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Aluminum vs Polyethylen Gas Tanks
Posted: Fri Apr 16, 2010 3:29 pm
by Fishblues
For a F32, Your thoughts all...
Posted: Fri Apr 16, 2010 5:37 pm
by k9th
Either is equally good in my opinion. Many new boat manufacturers use aluminum tanks and some use coatings on the tanks. Thunderbird/Formula boats uses aluminum with a porcelain coating.
Aluminum will be easier to get in your particular size since plastic tanks are blow molded and require molds. Good luck finding the exact size. Aluminum tank manufacturers usually do not charge a fee for custom sizes since there is no such thing as a standard size and most of their tanks are custom.
I am replacing the tanks on my '79 Tri-cabin right now and was hoping to use plastic but could not find blow molded tanks my exact size so I am going with aluminum.
Posted: Fri Apr 16, 2010 9:23 pm
by Danny Bailey
Poly is great and preferable up to 26 gallons or so because they do not corrode. I don't think you're going to find any big enough for an F-32 and if you put in several small poly tanks, then you are continually switching tanks.
Posted: Fri Apr 16, 2010 10:42 pm
by prowlersfish
The boats I seen with the poly tanks ,you can smell gas on them
Posted: Sat Apr 17, 2010 6:21 am
by alexander38
Paul beat to the smell thing. they also flex a lot when as big as you need, go alum.
Posted: Sun Apr 18, 2010 10:21 am
by g36
i posted this on your other question but it appears some reponders to this did not look at that thread to see the tanks i listed.
check the thread below and then go to the bottom of the page moeller 58 gallon tank plenty big for one side of an f32 when the originals were 62 gallon round
is it worth twice or more of the cost to have an aluminum tank made?. .if they are certified for use where you are going to place them then its your call.
these will fit easily under the cockpit in a f32
http://www.moellermarine.com/aftermarke ... ent_tanks/
Posted: Sun Apr 18, 2010 1:00 pm
by prowlersfish
is it worth twice or more of the cost to have an aluminum tank made?.
Yes for me it would be
Posted: Sun Apr 18, 2010 1:59 pm
by g36
prowlersfish wrote:is it worth twice or more of the cost to have an aluminum tank made?.
Yes for me it would be
to each his own. maybe the costs are prohibitive of some people to spend twice as much or more.
simply my point is there are options and some replied in this thread they didnt know that plastic tanks were made that large.
answer yes they are.
Posted: Sun Apr 18, 2010 2:42 pm
by prowlersfish
My resoning is I hate the smell of gas and you can always smell fumes with the plastic tanks if they have been install for more then a year or 2 . But they are cheap for sure , but you can find good deals on alum. tanks that are premade also.
http://www.marine-fueltank.com/
Posted: Sun Apr 18, 2010 6:36 pm
by Fishblues
Thanks for all the responses. The quote I got from two sources where the same for aluminum $950 and change per tank plus a $180 for shipping.
Total $2,080
The Moeller tanks seem to be the best polyethylene ones available at about $320 each plus about $90 for shipping.
Total $730
The pro's and con's seem to be;
Poly will not rust or corrode due to salt water like aluminum, they will not crack due to stress, they are lighter weight...
Aluminum will not smell and may be better for re-sale value...
I'm still confused.
Posted: Sun Apr 18, 2010 7:16 pm
by prowlersfish