plastic or stainless tanks

Miller · 22 November 2011, 15:02

Due to me having a leak in one of my stainless tanks I have had to cut the deck up to get to them!

Now, the dilemma is; do I repair them or go and get a couple of plastic fuel tanks from Tek Tanks?

Is there a benefit to having stainless ones over plastic or is it just gucci to have stainless ones?

I dont want to have to go through this expense again if it could happen again.(which it has!!)

Thanks

m3mm0s rib · 22 November 2011, 15:26

I think it's best to construct aluminum tank. So it will have less weight

Dirk Diggler · 22 November 2011, 15:44

Quote:

Originally Posted by Miller

go and get a couple of plastic fuel tanks from Tek Tanks?

If it's for Petrol, you're gonna be disappointed!

Alan Priddy · 22 November 2011, 16:05

DONT GO FOR Aluminium tanks in a RIB. They will pant and spring leaks quicker than you can say"how much?" each tim eyou fill it up. The Ribtec used to suffer with breaking baffles in the inside the tank which inturn caused the area to leak from the weld. Cut the top off and get a good welder to seam weld the baffles then put a new top on. Job Done Alan P

m3mm0s rib · 22 November 2011, 16:15

Here in GREECE Most racing boats have aluminum tanks with no problem

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xEO9c1hw6XE

clydeoutboards · 22 November 2011, 16:41

Hi

with an aluminium it depends on the build quaility so they are both right. Plastic though is by far the less risky option in our opinion.

Dave

m3mm0s rib · 22 November 2011, 16:51

How many diaphragms placed in plastic tanks; or not necessary;

Miller · 22 November 2011, 18:14

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dirk Diggler

If it's for Petrol, you're gonna be disappointed!

Whys that?

Miller · 22 November 2011, 18:15

Quote:

Originally Posted by Alan Priddy

DONT GO FOR Aluminium tanks in a RIB. They will pant and spring leaks quicker than you can say"how much?" each tim eyou fill it up. The Ribtec used to suffer with breaking baffles in the inside the tank which inturn caused the area to leak from the weld. Cut the top off and get a good welder to seam weld the baffles then put a new top on. Job Done Alan P

Was that stainless ribtec tanks? The boat is a ribtec, not sure about the tanks though.

Dirk Diggler · 22 November 2011, 18:18

Quote:

Originally Posted by Alan Priddy

DONT GO FOR Aluminium tanks in a RIB. They will pant and spring leaks quicker than you can say"how much?" each tim eyou fill it up.

That's a bit of a sweeping statement, hopefully based on your experiences from a crap tank builder!

Go to a company such as "the tank company" in Poole, and you won't get a problem. I've been using them for 15 years, and never had a failure. Not cheap, but quality never is. If you work on the formula of 2.5 x the cost of the fuel (petrol) the tank holds, you won't be far out! Assuming it's a pretty uniform shape of course

martini · 22 November 2011, 18:37

You've got 2 tanks already, I'd keep them. Apart from carrying out vapour safety procedures prior to welding, it's probably a 5 minute job.

One leak out of 2 tanks after however many years of slamming doesn't make them unfit for purpose

Miller · 22 November 2011, 19:37

I m gonna replace the smaller reserve tank with a plastic one...There is a load of space where it sits that is going to waste so its only sensible that i utilize it for max benefit.

As long as there are no major problems with using a plastic tank

Hightower · 22 November 2011, 23:02

I had a plastic 110 litre tank in my BWM without a problem, have never had stainless or alloy so can't comment. My current 200 litre tank is made from fibreglass.

m3mm0s rib · 23 November 2011, 08:09

This is also a solution

Leapy · 23 November 2011, 08:22

Quote:

Originally Posted by Miller

I m gonna replace the smaller reserve tank with a plastic one...There is a load of space where it sits that is going to waste so its only sensible that i utilize it for max benefit.

As long as there are no major problems with using a plastic tank

This is one of those problems that can pose multiple answers that are right and wrong and flawed. Almosy every angle has been covered in the replies: mend what you have, use ali, use plastic...

Personally, seems to you have two tanks that, presumably, have given good service until now. One of them now has an easily repaired fault if done professionally.

All other options potentially involve pandoras box ( sorry Pandora, no offense) and additional expense by modifying the engineering of the installation.

Make sure you don't throw the baby out with the bathwater

chewy · 23 November 2011, 09:13

I have two stainless tanks one of which was weeping a bit, cost £30 to get it sorted.
I looked at plastic tanks etc and decided to keep what I have.

Searider · 23 November 2011, 09:34

The issue that complicates the matter is that the tanks will be buried below the deck, which needs to be cut out to gain access?

The OP wants to sort the job once and once only. Repairing the leaking tank is easy - the leak can be seen and dealt with. My worry would be the tank that's not (yet?) leaking. Leave alone and fingers crossed, or dig it out and renew it now.

When i've been asked to look at boats with leaking tanks they've generally been stainless steel and of poor quality.

Plastic can be a good solution - but only in standard sizes - I don't think that Tek Tanks will build a custom tank for petrol.

Aluminium also good in the right application - but under a deck can be prone to corrosion if the bottom sits in a bit of water.

What do I have? - GRP tank in the Scorpion and hoping that the higher ethanol petrol that will inevitably come into use won't attack it from the inside.

Leapy · 23 November 2011, 10:17

Quote:

Originally Posted by Searider

What do I have? - GRP tank in the Scorpion and hoping that the higher ethanol petrol that will inevitably come into use won't attack it from the inside.

Car manufacturers have been going through hell trying to find materials that are longer term ethanol resistant but that's mostly with respect to markets with an aggressive ethanol introduction time-line at percentages significantly higher than those envisaged for medium-term Europe.

As ever with any fuel system, keep a watchful eye, and, perhaps more importantly, a watchful nose :-)

Miller · 23 November 2011, 11:53

Deck has already been cut up to get to them...They were originally repaired when the boat was rebuilt in 2008; dont think the welder did a very good job!

My main tank is 150L, it has a very small crack in the seam so i ll get that one repaired easily enough.

The reserve has a fair size leak somewhere and this is the 2nd time its been repaired. its 50L and about 450mm long.. It sits in a void that is almost 1200mm long and packed in with this expanding 2 part foam.

I could quit easily buy one of the tek tanks off the shelf that would fit into the void length ways and just pack the sides and bottom...This would also give me more than 50L

If there are no major drawbacks thats the route im going to take...Stainless main tank and plastic reserve.

That sound ok?

longjohn · 24 November 2011, 15:53

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dirk Diggler

Go to a company such as "the tank company" in Poole, and you won't get a problem. I've been using them for 15 years, and never had a failure. Not cheap, but quality never is. If you work on the formula of 2.5 x the cost of the fuel (petrol) the tank holds, you won't be far out! Assuming it's a pretty uniform shape of course

The Tank Company went out of business last year!

However these people make the fuel tanks for Sunseeker

Oval Stainless Ltd
H3, The Fulcrum
Vantage Way
Mannings Heath
Poole
Dorset
BH12 4NU

Phone: 01202 749907
Fax: 01202 748471