Opinion: cockpit sole resting/secured to integral fuel tanks

[pescaloco]

Hey guys,

This is not ment to be a thread that discusses the merits or difficiencies of integral fuel tanks.

The boat is a smaller class sportfisher/comercial skiff type of boat it is diesel powered and the fuel tanks will be in a built in saddle configutation.

My questions is what are your opinions pros and cons of built in composite tanks with the cockpit sole resting on top of the tanks ?

Versus a raised deck shelf and additional longitudal stringers a little taller than the tanks inner long wall and deck awthartship beams that are completely seperate from the structure of the fuel tanks, used to support the cockpit sole versus incorperating deck supports glassed to the tanks and fish boxes boxes also built into the sides and bottom of the hull.

Thanks much for you answers

[Herman]

My only concern is that you would like an inspection hatch somewhere in the top. If you can live with that, then why not?

[TeddyDiver]

Integral tank would be sides being the longitudinal stringers and and the top the cockpit sole.. No need to separate them..

[pescaloco]

Thanks guys that ofcourse is easier, my concern was for inspection purposes or if for some reason a repair was required to either the cockpit sole or a tank it would mean cutting every thing out.