Fabricating Diesel Tanks

[emichaels]

I need to fab up a simple diesel tank for our Alden 21. I vaguely remember reading, years ago, something about fabricating diesel tanks out of fiberglassed construction. Essentially plywood box made to the shape needed and glassed inside and out. Vent and fill fittings and outlet. Is my memory really bad and was that reading about water tanks ?

Eric

[kc8pql]

I built my water tanks that way. The Gougeon's book has the method. They don't recommend doing fuel tanks though. Wood/glass fuel tanks probably aren't going to go down real well with your insurance company either.

[Concordia...41]

Make it if you want, but if you Google custom+ aluminum+ fuel+ tank I think you'll see that you can specify your dimensions - square, rectangle, even round.

Most of the fabricators have sites where you put in your dimensions, specify where you want the fittings, and they spit out a price instantly. Worst case scenario you might have to give your e-mail to get a quote.

I found the prices were definitely less than West and often less than Port Supply. Some even had a two-week turnaround. One turned it around in two weeks and included shipping for less than the list price of a smilar tank.

However, I waited until the last minute and ended up with a 39 gal. rectangle from Port Supply. :rolleyes:

Probably a good thing as I would have maxed out the space to gain a couple more gallons. As the installation progressed, it turned out tha a little room to spare was a nice thing. :D

[emichaels]

Thanks Margo I had not thought of a fab shop doing one for me. I'll check that out. I suppose I was remembering water tanks......also a good thing.



Are diesel tanks usually aluminum??

Eric

[Concordia...41]

Are diesel tanks usually aluminum??


Redbopeep just had a major thread on this subject. I think here in B&R - if not, Misc. Boat.

Cheers!

- M

[Oscarvan]

I had an aluminum tank fabricated at a PROPER shop.....pressure tested and compliant with applicable standards..... A very nice job..... more here:

http://www.speedytanks.com/about/index.html

[Tylerdurden]

For small tanks I weld them up out of HDPE. With some planning you can stuff them in any space.
Anything over ten or twenty gallons I think I would prefer a Metal tank but for small craft poly is very inviting.

[emichaels]

Hmmm.
I took Margo's suggestion and ran with it to see where it would lead. Got 2 quotes back pretty quickly and pretty near the same. A fabbed up aluminum tank sounds nice and clean and solid. But alas, I must explore options.

Can a person use the RED plastic gas tanks that are used in smaller power boats with diesel fuel. Or...are there yellow tanks of that design ?? A google search seemed to only produce the RED ones.

Eric

[Nick C]

While it was possible to fabricate tanks from fiberglass it is tricky business. You have to reduce the hardner just the right amount in the epoxy to get a good enough cure.

The problem is that diesel and gas are going through reformulations and aren't the same as they used to be. Other issues are using fuel stabilizers and algae killers. Then there is the bio diesel option that adds methanol.
These new product combinations play havoc on old fiberglass tanks by causing the resin to soften and goo up. Next it gets into your filter and it's game over.

[donald branscom]

Thanks Margo I had not thought of a fab shop doing one for me. I'll check that out. I suppose I was remembering water tanks......also a good thing.



Are diesel tanks usually aluminum??

Eric

Aluminum tanks are not a good idea. Aluminum condensates 3.5 times more than steel. (moisture in your fuel), Steel is a lot less expensive.
You can buy tanks made out of grey abs plastic that are Coast Guard approved AND have all the proper fitting already on them.
If you wanted you could put those inside of a wood/fiberglass box or steel box for safety.