North Palm Beach, need fuel tank builder, help.

Tiny · #1 07-06-2009, 05:41 PM

Need fuel tank builder in the West Palm area.

Dimesnions are approx, 44Lx 22w x7h.

I blasted the bottom of the tank from our 70 safari and found a massive amount of JB weld patches

, way too much to consider repairing(again). So I need someone to build one. I'll let you know how it works out, so as to help everyone one here.

I'm looking to move on this soon, so let me know if you know of someone.

I already have two people from an earlier post that I will be contacting.

Thanks for the help guys.

Matt

gss036 · #2 07-06-2009, 09:24 PM

Google Florida Tanks, or similar name. That is only about 29.3 gallons, pretty small tank. If you could, go a bit larger. 44X22X7=6,776 then divide by 231 =29.333 gallons.

Tiny · #3 07-06-2009, 10:18 PM

I had to cut 3 inches off the original tank to get it out, there is not so much as an extra half an inch to be had, in fact I might have to keep it to 42 inches length...but you're right, if I could I would surely go larger. Thanks for the calculation on the volume.

I'm hoping to find something close, if I don't get any solid leads here, it's off the the phone book, so to say.

PressureDrop · #4 07-06-2009, 10:30 PM

tiny - i know you have joes number from a previous post, give him a call, i know he needs the work now and he will do you right, hes got a 20' MA that hes working on and just built and big tank for its slick

Bushwacker · #5 07-06-2009, 11:26 PM

Matt, you probably have a tank for the sterndrive model which I think is a little smaller than the tank in the outboard model. If your boat is outboard model, you could go bigger. My tank is original outboard model and holds 35 gallons. If you'll PM me your mailing address, I'll mail you a sketch w/dimensions I made from mine the last time I had it out. It has a taper at bottom front and aft top so the tank will fit thru the hatch. If you're looking for maximum capacity, you could get more with 2 smaller tanks, since you could go longer, eliminate the taper and increase depth. If I ever have to replace mine, I would consider going with 2 tanks to get max capacity. Denny

Tiny · #6 07-07-2009, 09:59 AM

Denny, this one still has an I/O in it. It's a 70 Safari, I bought to replace the 74 scepter I'm selling. But speaking of capacity, do you think I could move the vent outlet to the same end of the tank that the fill and pickup are, I might be able to increase the height of the tank an inch or so??? Matt

Bushwacker · #7 07-08-2009, 12:18 AM

Those I/O's will get 5 mpg, so they don't NEED as big a tank!

I'm curious, since your Seafari is an I/O, does it also have a galley seat?

The reason the vent is at front of tank, is because if you're refueling at the dock, you'll be standing at the BACK of the boat, so there will be an air bubble in front of tank. If fuel fill is on stbd side, the vent should be on port side of tank. If you move vent to the back of the tank, you won't be able to fill tank completely because of the air bubble, unless you only fill it on trailer with the tongue on the ground!

Tiny · #8 07-08-2009, 09:48 AM

That's what I'm hoping :-). Even though I know there is more maintenance required. I think I might be willing to put the vent at the back. We hardly ever need to cap off the tank, except on the occasional run to the Bahamas, and then I can just have everyone stand in front

. I might even be able to get the same amount of fuel in there on a regular basis, just have to lower the bow to get a little more "reserve" in.

The Galley seat was already gone.

Bushwacker · #9 07-09-2009, 12:10 AM

Matt - I would not move the tank vent to the back - Moesly put it up front for a good reason. To get a rear vent to work for an in-the water refueling, you'd have to trim the bow down a lot, which I think would be a real PIA! The Moeller tanks Skip got for their 21 had a raised area in center of tank with vent fitting, so that might be a good compromise. If you get a little creative with the tank flanges or come up with a different way to secure it, you could make most of the tank a couple inches taller and get more capacity that way.

On the Bahama trips, I've made the trip to Green Turtle with two different I/O Seafari's. That trip is about 160 nm and they both burned about 45 gallons compared to about 65 with my old 115 (90 HP @ prop) outboard. Used to burn about 35 gal to Walkers, which is about 100 nm. Denny

Tiny · #10 07-09-2009, 08:54 AM

Thanks Denny. You make a good point. I might just copy the tank that was in there just to keep it simple (and less expensive) on the tank fab, besides I'm not sure I can squeez out much more volume anyhow. It should still hold close to 30 gallons, so it looks like I would need fuel topside anyway, except for West End. Thanks for all the great info.
Matt