the same boat and have been wrestling about a new tank. My marina still has ethanol-free gas but it's expensive and who knows how long they'll be able to get it. Have you contacted any tank manufacturers yet. Mike Ford

No Yacht Yet · Post by **No Yacht Yet** » Tue Oct 21, 2008 3:36 am

When I pulled my filters up here in Mass last spring the fuel was orange (very dark orange)with some coffee grounds in it.I also had a problem with the engines idle. They would jump from 575 rpm to 725 rpm. Could not fiqure it out and asked for help on here too. I tried every suggestion on here with no luck. After putting 3 tanks of fuel through it and multiple filer changes it went away. I feel it was related to ethanol. Be vigilant with your filter changes. My boat is on the hard now with a tank full of fuel. Will see what it looks like come spring, 7 months from now. Brian 1986 Bertram 33 FBC Mercruisers Seahorse Ellisville Harbor, Ma