Securing fuel tank

[Roboj]

My bowrider has a plastic 20 gallon fuel tank that sits in the middle of the hull, between the stringers and bulkheads. I was wondering how the tank should be secured. I have just replaced the stringers and want to secure the tank before I install the floor.

Thanx for your input. Have a great day,

Rob.

[jimslade]

There are many ways to do this. I like boat surveyor David Pascose's suggestions. search on the web or I can find it for you.

[Roboj]

Thanx Jim,

I tried to do a search without any luck. How would you install a tank under the floor? Foam is no good, I was just going to fasten a couple of 3 inch wide, resin coated pieces of ply to the stringers with 5200 to hold them in. Really do not want to drill any holes into the stringers.

Thanx and have a great day,

Rob.

[dberr]

Originally Posted by Roboj

I tried to do a search without any luck.

Try this link http://www.yachtsurvey.com/articleslist.htm

I think this is the page that jimslade was referring to.

db

[jimslade]

Thanks dberr, thats the page! where in the big smoke do you live? I'm at the top of Markham. Smokes coming my way soon.

[Roboj]

Thanx for the link. There is lots of great info there. The only article that I found regarding securing fuel tanks is for aluminum, little different than the situation I am in. Mine is plastic and sits between the stringers and bulkheads, on the hull. When I took the floor apart there was really nothing securing the tank, it just sat there. I think I will secure it with a couple of pieces of ply, or maybe use some sort of strapping.

Thanx for your help and the link.

Rob

[jimslade]

plastic and aluminum use the same mounting system

[marshmat]

Pascoe's article ( http://www.yachtsurvey.com/fueltank.htm ) describes a method that I'd consider to be pretty good for either aluminum or plastic. With your polymer tank you don't have to worry about corrosion like people with Al tanks do, but you still have the weight of all that fuel, and the tank bottom needs to be just as well supported. For your 20-gallon tank I would follow his method, it can probably be done in an afternoon. Feel free to strap it in over the top too (I would). Peter Eikenberry (former USCG, known to us as Ike) also has a site you might find handy, the fuel tanks section of his excellent new-builders primer is at http://newboatbuilders.com/pages/fuel.html

[Roboj]

Thanx for your help. My plastic tank just sat on the hull, no rubber or neopreme matt between the hull and tank. There was nothing securing it from the top either. I think I will secure it with two plywood straps attached to the stringers.

Thanx again for your help and have a great day,

Rob.

[dberr]

Originally Posted by jimslade

Thanks dberr, thats the page! where in the big smoke do you live?

Hi Jim, I live/work in the south end of Etobicoke. This will give you an idea of what I do: www.manta-inflatables.com

Many years ago I worked for a company that moved from Yonge/Sheppard to Markham, right across the street from Buttonville Airport. I am sure the 'big smoke' is covering that area by now.

db