fuel tank questions

[reelclassic]

The Tank in my boat is only 3 years old....It has some "pitting" in about 4 or 5 places. I took it to the welding shop and he is telling me it has to be replaced. My ? is has anyone had a tank repaired? It has very small spots that are pitted. Seems to me that he could weld on a patch or heliarch some welding rod into the pitted spots? By the way the tank is not leaking. (alum. Tank)

[1bayouboy]

I think finding someone to weld on a Tank that has had fuel in it is a problem.....

How ddep is the pitting???

[Michael Vezzosi]

Do a search of RDSAluminum. So. Fla. and all custom tanks. Many, many tanks built for factory boats. Aluminum fuel tanks (diamond plate tool boxes as well). Very reasonable, Coast Guard approved quality stuff. I have a twenty gallon fuel cell in my Jersey Skiff, (coincidentally, tool box in my truck), and am designing two custom 15 gallon tanks for BW 15 Sports. Great respectable company that may be in your backyard. Hope this helps. Part II.

If you need a phone number let me know. (Sales via email has been a little challenging, and they seem very, very busy.) Michael.

Fortunately, you are not leaking...

[BigLew]

1 bayouboy makes a good point. Fumes would definitely be dangerous to catestrophic!

You might be interested in this. I came across it a few weeks ago and it sounds too good to be true, so beware. It could be something you'd appreciate knowing about though.

http://www.aluminumrepair.com/more_info.asp

Also, you might want to check out;

http://www.yachtsurvey.com/fueltank.htm

[billythekid]

my tank was only 3 years old and I brought it back to get tested and epoxy coated. They tested it held 5 psi BUT, the pitting was more than half way when they measured it. Legaly he said they couldnt paint it and they needed me to sign off on it. He said the tank look like it was 15 years old. The 500 bucks for a new tank wasnt worth putting the boat back together with a questionable tank. It is very tricky for them to weld on a tank that had gas in it. The has to be flushed a bunch of times and then they pressurize it with argon to keep it from exploding.

[reelclassic]

about or 3 spots its probably 1/2 or 3/4 of the way through!

[reelclassic]

Vezo-i'll check with thise guys thanks...I was quoted 500.00 for 48 gal or 600.00 for 60 gallon. If you have the number handy i'll take it!

[htillman]

If it is pitted that much replace it. Or fill with water before trying to repair it. I have been reading that "coal tar epoxy" is good stuff to coat a tank. I am in the process of making a new tank for my boat and am considering that as an option to epoxy coating it or leaving it alone. Were is the pitting located? Was it improperly installed?

[reelclassic]

The pitting is in several different places on the bottom of the tank. 2 of the spots are on the seem. I have decieded to replace it I found a shop around the corner from my house he said he can repair it by way of patching the pitted spots for 85$ or build a new one(55)gallon for 300.00 so im going new at that price!

[gofastsandman]

USCG certified? If so please spill. I need one yesterday.
GFS