Fuel Tank Materials

Mac32 · Post by **Mac32** » Fri Mar 28, 2008 2:20 pm

Ok, I have a 1976 f32 that had both rear tanks and side saddle tanks replaced with 1/8" thick florida marine aluminm tanks back in 1989 (this was the manufacturing stamp on the tank). One of the side saddle tanks decided to spring a leak somewhere I cannot get to but I am sure it is near a corner.

So now it is time to look at replacing them (maybe all) again. My gut feel is since the installation looks good (mounted on fiberglass grid, not wood) that I was bitten by the ethanol bug when the boat sat for the last few years.

I have been doing alot of research on tank material the past few days and am starting to sway my opinion to the cross-linked polyethylene tanks for permanant mounting like the ones Moeller has to offer
http://www.moellermarine.com/aftermarke ... ent_tanks/

They are a little less expensive and from what I am reading they will last much longer than aluminum and stainless.

here is a good link to another thread tha has most of the options for manufacturers in a link half way down the page. http://www.boatdesign.net/forums/showthread.php?t=11403

Whats the opinions from the gang here????

randyp · Post by **randyp** » Fri Mar 28, 2008 4:31 pm

I replaced the original galvanized steel tank on m F-26 with cross linked polyethylene in 1999. It's been fine ever since. Water absorbtion in gas due to ethanol content will still occur, regardless of the tank, if the gas is allowed to stay in the tank for long periods of time. There's a lot of info on this at boat/us site if you want to check it out. Hope that helps.

everus · Post by **everus** » Fri Mar 28, 2008 4:46 pm

I also have four tanks in my 73 F32. Mine are original and NO leaks at all! They are all hot dipped galvanized. I spoke to a long time marine surveyor who told me that HE has never seen a leak in 73-74 Trojan F32 HOT DIPPED tanks. A bud of mine has a 1978 F32 and the tanks ARE NOT the same as mine and may or may not have been replaced at some point. He has leak problems. My question is 2fold. #1 Did Trojan change the type or quality of tank they used at some time in F32's? #2 Why not use hot dipped galvanized over aluminum or plastic?

prowlersfish · Post by **prowlersfish** » Fri Mar 28, 2008 7:55 pm

I have seen many galvanized tanks fail on trojans .( and others ) I don't think any boat builder is them any more and for good resone. there is no pefect tank but for my money aluminm is they way to go . most aluminm tanks fail on the mountings were it holds moisture most fail from the out side . poly /plastic tanks have issues with smell , that is you can smell gas thru them . I would think the life of the poly and aluminm would be much longer the galvanized tanks . I don't think any one makes galvanized thanks for boats anymore.