Installing an aluminum gas tank

[84EdH]

I have done some stringer repair on my boat and one side of the center stringer is at a little bit of an angle, making a slight V toward the bottom. My aluminum gas tank .090" thick fits in, but the bottom of the tank on one side touches the stringer. This tank is rectangular 55" long, 22 1/8" wide and 7" deep. the tank has two flanges on each end that sit on top of a cross member and suspend the tank.

I need to know if the tank touching the stringer on one side is a problem. The tank will be bolted in place, and should never move, but I am worried that vibration or flex by the boat might wear the tank and make a hole over time.

Anyone have any info. on this?

thanks for all help,

Ed

 

[Bamaman1]

Re: Installing an aluminum gas tank

Install the tank on something that pads the bottom of the tank--not metal on metal.

And, don't forget to ground the tank to the aluminum boat. You don't want any sparks setting fires.

 

[84EdH]

Re: Installing an aluminum gas tank

Bamaman, my boat is fiberglass. the tank hangs on the cross members. I can pad the bottom if need be, but the my question is about the tank fitting tight between two fiberglass stringers. Does there need to be clearance, or is a tight fit ok?

 

[tpenfield]

Re: Installing an aluminum gas tank

The tank should not come in direct contact with the hull or the stringers. See if you can position and pad it so that it does not come in contact with the hull or structure, except at the mounting points.

 

[84EdH]

Re: Installing an aluminum gas tank

tpenfield, that seems logical. I was hoping to hear that if it fits in tight, it is fine. Unfortunately, I will have to do some grinding to get the clearance I need, then glass over again. I just see my garden tractor with a plastic gas tank, strapped with a spring and a metal band bouncing up and down for15 yrs and still seems fine......I guess boats are different.

thanks for your feedback

 

[84EdH]

Re: Installing an aluminum gas tank

Ok, I have ground out some glass and made room for the tank (36 gallons) to not touch the sides anywhere.

Does this tank need support on the bottom? Or is hanging on the welded on end brackets enough?

It is suspended by two heavy brackets on each of the long ends of the tank. The bottom of the boat is stepped so the tank sits about 2" off the bottom on the front half of the tank, and 5" off the bottom on the back half.

 

[Jimmy H.]

Re: Installing an aluminum gas tank

Im interested to see how all this looks and turns out. Can you post some pics? Thanks