I'm replacing the original 30g SS fuel tank in my 323. Searching Kracor, Tempo, and Moeller, the largest tank I can find without modifying the tank bed is about 18 gal. Has anyone else done this? Are there any other sources? (Ronco doesn't make cross linked Poly tanks.) Geoff
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Florida Marine Tank made many of the original
tanks for Pearson. Contact them they may still have the original drawings. If nothing else they can build another tank for you using your current tank measurements. Florida Marine Tanks, Inc 16480 NW 48th Avenue Miami, Florida 33014 Phone 305-620-9030 Info@FloridaMarineTanks.com floridamarinetanks.com/ Good Luck
tanks for Pearson. Contact them they may still have the original drawings. If nothing else they can build another tank for you using your current tank measurements. Florida Marine Tanks, Inc 16480 NW 48th Avenue Miami, Florida 33014 Phone 305-620-9030 Info@FloridaMarineTanks.com floridamarinetanks.com/ Good Luck
Nothing wrong...visibly
Sorry so late. I posted a response several days ago but I guess I really didn't - it's not here. Replacing the tank because: ABYC says no to SS tanks greater than 20 gal. There reasoning is that SS will rust, just not as vigorously as non-SS. The problem comes in the deprived oxygen spaces such as the contact between tank and neoprene rest bands etc. There are some rust spots on the tank, though I do not know if they are significant from a strenght viewpoint. The surveyor that recently looked at our naked hull and deck and all the parts strongly recommended replacing it. Our boat is undergoing a complete refit/rejuvination. Everything that can come out is out. The cockpit lockers are empty, including the fuel tank. All that's left is the rudder post, the framing for the fuel tank, and the engine. Now is a lot easier (and cheaper) time to replace than 5 years from now. Poly fuel tanks are not expensive, about $300 for the ones I'm looking at. That's not a lot on top of the almost 10k we're putting into this boat. We have no need for 30 gal of fuel. We hope to cruise the Great Lakes in retirement and will rarely if ever need more than the 25 hours an 18 gal tank will give us. All the "experts" say crosse linked poly is the ideal fuel tank. Geoff
Sorry so late. I posted a response several days ago but I guess I really didn't - it's not here. Replacing the tank because: ABYC says no to SS tanks greater than 20 gal. There reasoning is that SS will rust, just not as vigorously as non-SS. The problem comes in the deprived oxygen spaces such as the contact between tank and neoprene rest bands etc. There are some rust spots on the tank, though I do not know if they are significant from a strenght viewpoint. The surveyor that recently looked at our naked hull and deck and all the parts strongly recommended replacing it. Our boat is undergoing a complete refit/rejuvination. Everything that can come out is out. The cockpit lockers are empty, including the fuel tank. All that's left is the rudder post, the framing for the fuel tank, and the engine. Now is a lot easier (and cheaper) time to replace than 5 years from now. Poly fuel tanks are not expensive, about $300 for the ones I'm looking at. That's not a lot on top of the almost 10k we're putting into this boat. We have no need for 30 gal of fuel. We hope to cruise the Great Lakes in retirement and will rarely if ever need more than the 25 hours an 18 gal tank will give us. All the "experts" say crosse linked poly is the ideal fuel tank. Geoff
There is no reason to doubt the approved
tanks from the folks that make them by the thousand. I have a ten gallon tank and carry a 6 gallon jerry can or two if I am planning a long trip. Remember stainless steel won't rust( I like corrode better)if it doesn't have a moisture source. I sometimes have a stainless steel knife blade break up in the handle near the first rivet. All of the wrong conditions, no oxygen,water with salt likely stays damp, after thiry years the blade breaks. Carbon steel knives of the same age still going strong.
tanks from the folks that make them by the thousand. I have a ten gallon tank and carry a 6 gallon jerry can or two if I am planning a long trip. Remember stainless steel won't rust( I like corrode better)if it doesn't have a moisture source. I sometimes have a stainless steel knife blade break up in the handle near the first rivet. All of the wrong conditions, no oxygen,water with salt likely stays damp, after thiry years the blade breaks. Carbon steel knives of the same age still going strong.
