Fuel Tank Pitting_ how much is too much?
 

Looking at the fuel tank today and pulled off the rubber strips that apparently were installed by the tank manufacturer. The only pitting on the tank is under the rubber strips. Very little pitting overall on the tank. This is the worst area on the tank and I am wondering if this one spot has killed the tank? I dropped it by the local welding shop and they are going to look at it and determine if it can be repaired? Anyone have a fuel tank repaired?
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...psd6edba61.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...psc56ea790.jpg

That looks ruff, I would look at getting a new tank while you are doing so much already. Bad to do everything you are doing and skimp on the tank. My dad is the shop foreman at Custom Marine here in Newbern and he has done welding repairs on aluminum tanks before so it could be fixed but I thinks it would need a whole New bottom welded on it. My guess you will spend about half getting a new bottom as a whole new one.

Those pits look fairly deep - hope the walls are 3/16". My original one was 1/8" w similar pits - sent it to recycling. I just got a quote from Sunshine - price was pretty reasonable.

Brian

I think you can fair it with Epoxo 88 if not too large of an area. I have used this stuff on aluminum before. Great adhersion, sand and cold tar/zinc chromate afterwards. Maybe this would be a less expensive alternative? Be sure to wire brush & clean the pitting areas real good first before you mix it. You only have 6 mins to work with so a little at a time. Maybe a pressure test would be in order.

A new tank might be your best bet..................Good Luck

Go Here---------------> http://fiberglasssupplydepot.com/FAS...-88-PASTE.html

If you decide to fix it, be very very careful to make sure you have found all the pits and cleaned them out very thoroughly. Its way too easy to overlook what appears to be minor corrosion, when there is a deep pit underneath it.

One question..

Is your life worth the cost of a new tank ??

I would consider replacing!

Agree with the above, that looks pretty bad , i would replace it. If it was in the top of the tank a repair might not be as risky, in the bottom you could end up with a bilge full of fuel. And thats not good

I know the cost of these rebuilds can get out of hand, but this is no place for short cuts. I've done 2 partial rebuilds, and I'm a low budget guy, but fuel tank replacement was always a requirement. When I pulled the tank from my 23, it looked better than yours, but I replaced it anyways.

You know that tanks has pits, and there is no patch that will give you peace of mind. Bite the bullet and get a new tank, maybe you can gain some fuel capacity:D

Be sure to epoxy coat the tank and use these when you install the new tank.
http://boatbuildercentral.com/prodde...4#.U0XpRxZOTdk

Good luck

Lloyd

No matter what the thickness is of the tank, the pitting looks like it goes half way through the tank- I don't like the looks of it at all. When doing anything with gasoline or gas tank systems; remember that the awesome fiery explosions in action- adventure movies are done with GASOLINE.

Safer is better; skimp on something else, or slow the project down so that the budget can catch up.

Good Luck

Pitted tank
 

I suppose you could consider Capt. Chuck's procedure and then wire wheel the entire tank down and wrap it with a couple layers of epoxy and cloth. If you lay right up to the sending unit and fitting bosses and then wipe the transition area with liquid electrical tape, I've found it allows you to remove the sending unit or change the fitting if you ever need to but keeps the water from trying to work between the epoxy shell and the aluminum tank. I just did that procedure to a brand new tank, because I hate doing the same thing twice - even if they're decades in between the occasions.

Brian FYI -
The new thick walled tank I just bought was 75 gallons, had three pick-ups, vent, fill, sending unit, was "vee" bottomed and ran about $785 with tax - Mattson Seamount, Tampa. They can weld up anything except "A broken heart" or the "Crack of Dawn"!!

Thanks guys. I think I am going to order two new tanks. Thing that pisses me off is that the only corrosion on the tank occurred under the rubber strips that were installed by the manufacturer and were supposed to protect the tank. I really didn't like the looks of that area of the tank and not sure I could ever be comfortable with it.

tank
 

I had the same issues with my tank. The pitting was exactly under the rubber strips. Although it was not as bad as yours. I scrapped the tank... It was in pristine condition.. Inside and out other than the pitting... But after all the work that it takes to redo the boat , and the risk of killing myself or family.members before we can enjoy this boat rehab.. I decided to replace tank...tanks r cheap compared to ones life.

"I decided to replace tank...tanks r cheap compared to ones life."

'nuff said!

Some place on more than one thread I have referred to an article of a boat surveyor and his recommendation for installing an aluminum fuel tank. I would give you a web address to check out the article, however a divorce situation has separated me from my usual computer and saved items and this loaned unit. If I should remember, I will get the information out there again.