Fuel Tank

[Johnny]

I pulled my below deck fuel tank from my 22 Sisu. It is aluminum
56"L x 24"W x 7" deep. I would like new fill, breather and pick up tube installed. I then thought I may want to replace with a cross linked polyethylen tank but I can not find a stock Poly tank in these demensions. The tank is 24 years in service and I have not seen the inside at this point. Any suggestions, I'm in mid coast Maine but my job does bring me throughout New England.

[JohnR]

Scope the inside of the tank. It may be fine for another 22 years. What will 22 years of increasing ethanol content do to a Poly tank?

[Mr. Sandman]

The fact you already have it out...just replace the entire thing it with the same. 22 years is a long time for a tank of any kind. I bet in another 22 years you have another boat.
Having a brand new tank, hose , pick-up fuel system will give you something not to worry about for a couple more decades.

[keeperreaper]

I did mine 2 years ago in my 21 Steiger. Not that hard to do. Like Sandman said do the whole fuel system and forget about it. If you have any questions feel free to pm me.

[beamie]

I would try to go with the Moeller poly tanks. The best stock size you can fit. This is what I did last year. Really can't beat it for the money. Once you start talking custom aluminum your talking some bucks.

Can you move the tank around any. Or put 2 in the place of one?

I have seen aluminum tanks waste away from outside with localised oxidation spots more than from the inside.

Definitely do everything since you have it out, new vent, fill, supply lines....alcohol free of course.

Plastic is the best choice when dealing with ethonol. Aluminum from what I have read with ethanol over time may be an issue too.

[freebie]

call Luther's Welding in RI. Theyve done a few for us and are very reasonable. I wouldn't do a poly tank under deck unless it was custom made for the boat. They flex too much.

[TheSpecialist]

Not looking forward to it, but I need to do in the spring.

[zacs]

Originally Posted by JohnR

... What will 22 years of increasing ethanol content do to a Poly tank?

you could store 100% ethanol in a poly tank... it is impervious.

Go with the poly tank if you can, I have one and am very happy with it.

Zac

[Johnny]

Thanks for all the replies, I will be replacing the tank and all hoses as a few of you recommended. I feel the cross linked poly tank from Moiller (spell check) would be fine but I am going with aluminum. The cost will be $400. The 40 gal tank will have two bavels. The company doing the work is Espisedos out of Ellsworth Maine.

[beamie]

Johnny,

$400 Isn't bad at all for a custom aluminum. I think plastic is the best material but at least if you make it you can get it exactly how you want it. You really may want to coat the tank in a few coats of west system epoxy as I said in my post if there is a local spot where the anodize fails etc etc.

[Johnny]

I wanted a Moeller tank but after looking at what I think is all their tanks I did not find one that is 56"L x 24"W x 7" deep. Sounds difficutl to coat the tank with west system epoxy, in the past I sprayed them with aluminium primer paint and then rolled on an automotive under coating paint.

[Johnny]

Originally Posted by beamie

Johnny,

$400 Isn't bad at all for a custom aluminum. I think plastic is the best material but at least if you make it you can get it exactly how you want it. You really may want to coat the tank in a few coats of west system epoxy as I said in my post if there is a local spot where the anodize fails etc etc.

Beamie, I just picked up the tank and wanted you to know the man agreed with you about coating the tank, he epoxy coated the tank for me for $50 and he also installed two pick up tubes side by side so if for any reason there was ever a problem with the pick up I can switch to the other pick up tube simple by throwing a valve. All for $450

[beamie]

That's good news.....now or never....