My Al fuel tank leaks. I need a new one. Current tank is a 30-gal belly tank. I want to replace it with a 40-gal (there is plenty of space under there).

Anybody have a recomendation for someone to fab the tank?

How about the rest of the work? I got some preliminary bids that pretty much blew my socks off -- $2000-$3000. I know part of the carpeted wood floor has to come out and then get glassed back in, but jeez, that seems like a lot.

COASTLINE EQUIPMENT
2235 E. BAKERVIEW RD
BELLINGHAM WA 98226

360 ) 734-8509

They do a lot of OEM work....

I'd try a prefab. You should be able to buy a suitable tank for $200. Unless you really want aluminum, I can't see any reason to have one custom built. It doesn't seem like 2000-3000 is a good price at all. I'd consider putting a hatch in before I'd pay that much.

ballard sheet metal did up a 60 gallon stainless steel diesel tank for my sailboat.

They did nice work and were the most reasonable of all the places I checked with.

you might consider prefab plastic. they make alot of different shapes and are really easy to do yourself.

My dad and I did his tank about 15 years ago, and he hasn't had a problem since... It only took us a weekend including the fiberglass work... Its really not too difficult a project.

I had a 50 gal aluminum tank fabricated about 7 years ago and it cost about $425. The guy works out of his home just south of Boeing field. I think it was 1/2 a block from Seattle Refrigeration. I could probably give you the tel number and address if I were home, but I'm 120 miles southwest of Neah Bay and I wouldn't be getting home until 21 Aug. If you check out the area, you might see some of the metal sheets by his garage.

Deepwater

Thanks for the advice guys.

I started the removal tonight -- shame on Reinell for how they installed the original tank.

1. No weep hole from the tank compartment to the bilge so water (and fuel now) just pooled up under and around the tank.

2. plywood (treated at least) used to build up the tank compartment was stapled onto the structural members -- no screws, a bit of glass here and there

3. the tank itself just sat in its compartment with no restraining straps -- I could wiggle it around a good inch or so side-to-side!! WTF? Is that SOP? I thought tanks had to be restrained.

I'm actually relieved now that I'm in there, as I'll be able to put it back together in a much more sturdy fashion. Yikes, the thought of that tank wallowing around down there out on the Sound just gives me the creeps.

As for custom vs. off-the-shelf, if I can find an off-the-shelf that fills the space, I'll get it, but my primary concern is to maximize the capacity of the new tank. 30 gal doesn't last very long with a carbureted 5.0 L.

Too bad I'll miss the entire Sockeye season this year :p . Maybe I'll go down to the Renton ramp with a lawn chair and a cooler and watch the mayhem

cant recall right now but there is a place in Bellingham that builds them we had a 120 gallon one built 5yrs ago for around 500 bucks out of Alum, there are only a few places that build them and then can "Coast Guard" certify them, dont do a homemade one, if ya blow up the Ins Co. wont cover ya or the people on board, call a few boat places they will know who they are up there.

Bud.

Cabelas used to make custom tanks. I designed a tank for my uncles airboat and in 2-3 weeks it arrived. Can't remember what it cost, but it was around a 40 gal.

just a question for y'all... not and expert when it comes to fuels and the reaction with metals....

A little history... when I had the tank made for my sailboat stainless was slightly cheeper than aluminum I think mainly due to the welding process. The tank was almost equal in weight as a comparable aluminum tank because it could be made from thinner wall material...

Is there any reason why you couldn't use stainless for gasoline?? I know you dont have as much an issue with galvanic corrosion with stainless vs aluminum...

FG... if you do go with a custom tank make sure you have it pressure tested (most if not all of the tank fab places include this in the cost)... always to be better safe than sorry...

(edited for piss poor spelling)

http://www.cabelas.com/cabelas/en/templa...&parentId=cat42 0004&parentType=index&rid=&cmCat=MainCatcat21276&_DARGS=%2Fcabelas%2Fen%2Fcommon%2Fcatalog%2Fitem-link.jhtml.2_A&_DAV=http%3A%2F%2Fa1460.g.akamai.net%2Ff%2F1460%2F1339%2F6h%2Fwww.c abelas.com%2Fcabelas%2Fen%2Fcontent%2FPod%2F00%2F11%2F26%2Fp001126ii02.jpg&hasJS=true


believe it or not thats the address to the cabelas page you want. they also have premade plastice below deck tanks.

Update:

1. The original tank had developed a pinhole leak at the rear center corner, due to rubbing and corrosion. The front center corner was badly corroded as well, and would have let go soon enough.

2. There was indeed a drain tube, but the numbskulls at the factory who finished out the bilge blocked it up with a glob of gelcoat.

3. Coastline in Bellingham will make me a new tank no problem, but they can't get to it until the end of August.

4. I can't find a plastic tank of sufficient capacity that fits in the compartment, and I don't know of anyone who makes plastic custom tanks, so that's not an option.

5. I'm waiting on a bid from American Tanks in California. They say they are only a week out.

6. If all else fails, RDS Industries makes a 40-gallon that would fit, and either West Marine or Fore and Aft Marine may have it in stock ready to ship.

FG,

When you install the new tank. (make sure that it's a CG approved one as you become liable if it isn't) Lay strips of rubber in the space before the tank goes in. This will give it chafe protection. Clear the limber hole so any water can drain out.