Fuel Tank Replacement

kohna · Post by **kohna** » Mon Oct 18, 2010 9:12 am

It appears at this time I may need to replace my 315 gallon fiberglass gasoline tank on my 33 FBC. Would you guys recommend inserting an aluminum tank inside the shell of the old tank, a bladder or removing the old tank and using a new aluminum tank to keep the capacity up. If you have done this before what costs am I looking at[?]

Buy2ls · Post by **Buy2ls** » Mon Oct 18, 2010 10:47 am

Go with a new aluminum tank, remove old one.

kohna · Post by **kohna** » Mon Oct 18, 2010 11:19 am

Buy2ls, That was my thinking as well. I have heard from a Yacht service company that insurance has paid off on a failed tank on a Bertram that they replaced a tank on. Have any of you heard of this?

lobsta1 · Post by **lobsta1** » Mon Oct 18, 2010 11:59 am

Gary, A few years ago a guy had a new aluminum tank put in a B35 here on the East Coast. Then he had it trucked to Seattle(??) with a full tank. When the boat got there, they found all the welded seams had let go. Gas was up over the floor boards in front of the head/vee berth. Al

h2ojst · Post by **h2ojst** » Mon Oct 18, 2010 12:16 pm

Doug, correct me if I'm wrong, but I've only heard of one tank failing & leaking, correct? All the other tank issues have been sludge & gunk from ethanol use. Gary, send me your e-mail so we can go over the diagnosis in more detail. Joe Tomaini 1988 Sportfish Attitude Adjustment II Fort Lauderdale, FL

lobsta1 · Post by **lobsta1** » Mon Oct 18, 2010 12:19 pm

Gary, This thread is from my tank install. After about 1982, Bert moved the tank aft so the aft bulkhead would not have to be cut out like I had to do. http://www.bertram33.com/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=885 The following thread is from Rick's install on Tickett. It's a SF. but the under deck set up is similar to the post 1982 FBC's. http://www.bertram33.com/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=883 Al

buzzk · Post by **buzzk** » Mon Oct 18, 2010 1:22 pm

I'm with Joe, I've only heard of one tank failing without ethanol being involved. Can you tell us more about the leak, location, size etc. If I was going to install a tank. I would want a new 315 gallon tank. My boat came from the factory with gas and was converted to diesel and I have the 315 gallon tank. Buzz

Rick · Post by **Rick** » Mon Oct 18, 2010 1:34 pm

Gary, Give Joe a couple of bucks and let him go take a look. Seriously, it'll be the best money you've spent yet and you'll know exactly where you stand. I completely understand if you want to do your own thing, we all do. But if you're wondering what you're going to do next, all the way from Texas; that's the way to go. Rick Ticket 85 SF Merc 454 MPI's Falmouth, MA

kohna · Post by **kohna** » Mon Oct 18, 2010 3:12 pm

I am having the tank pressure tested tomorrow. My project manager doesn't believe the tank failed. I will try to post some pics of the inside of the tank taken by Yachting Bliss that wants to install a tank if I figure out how to do it on the forum.

kohna · Post by **kohna** » Mon Oct 18, 2010 3:59 pm

Here are pictures inside the tank. http://www.aspe-houston.com/tank1.jpg http://www.aspe-houston.com/tank2.jpg

Buy2ls · Post by **Buy2ls** » Mon Oct 18, 2010 4:06 pm

As Vincent Price says in thriller "Funk of 40,000 years" Hey How about an above deck fuel bladder to get you home? Maybe you can sell it later and then have an aluminium tank made and installed on your terms!! http://www.hrpworld.com/googlebase.cfm? ... on=product

lobsta1 · Post by **lobsta1** » Mon Oct 18, 2010 5:34 pm

Gary, I can't tell from the pics if that is the gel coat coming off, OR if it is just layers of old dried up varnish from gas. The sides of the tank look pretty clean. I did not think a 1988 tank would falling apart. Here are a few pics from my tank after I opened it up. Problems showed at the rivets rusting & at the "top hat" joint. If the pics don't come out, go to the link. Al By the way, my tank had NO leaks. Top joint....... [img]http://www.bertram33.com/images/uploads/topjoint1.jpg[/img] Bottom of baffle with rusted out rivets....... [img]http://www.bertram33.com/images/uploads/rust1.jpg[/img] This is where the layers at the rivets were delaminating.. [img]http://www.bertram33.com/images/uploads/delam1.jpg[/img] http://www.bertram33.com/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=940

h2ojst · Post by **h2ojst** » Tue Oct 19, 2010 4:36 am

Let's see what the pressure test reveals. Just looks like varnish & crud in the bottom of the tank. Could whatever camera was used to take those pictures of the interior be used to sneak down the sides & bottom of the exterior to see if there is any evidence of leakage? Thanks for the vote of confidence, Rick. Joe Tomaini 1988 Sportfish Attitude Adjustment II Fort Lauderdale, FL

Post by **dougl33** » Tue Oct 19, 2010 5:05 am

I doubt very much that the tank has been compromised.

BECCA ROSE · Post by **BECCA ROSE** » Tue Oct 19, 2010 1:58 pm

Fuel Fill hose.