I agree
I agree with you, Ross, but there is an area of moisture and low oxygen on all SS tanks. It's where the tank rests. It's impossible to seal from moisture and impossible to circulate air into it. Sort of like the hilt of a knife. I think this is what bothers ABYC. OTOH, I don't see any corrosion in these places and the tank looks good except for some superficial rust discoloration. Interestingly, there are rust spots where there are internal welds to hold the baffle in place. This makes me wonder if there is more inside, but that would mean there has been a lot of water in the fuel also? Then too, ABYC is an industsry lead organization and reccomending new tanks helps the industry. Which way to turn...which way to go? Perhaps I'm a bit too anal, but as long as it's out, the cockpit sub-space empty, and a new tank only a few hundred dollars I'll switch now. Perhaps I can use the old SS tank to store fuel for my Kubota lawn mower? Another advantage is the smaller size I'll have to replace with. (unless I want to do some remodeling of the tank bed) I don't use 30 gal in a year and yet I'd like to fill the tank in the fall. This leads to lots of gunk building up eventually. With the 18 gal tank I think I will use most of it in a year. Geoff
I agree with you, Ross, but there is an area of moisture and low oxygen on all SS tanks. It's where the tank rests. It's impossible to seal from moisture and impossible to circulate air into it. Sort of like the hilt of a knife. I think this is what bothers ABYC. OTOH, I don't see any corrosion in these places and the tank looks good except for some superficial rust discoloration. Interestingly, there are rust spots where there are internal welds to hold the baffle in place. This makes me wonder if there is more inside, but that would mean there has been a lot of water in the fuel also? Then too, ABYC is an industsry lead organization and reccomending new tanks helps the industry. Which way to turn...which way to go? Perhaps I'm a bit too anal, but as long as it's out, the cockpit sub-space empty, and a new tank only a few hundred dollars I'll switch now. Perhaps I can use the old SS tank to store fuel for my Kubota lawn mower? Another advantage is the smaller size I'll have to replace with. (unless I want to do some remodeling of the tank bed) I don't use 30 gal in a year and yet I'd like to fill the tank in the fall. This leads to lots of gunk building up eventually. With the 18 gal tank I think I will use most of it in a year. Geoff
323 fuel tank
The tank in my boat is monel and made by Allcraft. Monel should last many many years in this application. I use gasoline and with the new methanoI additive we have here on the east coast I did have some sludge. The black sludge and water was easy to suck out with a pump through the fill pipe. It's really great to be able to use a dipstick for fuel level and to get a pump tube into the tank. Always be sure the fill cap has a good o-ring and grease the cap threads to keep water from entering the filler. I also bought an Allcraft 10 gal water heater that is stainless steel and works and looks great after 9 years.
The tank in my boat is monel and made by Allcraft. Monel should last many many years in this application. I use gasoline and with the new methanoI additive we have here on the east coast I did have some sludge. The black sludge and water was easy to suck out with a pump through the fill pipe. It's really great to be able to use a dipstick for fuel level and to get a pump tube into the tank. Always be sure the fill cap has a good o-ring and grease the cap threads to keep water from entering the filler. I also bought an Allcraft 10 gal water heater that is stainless steel and works and looks great after 9 years.
Monel does that look like aluminum??
My 323 is a 1980 hull #245 it has a 20 gallon tank(I think) and it looks aluminum. I think that if I ever replace it it will be with 2-10 gallon tanks. That way I can use one tank most of the time to keep fresh fuel and use both when I need extra range. I figure the less fuel the less time to grow stuff.
My 323 is a 1980 hull #245 it has a 20 gallon tank(I think) and it looks aluminum. I think that if I ever replace it it will be with 2-10 gallon tanks. That way I can use one tank most of the time to keep fresh fuel and use both when I need extra range. I figure the less fuel the less time to grow stuff.
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