DO NOT DO ALUMINUM TANKS - READ LEE DANA'S COMMENT

Miss B · Post by **Miss B** » Sun Sep 17, 2006 3:48 pm

Ethanol has reared its head in Florida now. Gov. Bush posted this on his weekly website: "ETHANOL COMES TO TALLAHASSEE Demonstrating an ongoing commitment to diversifying Florida's energy sources, Florida Department of Environmental Protection Secretary Colleen M. Castille and I joined executives from General Motors and Inland Food Stores on Wednesday to open the first public E85 ethanol pump in Florida. Located in Tallahassee, the pump is the first of 17 ethanol pumps to be installed by Inland Food Stores in North Florida during the next eight months. Securing a diverse and reliable supply of energy will reduce Florida's dependence on imported oil and ensure that a balanced mix of fuel sources and technologies are available for years to come. For more information on Florida's energy strategy, visit www.floridaenergy.org." I hope his flats boat never gets stuck due to Ethanol!

Capt. Ed · Post by **Capt. Ed** » Sun Sep 17, 2006 4:13 pm

Well at least for now I can order the fuel I want, and not be stuck with what the marina has. 1979 Bertram 33' FBC ALEXANDRA Port Richey, Florida [img]http://www.bertram33.com/photogallery/p ... xandra.jpg[/img] HAVE YOU SIGNED UP FOR BERTRAM PRIDE '06 yet? DO IT NOW... SPACE IS LIMITED!

Post by **dougl33** » Sun Sep 17, 2006 5:00 pm

At least youi Florida boys have a choice. Regards, Doug L. 1986 33 Bertram FBC Queen Elizabeth Marblehead, MA [img]http://www.bertram33.com/photogallery/p ... sabeth.jpg[/img]

Capt. Ed · Post by **Capt. Ed** » Mon Sep 18, 2006 3:29 am

No, it is only because I buy from a wholesaler and not a marina. 1979 Bertram 33' FBC ALEXANDRA Port Richey, Florida [img]http://www.bertram33.com/photogallery/p ... xandra.jpg[/img] HAVE YOU SIGNED UP FOR BERTRAM PRIDE '06 yet? DO IT NOW... SPACE IS LIMITED!

Rick · Post by **Rick** » Mon Sep 18, 2006 7:26 am

I must have missed something here. Why don't we want to use Aluminum Tanks ? Because of the conductivity and resulting corrosion ? Since our hull's are fiberglass and used as ground....doesn't that say they are conductive too ? I'm about 2-3 weeks away from pulling my tank and replacing with Aluminum only because there is no better solution at this time. Yeah, it's not as solid as our fiberglass, but I'm hoping to get 15 years of use out of it. Does Lee have any compelling data contrary to that belief ? Rick Ticket 85 SF Falmouth, MA

Post by **dougl33** » Mon Sep 18, 2006 9:10 am

Rick, Why not hold off on doing the tank until spring? Better to go in a little late with more info under your belt than to jump the gun and pull a perfectly good tank. At the very least, in the spring you may have a fiberglass alternative to aluminum. Regards, Doug L. 1986 33 Bertram FBC Queen Elizabeth Marblehead, MA [img]http://www.bertram33.com/photogallery/p ... sabeth.jpg[/img]

Bob S · Post by **Bob S** » Mon Sep 18, 2006 9:14 am

Rick, If you do pul the tank in a couple of weeks I would love the opportunity to take alook at your boat in process. Either with pictures or I would come and look. Would that be OK?

photo finish · Post by **photo finish** » Mon Sep 18, 2006 10:20 am

lets cut Ricks tank in half.....Yeah baby....Yeah!

BECCA ROSE · Post by **BECCA ROSE** » Mon Sep 18, 2006 12:40 pm

If we get 6 saws-all going at the same time we should get that sucker out in half an hour. Plus we might even have a chance of getting some blood on the deck! Ya Baby!!!! Bill 33 FBC Ipswich, Ma. [img]http://www.bertram33.com/photogallery/p ... a_Rose.jpg[/img]

franklyprice · Post by **franklyprice** » Mon Sep 18, 2006 2:13 pm

Rick, Fiberglass is not conductive. The reason that our bonding wires go to a copper strip in the hull is because that copper strip is connected to a big chunk of copper or zinc at the transom or on the bottom. Now most bottom paints are conductive because of the cuprous oxide in them and that is why you'll get that corrosion on dis-similar metals. In the old days you could expect an aluminum tank to last at least twenty yers unless something was wrong with the installation . There is a real question now , with the ethanol, just how long one will last. Maybe twenty years, maybe a lot less. My other concern is more general. We all like our boats because they were built by people who cared with the best materials(for the most part)and with a lot of concern for making them last. That's why they are held in such high reguard today. The fiberglass gas tanks are a part of what makes these boats so great , though certainly of late that is in doubt.With an aluminum tank you're just one step closer to every other old boat out there. If , for a little more money and some more research time you can get a replacement tank that would truly last a lifetime, wouldn't that better way to maintain our boats?

