Old aluminum fuel cells

[1 Johnny Jay]

When I purchased my boat it had a 19 gal stainless steel tank and a 12 gal plastic tank. I found a 20 gal tank under each gunnel hiding behind plywood. Called the previous owner, he said they weren't in use when he brought the boat 5 years ago( he didn't even know they were on the boat). He advised me not to try to use them. He said there was probably a good reason that they were taken out of commission and if I used them it would put a lot of trash in the engine. They seem to be original
equip.

Set up when I brought boat, 12 gal not shown (also in fore ground - area where orig tank was)
View attachment 182961

My plan; have them pressure tested (I filled both with water and let them sit for 4 days, no water leaked out). - powerwash them inside and out - install all new hoses - install a 10 micron water/fuel seperater - install fuel shut off switch -change the float & gasket - run new wires to new gauges (for some reason there is only 1 gauge).
Is there any thing I forgot or a good reason why I shouldn't use them? They would free up a lot of fishing space.

one of the orig tanks



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1973 WELLCRAFT - 1985 YAMI 150 PRO V
View attachment 182960

 

[spoilsofwar]

Re: Old aluminum fuel cells

If they're cleaned, hold pressure, and you do everything else you're talking about doing, I can't think of any reason you couldn't use them... Although, like the previous owner stated, I'd be darn curious why they weren't being used in the first place. Suppose it could be something as trivial as the fuel guage sender(s) stopped working.

 

[EddiePetty]

Re: Old aluminum fuel cells

.....kinda feel like with gunnel tanks you would need a fuel fill on each side of the hull. Regarding draw and level indication I would think you may discover evidence of a past selector valve/switch.

Regarding the reason not using the tanks: Unless the tanks were depleted evenly the hull would have a severe list.

 

[Georgesalmon]

Re: Old aluminum fuel cells

Lots of boats have port and stbd tanks, the trick is to draw equally from them and avoid the list problem. A simple "Y" connection may do that for you automaticaly since liquids seek their own level, but I would have either two valves or a Y valve or an electric valve and switch that would switch tanks and senders at the same time. Trucks with two tanks do that all the time, and so do large boats with multiple tanks. You can run two senders to one gauge with a simple switch to swap power and signal from one sender to the other. Cleaning and testing and a fuel filter as you described and I would use them.

 

[1 Johnny Jay]

Re: Old aluminum fuel cells

.....kinda feel like with gunnel tanks you would need a fuel fill on each side of the hull. Regarding draw and level indication I would think you may discover evidence of a past selector valve/switch.

Regarding the reason not using the tanks: Unless the tanks were depleted evenly the hull would have a severe list.

There is a fuel fill on each side and also a 3 way valve on the left side which was frozen. I removed the 3 way switch but left the fuel fills.

 

[1 Johnny Jay]

Re: Old aluminum fuel cells

Lots of boats have port and stbd tanks, the trick is to draw equally from them and avoid the list problem. A simple "Y" connection may do that for you automaticaly since liquids seek their own level, but I would have either two valves or a Y valve or an electric valve and switch that would switch tanks and senders at the same time. Trucks with two tanks do that all the time, and so do large boats with multiple tanks. You can run two senders to one gauge with a simple switch to swap power and signal from one sender to the other. Cleaning and testing and a fuel filter as you described and I would use them.

GS, I had planned to use a y or t connector and 2 gauges. The y or t connector to drain tanks evenly and the 2 gauges so I can tell if the gauges are working properly (as they both should read the same fuel volume at all times). There would be no need to switch tanks only to cut off fuel flow.

 

[rbh]

Re: Old aluminum fuel cells

Is there by chance a hose nipple at the bottom of each tank??

If there is, there could have been a balancing hose from tank 1 to tank 2, this would mean that you could draw from the first tank and the cross over hose would keep both tanks equal.

 

[1 Johnny Jay]

Re: Old aluminum fuel cells

Is there by chance a hose nipple at the bottom of each tank??

If there is, there could have been a balancing hose from tank 1 to tank 2, this would mean that you could draw from the first tank and the cross over hose would keep both tanks equal.

There is a hose nipple at the bottom of each tank, each hose ran to fuel valve. A hose nipple on top which vented to side of boat. A fuel fill door/port and an opening for sender/float unit.