Pearson Yachts Forum
Pearson Boats - Common Systems => Plumbing and Galley Systems => Topic started by: Frayed Knot on May 23, 2013, 08:51:16 AM
-
Took out yesterday the orginal steel fuel tank. It's rusted so bad it is leaking... Any thought of what I should do? Fix, replace, and with what?
-
How the heck did you get it out? Or was the engine out at the time?
-
The original fuel tank was made with aluminum, not steel. It probably was a replacement.
The original tanks were manufactured by one vendor, a Florida company. I think the company is Florida Marine Tanks. http://www.floridamarinetanks.com/
I had a long conversation with the person on the phone while I was ordering my replacement, 15 yrs ago. Come to find out he was the owner. His company makes tanks for large motor yachts. The tank was designed such that if you remove all the tank fittings, It can be lifted out the starboard, or port locker with 1/2 inch clearance if that.
At the time they still had the drawings for the tank, had it in a week, done. The tank with shipping was $190
A buddy of mine had custom foamed in tank on his Tartan 33 S&S design, let go. Had remove all the diesel soaked foam, pull the tank, bring it to a custom shop for fabrication. $800. and 3 weeks
Good luck
-
Selene like Rusty said with the fittings out 1/2" or less. Had to take it out on the starboard side.. thanks I will give that company a call...
-
If you need the model # of the tank let me know
-
Rusty that would be helpful. Thank you.
-
I'm puzzled.
My early model (1977, hull #42) 323 has the original tank, and it is fabricated of Monel. Monel is a high Nickel steel that is resistant to corrosion. It was considered the "Gold Standard" for fuel tanks due to both its durability and its ability to be converted from gas to diesel without replacement.
Monel is no longer in much use in today's economy-sensitive boating market, due to its relatively high cost.
I always thought that all the 323s built had Monel tanks, but I guess Pearson must have changed over to aluminum at some point. Anybody have an idea of when that might have occured?
Rather than hijack this thread, I'm going to start a poll.
-
How can I identify whether I have monel or aluminum?
-
Aluminum will have a shiny silver/white color, while monel will be dull, somewhat resembling galvanized steel, but smooth and with a faint greenish tinge.
-
I'll take a close look next time I'm out. Is your monel tank magnetic?
-
I do have monel. Not sure how I've overlooked these labels prior to today. They are on top of the tank plain as day. I've attached a pic of the labels. One label is the Seafarer Monel by Allcraft and the other is the Cambridge. The tank is not magnetic, btw.
-
I also noticed my lift box is also made by Cambridge. Not sure what metal it is made from. Looks similar to my tank.
-
As Ed said there is no better material for a fuel tank than MONEL. And the ALLCRAFT company was a great manufacturer of tanks and water heaters. ALMA has a 12 gallon ALLCRAFT all stainless steel water heater I bought in 1996. It is gorgeous and made to last. I have replaced the electric element once and other than that it is perfect. ALLCRAFT is no longer in business. If you can find a used one it will likely last another 20 years.
-
Selene, #212 (1980) has an Aluminium tank, unfortunately!
The good news is that it looks to be in good shape.
Happy 2021 folks! Stay healthy.
-
looks can be deceiving though :(
My aluminum tank looked good too, then some diesel starting appearing in the bilge. Of course I thought it was coming from somewhere in the fuel system or hoses, but as I found out during half way across a 3hr motoring, it was the tank. I went down below to check something and could smell the diesel. The whole bilge was filled. I managed to push my boat back to my Marina, which just happened to be close at the time, with my dinghy strapped to my swim platform for about 4 hours right into the lift. I managed to save just enough fuel to complete the haul out. After draining the 50 liters of diesel and getting her back on the hard, I removed the tank in an hour by cutting out some of the wall between the locker and aft cabin. That's when I found a hole the size of a dime in the bottom, forward port side corner. It had been rubbing on the stringer for 30 years. We have a great welder in town and he patched the hole and refurbished the whole tank like new for only $100CDN!!!! I questioned him on replacing it, but he assured me it was like new, and that the diesel trucks and buses don't just throw their tanks away when in need of repair :) So if possible with a mechanics camera or such, check out the underbelly and corners of the tank....you never know????