Bertram31.com General Bulletin Board

Re: FUEL TANK *LINK*

Posted By: Mike Dolan
Date: Thursday, 27 October 2005, at 9:24 p.m.

In Response To: Re: FUEL TANK (Walter Kaprielian)

I put a 240 gallon Aluminum tank in last winter.

I have several pics of the install on my website.

I even show some pics of the alum prep, and devtar coating I used.

I was originally going to have a fiberglass tank built, but by the time I got around to ordering I just couldn't get a good enough feeling about spending the money with the only fabricator I could find. Cabrera in Fla. wanted over $3k for the tank, and then $250 to strap it to a crate, and $500 to ship to NJ. They were also very inefficient at answering my questions about dimensions and delivery. They just didn't give me the level of confidence I needed to spend that kind of money site unseen. Word is there quality is terrific, but may lack on the customer service end.

Monel is also very expensive, I didn't find anyone that would work with it.

Stainless is not used as often because most feel it is to brittle. I found a company that exclusively fabricated stainless tanks, don't recall the name, but I was pretty confident that one of their tanks would have worked fine. They had a website, with many pictures of tanks they manufactured for the coast guard. If nobody chimes in with the name, google them.

Aluminum is inexpensive and commonly used. I believe if you keep it dry it will last at least 10 years. I had my tank fabricated with .25" Aluminum. It cost me a little less then $2000, and this included the coatings, and spacers for the feet. The lead time was less then 2 weeks, and I was able to find 3 companies to quote within a 1/2 hour from my home. I hated to go aluminum, but in the end it just seems like the only sensible option.

If I need to replace it in ten years so be it, It really isn't that difficult to get to.

Don't try and squeeze more then 250 gallons, even at 240, with a 40 gallon tank mid ship at the galley, she really runs to proud, and sits to low at the stern, water line dropped 2 inches at transom.

good luck

http://www.lightningshack.com

Messages In This Thread

FUEL TANK
craig mac -- Thursday, 27 October 2005, at 4:41 p.m.

Re: FUEL TANK
mike ohlstein -- Thursday, 27 October 2005, at 4:59 p.m.

Re: FUEL TANK
Vic Roy -- Thursday, 27 October 2005, at 5:34 p.m.

Re: FUEL TANK
Walter Kaprielian -- Thursday, 27 October 2005, at 7:10 p.m.

Re: FUEL TANK *LINK*
Mike Dolan -- Thursday, 27 October 2005, at 9:24 p.m.

Re: FUEL TANK *LINK*
Capt. Dave Kosh -- Friday, 28 October 2005, at 10:23 a.m.

Re: FUEL TANK
Carl -- Friday, 28 October 2005, at 12:03 p.m.

Re: FUEL TANK
Capt. Dave Kosh -- Friday, 28 October 2005, at 5:35 p.m.

Re: FUEL TANK
Carl -- Friday, 28 October 2005, at 5:46 p.m.

Re: FUEL TANK
Walter Kaprielian -- Friday, 28 October 2005, at 6:52 p.m.

Re: FUEL TANK
Bob Higgins -- Friday, 28 October 2005, at 9:32 p.m.

Re: FUEL TANK
Fred -- Sunday, 30 October 2005, at 12:41 p.m.

Re: FUEL TANK
randall -- Sunday, 30 October 2005, at 1:14 p.m.

Re: FUEL TANK
Walter Kaprielian -- Sunday, 30 October 2005, at 1:20 p.m.

Re: FUEL TANK
bob fioresi -- Monday, 31 October 2005, at 10:10 a.m.