Don33 · Post by **Don33** » Mon Sep 18, 2006 4:06 pm

Frank, Thanks for contacting Ashland to get additional info that will help us to better understand how ethanol / gas might effect our tanks. I have a gas powered '94 Moppie with a 250g tank and was pretty much taking Bertram's word that, since my tank was made after the switchover to another (vinylester) resin in the mid-80's, it would be OK. However, it now sounds like the jury is still out. I don't believe there are a whole lot of 30 Moppie gassers out there so getting a replacement tank could prove to be problematic. The Ashland test should provide some conclusive evidence for us. This is the first season that many Maryland boaters have used E10 so many of us are anxious to get a resolution to this issue. Regards, Don

photo finish · Post by **photo finish** » Mon Sep 18, 2006 4:28 pm

Speaking of that big chunk of copper that is on the bottom . i have 2 torpedo shaped metal pieces on my bottom i do not know what kind of metal they are. but they do not seem to deteriate like zincs do.In fact they do not look like they are normally replaced. Am i wrong ,do you replace them ever, or have these been there for 25 years? Are these solely for bonding or are they sacrificial?

franklyprice · Post by **franklyprice** » Mon Sep 18, 2006 4:41 pm

Tim, I don't have anything on the bottom like that, only a large zinc on the back, although I think what you're mentioning would be the best way to ground something. If the piesces are copper, they should pretty much last forever unless you get a real electrolisis problem. Don, You're welcome. I will be sure to let everyone know as soon as I get any word. As an aside on the ethanol issue, I have been running my stock mercruiser fuel filters and spun new ones on this spring, as always and haven't looked at them yet. I will check them at the end of the season(Like in a couple of weeks) but have not tried anything extraordinary to combat the ethanol. So far , so good. I do plan to store the boat with the tank empty.

Don33 · Post by **Don33** » Mon Sep 18, 2006 5:07 pm

quote:Originally posted by franklyprice ...As an aside on the ethanol issue, I have been running my stock mercruiser fuel filters and spun new ones on this spring, as always and haven't looked at them yet. I will check them at the end of the season(Like in a couple of weeks) but have not tried anything extraordinary to combat the ethanol. So far , so good. I do plan to store the boat with the tank empty. Frank, I've checked (and replaced) the Merc fuel/water separators twice this season. Poured the fuel into a glass jar and each time noticed some rust-colored particulate matter. Not enough to cover the bottom of the jar but it was noticeable nonetheless. No signs of water, but I'm not sure if the Merc filter element absorbs water internally or not. I've never examined the contents from my filters this closely before. Wish I knew exactly how the filter works. The previous owner let the boat sit a lot (engines had low hours) so I'm speculating that maybe this rust-colored stuff is from varnish inside the tank. I recently bought a bottle of Startron and will give that a try. Don

Sean B · Post by **Sean B** » Mon Sep 18, 2006 5:33 pm

quote:Originally posted by photo finish Speaking of that big chunk of copper that is on the bottom . i have 2 torpedo shaped metal pieces on my bottom i do not know what kind of metal they are. but they do not seem to deteriate like zincs do.In fact they do not look like they are normally replaced. Am i wrong ,do you replace them ever, or have these been there for 25 years? Are these solely for bonding or are they sacrificial? Tim I think your boat might have immersed grounding plates for a single-sideband [SSB] radio, or for a Loran system. Both required the use of grounding plates through the hull to conduct their ground directly into the water. They are bronze and they call them "sintered bronze" because they are made or a pourous bronze that is supposed to increase the surface area of the metal to increase their capacity to provide the ground circuit. Or it's something else entirely, hard to know without seeing it. Check if there is a wire connection to it from the inside. If so, most likely a SSB or Loran ground plate. Isn't hurting anything, but with the next bottom job you might want to consider ridding yourself of the extra holes in the hull. Sean Burlingham "Island Time" 1987 Bertram 33 SF Melbourne, FL SBurlingham@cfl.rr.com [img]http://www.bertram33.com/photogallery/p ... d_Time.jpg[/img]