Contractor to build fuel tanks
 

Hello all,

New member Greg here. I would like to know if anyone is familiar with Alumiworx in Ocala Florida. The street address is 1544 SE 13th St. I found the company listing fuel tanks on eBay and emailed them not realizing they have a website alumiworx.com. I have inquired to have 2 tanks built 96" long x 20" wide x 7" tall. Dave at alumiworx told me they will be fabbing with 5052 1/8" stock at a price of $784 per tank and $316 for FedEx Ground. Please advise if anyone here is familiar with their work. Also, I would appreciate if anyone on the West Coast could recommend a builder there as I am in Hawaii and shipping from the West side will be much cheaper. I have contacted Berry Sheet Metal in Costa Mesa, CA and was quoted ~ $450 per tank for 1/8" aluminum stock. I need to follow up with them. Any comments/advice will be greatly appreciated. Thanks for the help. Aloha :cool:, Greg

Re: Contractor to build fuel tanks
 

Not to change the subject but, I thought 3/16" was the thickness you would want??

Re: Contractor to build fuel tanks
 

My tank guy charges $7/gallon (+-)
1/8" up to 150 gallons
3/16" 150 & over

Re: Contractor to build fuel tanks
 

Doug....who's your tank guy...??

Re: Contractor to build fuel tanks
 

Greg-

Have you tried any of the local welders in your area? A while back I had a welder within 1/2 mile from were I live do one for my 23 SeaCraft. I brought the old tank down and he copied it. I would think there should be some certified welders in your area qualified to do fuel tanks.

strick

Re: Contractor to build fuel tanks
 

Strick,

Due to being in the middle of the Pacific Ocean shipping adds a ton of overhead to materials. The top fab shop here wants $3100/pair for aluminum and $3600 for stainless. I am a sheet metal apprentice and aluminum stock will run me $1342 and stainless $1162 if I layout and bend myself plus what I owe my welder. Alumiwork has quoted me $2200/pair for 5052 1/8" stock shipped FedEx Ground. A shop in Costa Mesa who specializes in marine tanks quoted me roughly $450/ea. per tank with 1/8" aluminum plus shipping. What's your take on aluminum vs. stainless? My understanding is the weld on aluminum is less prone to deterioration than that on stainless. Let me know what you think. Aloha, Greg

Re: Contractor to build fuel tanks
 

Doug thanks for the info. Would your guy be willing to ship to Hawaii? Alumiwork in Ocala, FL quoted me $316 (per tank I believe) via FedEx Ground. Can you send me his email contact or phone#? Aloha, Greg

Re: Contractor to build fuel tanks
 

Thanks for the input Reelescape. 1/8" is pretty common in Hawaii. I am sure 3/16" is more than adequate. Aloha, Greg

Re: Contractor to build fuel tanks
 

Greg, sounds like you have done some research, not sure if this helps,
. Found a builder through the Maintenance Shop of a small airplane training school they had twenty planes or more that replace aircraft grade aluminum tanks from time to time, my friend was a mechanic their and helped ,he’s moved back home to California but may have an idea, If you can’t find an outlet , Also not sure of your proximity to the floor/deck ( with tank installed) but you may have to keep the fill tube like the original in height so it doesn’t raise into the floor/deck. This happened to me. The builders cut a square out of the old tanks fill tubes and welded back into the new one. Good Luck with this.

John

Re: Contractor to build fuel tanks
 

John,

Thanks for the comeback. The tanks are corroded on the bottom side corner and lower side wall. Each tank is pitted right through and crumbles to dust when I touch or brush my finger over the corroded area(s) :eek:. The builder put the tank flat in a coffin box with 2 part foam. Saltwater got into the area and it was sealed so air flow was severely restricted if at all. Funny how that works because if it was sealed then the water wouldn't have gotten in to begin with [img]/forum/images/graemlins/tongue.gif[/img]. The tanks have to be built to the same spec as I don't want to modify the floor line. Let me know what your friend comes up with re: finding a tank builder on the West Coast. Thanks, Greg

Re: Contractor to build fuel tanks
 

Here's one I found on the left coast:

http://www.americantanks.net/overview.htm

Another thing you can try is calling this place and asking if he knows of anyone on the west coast. They are pretty friendly.

http://www.lutherswelding.com/marine_tank_builders.html

Re: Contractor to build fuel tanks
 

Greg,

Search for the post, "Find Source for Fuel tank" you will find a lot of info, including my post. I had two tanks made from 3/16, both 75 gallons and they were angled to match the hull. They cost me arbout 1700.00 to my door (200.00) shipping for both. If you have a DHL account, and you have them shipped DHL you should be able to save a lot over UPS. www.speedytanks.com, ask for John. Your rectangular 58.0 gallon tanks shoud be cheaper.


PS, Pics are coming soon, I had to go back to work !!!

Good Luck,

Dan

Re: Contractor to build fuel tanks
 

Sorry for the delay - been a bit busy!
Alloy Metalworks
Verdi St, Farmingdale, NY
(631)694-8163
His name is Phil
I am sure he would ship, but you could probably find someone closer...

Re: Contractor to build fuel tanks
 

Rich,

Thanks for the help. I found a telephone contact for American Tanks and was planning on calling them. You had more info than what I got and it helped. Unfortunately the toll free # didn't work from Hawaii :( guess we're to far. I called them and emailed with the address that was on the link you provided. Thanks a ton :D, Greg

Re: Contractor to build fuel tanks
 

Thanks Dan ;) and lots of sunny aloha from Hawaii :cool:! Take it easy and thanks for the info. Greg

Re: Contractor to build fuel tanks
 

Thanks Doug. I will check your guy out in the next couple of days as I am contacting West Cost builders and fielding roofing/termite fumigation contractors . This website is THE GREATEST :D Really helps having friends you can count on when you are stuck on a rock in the middle of the ocean! Aloha, Greg