New Aluminum tanks

sandmanmd

Recruit
Joined
Aug 14, 2003
Messages
3
I have been reading the posts re: new fuel tank installations with great interest.<br /><br />I am having my >30 year-old steel tanks replaced with aluminum after weighing cost-benefits of stainless, polyethylene, etc.<br /><br />My concern is re-installing them in such a way that I minimize the risk of corrosion that caused me my problems in the first place. I read the "Maintenance and Troubleshooting" guide that was posted elsewhere on this site which recommended gluing plastic strips and constructing a deck to help keep the tanks (I have 2, about 65 gals each) above the hull. I am concerned that I don't have enough space to do this without substantial modifications in the process, which may not yield the results I want (ie good drainage and no corrosion).<br /><br />I have been told that if I do nothing different from the way the originals were installed (on top of plyscore laying on the hull, glassed in fore and aft with 2 in. wooden bulkheads) they'll last another 30 years. I'm not so sure and would like to know if anyone has experience with this kind of situation.<br /><br />In addition to keeping the water draining, does anyone have experience with coating tanks (epoxy (Gluvit), truck bed liner, etc.) prior to installation? I understand rubber (especially black rubber) is corrosive to aluminum. Silicone seems to be okay.<br /><br />Any ideas? :confused:
 

snapperbait

Vice Admiral
Joined
Aug 20, 2002
Messages
5,754
Re: New Aluminum tanks

I would sand and coat the tank with a couple coats of coal tar epoxy... Maybe not necessary to coat the entire tank but at least coat the bottom half.. Coal tar epoxy is pretty much the standard for coating aluminum fuel tanks... That will help prevent any corrosion later on...
 

sandmanmd

Recruit
Joined
Aug 14, 2003
Messages
3
Re: New Aluminum tanks

Thanks. I've heard of coal tar epoxy used to coat outdrives, but didn't occur to me to use it on fuel tanks. :)
 
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