1991 Pearson 31-2 aluminum fuel tank leaks. Replace with plastic??? Looking for advice. Will cost $300 to repair
- Thread starter inkunzi
- Start date
If your leak is a pinhole, the tank is pretty well gone.
You will play wack-a-mole repairing the next hole.
If it is a cracked seam it is (maybe) repairable.
If repairable I would shop around for quotes. Welding a cracked seam is not a big job.
A new plastic tank would be my choice.
Check the net. You will find tanks cheaper than from a marine chandler.
The following link is for the tank only. Lid is extra!
gary
You will play wack-a-mole repairing the next hole.
If it is a cracked seam it is (maybe) repairable.
If repairable I would shop around for quotes. Welding a cracked seam is not a big job.
A new plastic tank would be my choice.
Check the net. You will find tanks cheaper than from a marine chandler.
The following link is for the tank only. Lid is extra!
gary
See post #3 by @Peggie Hall HeadMistress for lead to an endless selection of poly fuel tanks :
As mentioned by @garymalmgren , a plastic tank would also be my choice above any metal. Aluminum is probably the worst you can do.
Wrapping a stainless tank in fiberglass
Hey all, another video in my series (man I wish I had more time to do more!) So...against all advice, while looking for leaks and trying to prevent them, I decided to wrap my black water tank in fiberglass to extend its lifespan. So far it's worked for over a year and 6 months of cruising. I do...
forums.sailboatowners.com
As mentioned by @garymalmgren , a plastic tank would also be my choice above any metal. Aluminum is probably the worst you can do.
Plastic tanks made to hold water and waste cannot be used to hold fuel...Petroleum products would saturate them. There are two different types of polyethylene...water and waste tanks are made of "linear" PE...petroleum products would saturate it. Plastic fuel tanks must be made of "cross linked" PE and also must be USCG approved, meeting several standards that include "no horizontal surface on which liquid can pool." and others. Because of that and liability risks, there are very few mfrs who makes plastic fuel tanks. Moeller is the only one I know of who still makes anything but small ones for outboard engines and theirs are expensive!
Aluminum is actually the recommended material for permanent marine fuel tanks because of its resistance to salt air that steel doesn't have. Do a search for aluminum FUEL tanks fitted for use with diesel.
--Peggie
Aluminum is actually the recommended material for permanent marine fuel tanks because of its resistance to salt air that steel doesn't have. Do a search for aluminum FUEL tanks fitted for use with diesel.
--Peggie
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The two main causes of pin hole leaks in aluminum fuel tanks are bacterial growth inside the tank and moisture trapped between the tank and hold down straps.
Bacteria form colonies in the tank and sit on the floor. The by product of bacteria is acidic which gets trapped between the bacteria colony and the tank causing it to corrode and form pin hole leaks.
Tanks are often set on foam strips to allow for ventilation beneath the tank. The foam can retain moisture which accelerates corrosion. The better way is to glue fiberglass or plastic strips to the bottom of the tank to raise it.
Bacteria form colonies in the tank and sit on the floor. The by product of bacteria is acidic which gets trapped between the bacteria colony and the tank causing it to corrode and form pin hole leaks.
Tanks are often set on foam strips to allow for ventilation beneath the tank. The foam can retain moisture which accelerates corrosion. The better way is to glue fiberglass or plastic strips to the bottom of the tank to raise it.