I am replacing the aluminum fuel tank on my 1980 Hunter 33. The original tank hold down was a stainless steel band surronding the top and sides of the tank and running under a 3/4 inch sheet of plywood fastened to the hull. The band was crimped on the top of the tank with a special tool. How do you hold the new tank in place after the old band is removed?
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tie downs
I think I remember Peggie suggesting using tie-downs from your local hardware store. Sounded pretty ingenious to me.
I think I remember Peggie suggesting using tie-downs from your local hardware store. Sounded pretty ingenious to me.
Ah, to crimp...
The bands are not much more than strapping and crimps from your shipping department. Although made of slightly more costly stainless. I don't recall ever seeing the stuff available. What I do have is plastic banding material used on pallets and crates for shipping. It is about 1/2" to 5/8" wide, brown, quite corrosion resistant and strong. Instead of the crimp fittings for which you need a special tool this stuff uses a "buckle" sort of arrangement. It is pulled tight by hand although pliers enable you to get it tighter. My tank (on my Hunter 33)has been sitting loose for the last four or so years and I fully intend to try this stuff out in the very near future. If you want to try the banding you can come on down to forked river and pick some up. If you want, e-mail me at samlust@verizon.net and we can set up a time to get together. By the way; which Hunter 33 do you have up there.
The bands are not much more than strapping and crimps from your shipping department. Although made of slightly more costly stainless. I don't recall ever seeing the stuff available. What I do have is plastic banding material used on pallets and crates for shipping. It is about 1/2" to 5/8" wide, brown, quite corrosion resistant and strong. Instead of the crimp fittings for which you need a special tool this stuff uses a "buckle" sort of arrangement. It is pulled tight by hand although pliers enable you to get it tighter. My tank (on my Hunter 33)has been sitting loose for the last four or so years and I fully intend to try this stuff out in the very near future. If you want to try the banding you can come on down to forked river and pick some up. If you want, e-mail me at samlust@verizon.net and we can set up a time to get together. By the way; which Hunter 33 do you have up there.
Second to ratcheting tiedowns
I used the ratcheting style nylon webbing tiedowns to hold my poly waste tank in place for several seasons with now issues. Now, assuming no sharp corners on the aluminum tank, these should work fine for you. Loop the strap around, connect the hooks on each end to each other, and ratchet tight. If you're concerned about corners, you could probably pad them with something, scrap of carpet or foam? Extra webbing left hanging can be trimmed off to neaten things up. T J
I used the ratcheting style nylon webbing tiedowns to hold my poly waste tank in place for several seasons with now issues. Now, assuming no sharp corners on the aluminum tank, these should work fine for you. Loop the strap around, connect the hooks on each end to each other, and ratchet tight. If you're concerned about corners, you could probably pad them with something, scrap of carpet or foam? Extra webbing left hanging can be trimmed off to neaten things up. T J
Followup Fuel Tank Hold-down
Thanks guys for the ideas to hold the new fuel tank in place. After some inquires at the local marina to replace the orginal hold-down with a new stainless steel band(There was nothing available at the marina),I used the original stainless steel band as the starting point to hold the tank in place. I cut out the original crimped portion of the band and added two stainless steel right angle brackets fasten to the band using #10 nuts and bolts. I restrung the band around the tank and under the plywood base and then drew together the new brackets with a 10 inch threaded rod. At the top corners of the tank, I placed neoprene sheets to protect the aluminium tank from the stailess steel bands. I addition, two neoprene pads were placed under the tank to provide an space between the tank and plywood base.
Thanks guys for the ideas to hold the new fuel tank in place. After some inquires at the local marina to replace the orginal hold-down with a new stainless steel band(There was nothing available at the marina),I used the original stainless steel band as the starting point to hold the tank in place. I cut out the original crimped portion of the band and added two stainless steel right angle brackets fasten to the band using #10 nuts and bolts. I restrung the band around the tank and under the plywood base and then drew together the new brackets with a 10 inch threaded rod. At the top corners of the tank, I placed neoprene sheets to protect the aluminium tank from the stailess steel bands. I addition, two neoprene pads were placed under the tank to provide an space between the tank and plywood base.
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