Trojan Boat Forum

on my 78 f32 i have just installed my new fuel tanks and also new deck fills, replacing the original galvanized with aluminum tanks. i have installed new rubber fuel hose to the deck fills but for safety should these also be connected to the boat bonding system. the tanks are but wasnt sure about the deck fills since using flex hose to them.
also i want to seal the gaps around the fuel hose where it passes through the floor to the engine room and a few other penetrations that i have found. what used to be there looks like it was putty which of course has dried and is useless now is expanding foam an option or something else better/safer? thanks for the comments

The fill should be grounded to the tank .

Ditto Paul. It's a static safety feature while fueling.

i was thinking that but thought i would ask

what about using the expanding foam etc for filling in floor/bulkhead penetrations?

Expanding foam is commonly used in new boat construction where passing wires, plumbing etc through bulkheads so I say you're good to go.

The fuel bonding wire is a USCG code of federal regulation. Resistance between the fuel fill deck connection and tank connection needs to be <100ohms per CFR . ABYC H24.15.1 STATES each metallic plated component of the fuel fill system, and fuel tank, which is in contact with the fuel, shall be grounded so that its resistance to the boats ground is less than 1 ohm.
Also when trying to achieve this ground H24.15.1.2 States---Grounding wires shall be not be clamped between the fill pipes and the flexible hose. This is directly out of the American boat & yacht council Standards book. CFR's are mandatory and Abyc are voluntary requirements unless stated in the CFRs.

So terminate your 8 gauge tinned stranded copper and pull out the fluke meter to see what your readings are.
While we are talking about it, please use double clamps on your fuel fill connections. That also is a mandatory requirement." iam sure you knew that one"
Hope this helps
Butch

Good info Butch .

bonding it shall be. wire is on order.

spray foam for the gaps thanks

double clamps on the fuel hose. i did that, since i had them on the originals i removed so i put 2 back on my new connections.
thanks for the info guys

the new aluminum tanks looked so nice it was hard to cover them up with the hatch.

i did get the wife to paint the bilge (i helped too)while i had my tanks out. the payment, well that was expensive

i wish i had a glass/acrylic cockpit floor you could then install some cool lights below and see those new tanks and also have a disco floor. what do you think?

Thanks for your post. I like this information,

thelast322 wrote:The fuel bonding wire is a USCG code of federal regulation. Resistance between the fuel fill deck connection and tank connection needs to be <100ohms per CFR . ABYC H24.15.1 STATES each metallic plated component of the fuel fill system, and fuel tank, which is in contact with the fuel, shall be grounded so that its resistance to the boats ground is less than 1 ohm.
Also when trying to achieve this ground H24.15.1.2 States---Grounding wires shall be not be clamped between the fill pipes and the flexible hose. This is directly out of the American boat & yacht council Standards book. CFR's are mandatory and Abyc are voluntary requirements unless stated in the CFRs.

So terminate your 8 gauge tinned stranded copper and pull out the fluke meter to see what your readings are.
While we are talking about it, please use double clamps on your fuel fill connections. That also is a mandatory requirement." iam sure you knew that one"
Hope this helps
Butch

Wow - Butch is the man!

Oh - I vote NO on the disco floor .. but would have voted yes 30 years ago!

Not to get off topic...but where have you been Butch?

What is the gauge of the new aluminium tanks? Some suppliers sell .90 but it is recomended that a minimum of .125 be used for replacements. Just FYI, under the current code of Federal Regulations, Chapter 1 U.S.C.G./Dept. of Homeland Security, Part 182, section182-440 all NEW Construction with aluminium tanks for 1-80 gals. must be a minimum of .250 gauge. Rich

Rich Schwochow wrote:What is the gauge of the new aluminium tanks? Some suppliers sell .90 but it is recomended that a minimum of .125 be used for replacements. Just FYI, under the current code of Federal Regulations, Chapter 1 U.S.C.G./Dept. of Homeland Security, Part 182, section182-440 all NEW Construction with aluminium tanks for 1-80 gals. must be a minimum of .250 gauge. Rich

my new tanks are 3/16 or 0.1875. i felt the 1/8 was to thin and i couldnt imagine something thinner than that like the .90. with the placement of the original bunks in the boat the company suggested the 3/16. i can stand on the side of them empty with no flexing. i think these will be more than adequate. these guys make tanks for lots of new installs also so im sure they have all their ducks in a row. the coast guard certification plates are on the tanks these will probably out last me

Rich Schwochow wrote:What is the gauge of the new aluminium tanks? Some suppliers sell .90 but it is recomended that a minimum of .125 be used for replacements. Just FYI, under the current code of Federal Regulations, Chapter 1 U.S.C.G./Dept. of Homeland Security, Part 182, section182-440 all NEW Construction with aluminium tanks for 1-80 gals. must be a minimum of .250 gauge. Rich

Can you give a link to this as I can not find any such info ? I asume ou mean .250" not .250 gauge ?