HOW LONG DO ALUMINUM GAS TANKS LAST

[DAMRAMFISH]

I BOUGHT A 1991 20FT TROPHY WALKAROUND AS MY RETIREMENT BOAT. I WANT TO MAKE ALL THE REPAIRS THAT I MIGHT HAVE TO LAST 10 YEARS. THE TANK WHAT I SEE OF IT LOOKS GOOD AND THERE IS NO LEAKING GAS OR FUMES. MY BROTHER SAID HE TOUGHT THE TANK ONLY LAST 10 YEARS. I AM GOING TO REPLACE THE HOSES. IT SEAMS TO ME THEY SHOULD LAST A LONG TIME. THE BOAT WAS USED IN SALTWATER FOR A FEW YEARS. I HAVE A 1976 18FT STARCRAFT WITH A 18 GALLON STEEL TANK THAT STILL WORKS. SHOULD I WORRY ABOUT THE TANK. ANY HELP WOULD BE APPECIATED.

 

[Boomyal]

Re: HOW LONG DO ALUMINUM GAS TANKS LAST

The 30 gallon aluminum tank in my 30 y/o boat is still serviceable. I just pulled it out last summer, the gas tank bay was full of water, undoubtedly some of it salt.<br /><br />I had a number of pits in the outside surface but absolutely none on the low point in the inside of the tank.<br /><br />The pits appeared to be about half way thru the aluminum. I cleaned the tank, applied MarineTek putty over all of the pits then overcoated the whole tank with liquid MarineTek before I reinstalled it.<br /><br />I don't know how long all of the water had been in the bay but I expect, considering how the water got in there, that it had been there for some time.<br /><br />In otherwords if your tank environment is dry, and you don't let water accumulate inside the tank, it's probably good for the distance.<br /><br />AND BY THE WAY DAMRAMFISH, IT'S RUDE TO SHOUT!

 

[Ralph 123]

Re: HOW LONG DO ALUMINUM GAS TANKS LAST

Same here Boom. Heard a pro say 15 years is typical longer depends on how well it was installed in the beginning (i.e., how well it was prevented from allowing to corrode.)

 

[f_inscreenname]

Re: HOW LONG DO ALUMINUM GAS TANKS LAST

33 year old boat over there had one installed from the factory. Its still just like new.

 

[prockvoan]

Re: HOW LONG DO ALUMINUM GAS TANKS LAST

My tanks,(100 gals each)are from a 1984.Had pulled them and found pitting in the bottom outside.Took them to a weld shop for welding.After that I incased them in fiberglass.Tested them at 4.7 psig for 24 hours per USCG.looking good!Them pits came from rubber straps that were under the tanks.Saltwater got inbetween the tank and the rubber which mixed together pulls carbon out of the rubber.