Bertram33 User Forum

Rick, After you left,got that bulkhead all cleaned off, & disconnected the genny. Used the beam across the cockpit to lift the genny up with a come-a-along. Started to pull the bolts out for the genny platform but didn't have a drift pin to drive them out. Get them tomorrow. I'll bring my grinder & compressor with the cut off tools & I should be able to finish cutting everything free tomorrow. Once we get the tank out, then we can figure how to secure an aluminum tank. I'm thinking have an ell-shaped flange front & rear where it is now glassed. Then it would be a simple matter to just bolt to the bulkheads. Hopefully TICKET will be more straightforward. Al 1978 33 FBC NITES OFF

Al, Good progress....I'll going up there in about a half hour but it will be a short stay for me. Hopefully a little more time tomorrow. I changed my hauling appointment to 9:30. Frank, No problem donating to the cause once I get all of the dimensions set to order a new one. But, if the tank holds up to the Price experiments and looks as though it will work with Ethanol for a long time....I might want it back ! You okay with that ? Rick Ticket 85 SF Falmouth, MA

Rick, Absolutely. I would have no use for it if it held up to ethanol.That would mean that mine will be OK.

Frank, Awesome, we've got a deal. Not sure how much I'll be working on it this weekend, probably get into it hot & heavy by mid to late next week. Going to winterize & help Al first. Might as well get one done at a time. Rick Ticket 85 SF Falmouth, MA

Rick, Cut loose the tabbing on the cabin bulkhead. The aft genny bulkhead was a pain. The tank follows the hull all the way down to a pad at the bilge level. The side wings are just about on the inboard stringers. Tank is also only a little over an inch clear of the bulkhead. Had to be REAL careful with the sawsall. Fortunately I had a couple of thick plaster cutting blades. Just kept my pliers handy to straighten out the blade when I either hit the tank or bounced out of the cut as I could only use the tip of the blade. After the 1st hole I drilled for blade access I thought I had gone through the tank as I smelled gas. Didn't hole the tank. Smell is from gas permeating out through the glass. Strange I could still smell it as we lifted the deck off yesterday. Have to cut the side plywood wings a little further away from the tank. That will allow me to use the sawsall all the way down & it will also get the wood away from the new tank. After that I think I can lift the cut bulkhead out of the way & then with wedges maybe I can pop the tank free. Back to the original thread: can anyone recommend a tank vendor? Al 1978 33 FBC NITES OFF

I have used these folks before for some projects and their work is excellent, and on time as well: http://seamount-mattson.com/tanks.htm They are located outside of Tampa, Florida.

Al, You're getting close ! I'll be there to inspect today. A few guys on the cape have recommended this place, I was planning on getting a quote from them. http://www.capeshoreswelding.com/ Rick Ticket 85 SF Falmouth, MA

Rich (Inspector) When cutting the aft/genny bulkhead, be very careful. The tank center goes all the way down to a flat pad. It's also only about an inch away from the bulkhead. Up forward on the sides of the tank there is a plywood support glassed to each side of the tank. If your boat is like mine, then get the longest blade for your sawsall that you can. The you can use the sawsall parralel to the exhaust & cut down & then under the tank. To cut the tabbing at the engine bulkhead I used a 4 1/2" angle grinder. That gut it all except at the corners. There the glass was wrapped down. Ended up using a 4" circular blade in a compressor driven die grinder. That was just able to reach down to complete the cut. Then put a beam across the cockpit & used a come-a-long to the lifting rings. A few cranks & the tank was free. Doug L, Bill D. & Frank P. are coming over at 0900 on Sat.(that's the middle of the nite for me) to help me with a pulling out tank party. If I go somewhere local I can bring them the whole tank as a pattern. Although now that I see how the tank sits all the way down into the bilge I'm more seriously thinking of the stainless steel option. Al 1978 33 FBC NITES OFF

Tanks Al for the tips. Mine's going to wait until next week. Rich

0900! That's early for a Saturday! Will there be donuts? Regards, Doug L. 1986 33 Bertram FBC Queen Elizabeth Marblehead, MA [img]http://www.bertram33.com/photogallery/p ... sabeth.jpg[/img]

And coffe?

I checked with High Tide in FLa this morning for my B35 and they said it would be $5k +?? for a new fiberglass tank and that they wouldn't make one without at least 3 orders. I'd assume the same holds for the B33 tanks. It's more money, but permanet and certified. I'm considering it for my B35. PS, read some of the post under the B35 section, there were some thoughts on SP Metals, you may want to consider. Good Luck JohnD

Hi Al & Rick, I have an 86 sportfish & think that if I have to replace the tank that I would like to replace it with a fiberglass tank. It sounds as if you are leaning towards a metal tank. If so, I was wondering why. I just placed a call to Nelson at GLASSTECH CORP. 3103 N.W. 20th Street Miami, Florida 33142 USA Ph: 305-633-6491 Fax: 305-635-5773 They're on the web at www.glass-tech.com. They make fiberglass parts for Bertrams & if I'm not mistaken made parts for original Bertram production. In any event I had him ship a swim platform up to me & installed it myself. It worked out great. I was thinking of trying to do the same thing if I replace the tank. He is out till Tuesday. I'll keep you posted Good luck Gerard

Hey Gerard, Thanks for the info, we'll definitely check in on them to see what they've got. As usual, the details are important here. How many ethanol proof tanks have they made and will they guarentee the performance, how much $$ and so on. The stainless steel tank looks like a very good option at the moment especially from a price perspective. Since the guys we're talking to are making tanks for the Coast Guard, we're pretty confident that they know what they're doing. Rick Ticket 85 SF Falmouth, MA

Talking with Al this morning after we lifted out his fuel tank, sounds like stainless is a fantastic way to go. Fiberglass is way overpriced and I'm not willing to take the beating as far as price goes. If I was going to keep the boat for 25 years then it might be worth it, but I'm not. Not that I'm ready to do it, but if I had to it would be stainless. Bill 33 FBC Ipswich, Ma. [img]http://www.bertram33.com/photogallery/p ... a_Rose.jpg[/img]