'92 Baja 180 Islander fuel tank

[Herpyderpy]

Hello! I'm new to the forum! I have some questions about my boat's fuel tank and how to replace it.

I have a '92 Baja 180 Islander. She has an old steel fuel tank that I suspect has a leak somewhere and I want to replace it with a plastic tank. The current tank has dimensions of 39.75"x 19.75" x 7.5"(~11.5" with vents and hoses).

The main concerns I have are:

1) The forward mounting brackets are not symmetrical. With a non custom replacement tank, how do I proceed?
2) Would the replacement tank require a new mounting location for the forward bracket?
3) How concerning is the rust on this steel tank? (I don't have much confidence, that's why I want to replace it now)
4) Any special concerns I may not have considered?

If there are any supplemental photo requests, just let me know and I can provide what is asked!

Thanks in advance for the advice!

 

[archbuilder]

Yeah I think it is time for that one to go! There are a lot of tank sizes available from Moeller. I would start there to see if they have one that will work. They have dimension drawings on their website. They have standard generic tanks and they also build them for boat manufactures. You might see if they made one for a later year of your boat that would work.

If that doesn't work you can have an aluminum one fabricated. I used SP-tanks, they built it to my drawings. You could just give them a drawing of your tank and have them fabricate it. They will also pressure test it and coast guard certify it. It was more than an off the shelf tank, but nothing on the shelf would work for my application. The tank was beautiful, and exactly what I needed.

No mater what you do, catching on fire sucks! So I would for sure invest the $ for a safe tank.

 

[Chris1956]

I would not worry about mounting the tank to the boat. You will be able to fabricate some kind of hold down. I think the hold down on my 21 footer are "L" brackets with a rubber pad. They screw into the side walls of the tank well.

I used plastic plumbers straps on my speedboat, and 4 screws.

That existing block of wood would work for 1/2 the tank. You would need one toward the stern and one in from of the tank to keep it from shifting forward.

 

[Herpyderpy]

Okay! I guess my main worry is about drilling into the side of the tank well to set up the hold down. I'm not going to puncture/compromise my hull, right?

 

[archbuilder]

It looks like your existing brackets are screwed in corrrect? I would just stick with those locations for your brackets, whether they are attached to the tank or not. I would however strongly recommend investigating things first. My guess is you are safe, but I am only looking at a photo. As long as you are not drilling through the hull or into something like wiring you should be ok. I would fill the old screw holes with some epoxy for good measure.

 

[Chris1956]

I find it unusual for you to have a steel tank in a '92 boat. I had one in my '74 boat, but by the 80s tanks were typically aluminum.

Anyway you did get a lot of time out of it.

 

[Herpyderpy]

So I've decided to get a Moeller replacement. It's the 17 gallon tank. I'm going to sacrifice a bit of fuel capacity to get this one in.

And, after doing some rust busting on the old tank, I found this. I guess it's way overdue time to get this thing out and get the new one in.