Fuel Tank replacement

[jere1972]

Need to regretfully cut open my deck and replace my tank horrific leak somewhere up front, it is currently aluminium 80 gallon, these are very expensive new, are the poly tanks any good? they are half to a 1/3 the price of aluminium, has anyone ever repaired their aluminium tank, I'm guessing the tank would have to be cut open to see how much interior corrosion has takin place, I have seen some $50-$100 below deck 40-60 gal used poly tanks on Craigslist, and several used aluminium, however not sure about putting a used aluminium tank back in!

 

[Chris1956]

Re: Fuel Tank replacement

Poly tanks are very good. They are better than aluminum, IMHO, because they do not corrode and don't leak.

Usually when an aluminum tank leaks it is from corrosion and a lot of the tank is near to leaking, pited from the same corrosion. That is why a repair is usually fruitless.

 

[Bondo]

Re: Fuel Tank replacement

Poly tanks are very good. They are better than aluminum, IMHO, because they do not corrode and don't leak.

Usually when an aluminum tank leaks it is from corrosion and a lot of the tank is near to leaking, pited from the same corrosion. That is why a repair is usually fruitless.

Ayuh,... Ditto that,... Plastic is Forever, so long as nothin' is rubbing against it...

 

[jere1972]

Re: Fuel Tank replacement

i WAS LEANING MORE TOWARDS THE PLASTIC TANKS, 1 THEY ARE CHEAPER, AND 2 THEY WILL NOT CORRODE, HOWEVer i'm a bit concerned about their stability, underdeck, I do run in heavy seas boat takes a beating some times, I'm concerned overtime the plastic will become brittle, and crack, but again the aluminium over time corrodes aswell! any one know if the sending units are universal? I found a marine salvage yard close to me, used plastic tanks run $2 per gallon of capacity, aluminium tanks run $2.50, but none come with sender, my sender is fine wonder if I can modify mine, I plan to scale back on size don't need 80 gallon, was thinking 50-60, and hoping to use the remaining space under deck to install a fish box!

 

[Chris1956]

Re: Fuel Tank replacement

Your sender will fit, if the new tank is the same height as the old.