I need a gas tank... Best place to get some?

Homerr

Commander
Joined
Mar 4, 2002
Messages
2,294
I'm getting close to needing to purchase a gas tank before I can finish glassing my floor in.<br /><br />Originally, the boat had one HUGE metal tank in it. I think it was around 75 gallons, and weighed half as much as the boat!<br /><br />I'm thinking of going to two poly tanks instead of one big one. Reason being: 1 tank out, 1 tank back to dock. A built in safety measure.<br />Another reason would be that two tanks are better than one in case one failed (and I'm still alive :eek: )<br /><br />Where can I get an 'off the shelf' poly tank? <br />It will need to be approx. 21" wide. The length doesn't matter, as I have approx. 7 to 8 feet to work with there.<br /><br />I don't necessarily need a poly tank. It can be aluminum. I definitely don't want steel again.<br /><br />I thought of making my own tank, but someone had mentioned the insurance issue.<br />I don't know what the problem would be, because if my home-made tank ever failed, I doubt I'd be alive to worry about it. :( <br /><br />Anyone ever make their own aluminum tank? What grade/type of aluminum did you use?<br /><br />I have a full machine shop at my disposal. I work primarily in aluminum, so I have all the benders, welders, etc...<br /><br />Thanks in advance,<br /><br />H.
 

Paul Moir

Admiral
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Nov 5, 2002
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6,847
Re: I need a gas tank... Best place to get some?

They actually sell plastic ones here (iboats):<br /> Tempo tanks<br />(A little pricey when x2 though.)
 

ED21

Master Chief Petty Officer
Joined
Aug 26, 2003
Messages
829
Re: I need a gas tank... Best place to get some?

Boat US sells a bunch of large & different shaped plastic tanks. I kind of like the one out & one back idea. I often do the same thing w/ two 6 gallon tanks. Have you checked iboats?
 

CTD

Petty Officer 1st Class
Joined
Nov 13, 2002
Messages
234
Re: I need a gas tank... Best place to get some?

There was an ad on e-bay a while back selling 23 gal tanks. They were long thin ones. He seemed to have several so he may still be advertising. e-bay is a good place to look anyway.
 

Seaboo2

Petty Officer 2nd Class
Joined
Jan 25, 2003
Messages
158
Re: I need a gas tank... Best place to get some?

They sell them in west marine and cabela's too.<br /><br /> I would stick with an off the shelf tank (for the simple reason if it does fail, and you are alive :eek: , finding an exact replacement is a little easier.
 

mellowyellow

Vice Admiral
Joined
Jun 8, 2002
Messages
5,327
Re: I need a gas tank... Best place to get some?

the only place I found an exact replacement was<br />boatersworld.com
 

snapperbait

Vice Admiral
Joined
Aug 20, 2002
Messages
5,754
Re: I need a gas tank... Best place to get some?

iboats first, if they don't have em' try overtons..
 

snapperbait

Vice Admiral
Joined
Aug 20, 2002
Messages
5,754
Re: I need a gas tank... Best place to get some?

do too MY.... ;) 12-50 gallons... search "fuel tank" ;)
 

Homerr

Commander
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Mar 4, 2002
Messages
2,294
Re: I need a gas tank... Best place to get some?

Thanks again for the help.<br /><br />I did some reading, and aluminum is NOT the way to go it would seem. Corrosion plays a major role there.<br /><br />I would like to get two 40 gallon tanks.<br /><br />22" wide maximum, height 10 to 20" maximum, and combined length: 8ft.<br /><br />Most tanks I've seen don't come in a straight "gallon" increment. It would be like 37 gallon, or 28 etc... Any reason they do this?<br /><br />H.
 

airman

Petty Officer 1st Class
Joined
Aug 9, 2003
Messages
332
Re: I need a gas tank... Best place to get some?

If you're good with aluminum, that's the route I would go. The tank in my Glassply is aluminum and going on 23 years now with no problems. Get a copy of the ABYC recommendation and your quality/safety should be fine.
 

18rabbit

Captain
Joined
Nov 14, 2003
Messages
3,202
Re: I need a gas tank... Best place to get some?

Homerr – how often did your 75-gal aluminum tank “fail?”<br /><br />I have a 29-year old aluminum tank on one of the boats that is as good as the day it arrived! We just had a tank fabricated for the other boat…200-gal aluminum. If anyone that is going to neglect their boat, by all means, synthetic is a better choice. <br /><br />When toting around a lot of fuel, I like aluminum. Fuel=weight and synthetic’s wall thickness=loss of space/capacity, there are flex and support issues… An exception would be glassed in tanks…fiberglass tanks built right into the boat. If you make your own aluminum tanks, in theory they need to be USCG certified…back to the insurance issue again.<br /><br />If you have a specific size/shape you want, you can have synthetic or aluminum tanks fabricated.<br /><br />BTW, it’s the “rule of thirds” … 1/3 out, 1/3 back, 1/3 for safety.
 
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