Considering keeping existing steel fuel tank

Pulled my old farymann and the old steel fuel tank out of the 2-29. Tank doesn't look that bad. Has anybody considered reusing the existing tank, cleaning it and replacing the fittings? I'm saying this as I'm automatically listing every component and assuming "nows the time", however cost plus shipping to Alaska as well as finding a plastic or aluminum to fit is a bit tedious.

I just went through this decision. I bought a new plastic tank. I would have bought another identical steel unit in a heart beat if they still made them, but they don't. If you want aluminum, you can get it made to order from a number of companies. Send them the dimensions and they will give you a quote. You can pay 3x that and get stainless steel. I am using gasoline and would not consider putting the old tank back in. It has to come out for other reasons so now is the time. If you get a leak, all that happens is that your boat smells like every other diesel powered boat I have been on. :-) Allen On Sat, Mar 10, 2012 at 5:22 PM, James <ja… [at] mac.com> wrote: > ** > > > Pulled my old farymann and the old steel fuel tank out of the 2-29. Tank > doesn't look that bad. Has anybody considered reusing the existing tank, > cleaning it and replacing the fittings? I'm saying this as I'm > automatically listing every component and assuming "nows the time", however > cost plus shipping to Alaska as well as finding a plastic or aluminum to > fit is a bit tedious. > > >

Allen, where did you purchase your tank? I'm having trouble looking at the stock plastics and finding one with a return fitting for diesel. --- In Ca… [at] yahoogroups.com, Allen Edwards <allen.p.edwards@...> wrote: > > I just went through this decision. I bought a new plastic tank. I would > have bought another identical steel unit in a heart beat if they still made > them, but they don't. If you want aluminum, you can get it made to order > from a number of companies. Send them the dimensions and they will give > you a quote. You can pay 3x that and get stainless steel. > > I am using gasoline and would not consider putting the old tank back in. > It has to come out for other reasons so now is the time. If you get a > leak, all that happens is that your boat smells like every other diesel > powered boat I have been on. :-) > > Allen > > > > > On Sat, Mar 10, 2012 at 5:22 PM, James <jamesbibb@...> wrote: > > > ** > > > > > > Pulled my old farymann and the old steel fuel tank out of the 2-29. Tank > > doesn't look that bad. Has anybody considered reusing the existing tank, > > cleaning it and replacing the fittings? I'm saying this as I'm > > automatically listing every component and assuming "nows the time", however > > cost plus shipping to Alaska as well as finding a plastic or aluminum to > > fit is a bit tedious. > > > > > > >

I bought a lining kit for my 62 Econoline Van which I had planned to keep for the rest of my life, but now, I'm not so sure. It has a few pin hole leaks at the bottom, I guess, where water has settled. It's a liquid sealant you pour in after scouring the inside with nuts and bolts and a cleaning fluid. It is somewhat similar to what is used to line aircraft tanks. If anyone is interested I'll look on the box and tell them what it is I have. Allen, are you saying the advantages of having an Atomic outweigh the advantages of a diesel, because of the smell factor? I know one thing, the cost of diesel isn't any bargain, so you'd have to figure that in against the efficiency of it vs. a antiquated flat head gas engine. Jerry From: Allen Edwards <al… [at] gmail.com> To: Ca… [at] yahoogroups.com Sent: Saturday, March 10, 2012 5:45 PM Subject: Re: [Cal_Boats] Considering keeping existing steel fuel tank I just went through this decision. I bought a new plastic tank. I would have bought another identical steel unit in a heart beat if they still made them, but they don't. If you want aluminum, you can get it made to order from a number of companies. Send them the dimensions and they will give you a quote. You can pay 3x that and get stainless steel. I am using gasoline and would not consider putting the old tank back in. It has to come out for other reasons so now is the time. If you get a leak, all that happens is that your boat smells like every other diesel powered boat I have been on. :-) Allen On Sat, Mar 10, 2012 at 5:22 PM, James <ja… [at] mac.com> wrote: > >Pulled my old farymann and the old steel fuel tank out of the 2-29. Tank doesn't look that bad. Has anybody considered reusing the existing tank, cleaning it and replacing the fittings? I'm saying this as I'm automatically listing every component and assuming "nows the time", however cost plus shipping to Alaska as well as finding a plastic or aluminum to fit is a bit tedious. > >

We can supply the correct fittings to allow diesel fuel to be returned to ANY fuel tank. No drilling, tapping, etc required. *Joe DeMers - owner* Sound Marine Diesel LLC SoundMarineDiesel.com <http://www.soundmarinediesel.com/> *phone & fax (860) 666-2184* On 3/10/2012 8:50 PM, James wrote: > Allen, where did you purchase your tank? I'm having trouble looking at the stock plastics and finding one with a return fitting for diesel. > > --- In Ca… [at] yahoogroups.com, Allen Edwards<allen.p.edwards@...> wrote: >> I just went through this decision. I bought a new plastic tank. I would >> have bought another identical steel unit in a heart beat if they still made >> them, but they don't. If you want aluminum, you can get it made to order >> from a number of companies. Send them the dimensions and they will give >> you a quote. You can pay 3x that and get stainless steel. >> >> I am using gasoline and would not consider putting the old tank back in. >> It has to come out for other reasons so now is the time. If you get a >> leak, all that happens is that your boat smells like every other diesel >> powered boat I have been on. :-) >> >> Allen >> >> >> >> >> On Sat, Mar 10, 2012 at 5:22 PM, James<jamesbibb@...> wrote: >> >>> ** >>> >>> >>> Pulled my old farymann and the old steel fuel tank out of the 2-29. Tank >>> doesn't look that bad. Has anybody considered reusing the existing tank, >>> cleaning it and replacing the fittings? I'm saying this as I'm >>> automatically listing every component and assuming "nows the time", however >>> cost plus shipping to Alaska as well as finding a plastic or aluminum to >>> fit is a bit tedious. >>> >>> >>> > > > > ------------------------------------ > > Yahoo! Groups Links > > > > > > -- *Joe DeMers - owner* Sound Marine Diesel LLC SoundMarineDiesel.com <http://www.soundmarinediesel.com/> *phone & fax (860) 666-2184*

I bought mine at Jamestown Distributor and used code FSHIP50 so no shipping costs. It was a Moeller and the trick is you need this thing that has a return as part of the float http://www.wmjmarine.com/moe03572410.html Details on what I got (basically the notes for my own use) are here http://l-36.com/fuel.php Allen On Sat, Mar 10, 2012 at 5:50 PM, James <ja… [at] mac.com> wrote: > ** > > > > Allen, where did you purchase your tank? I'm having trouble looking at the > stock plastics and finding one with a return fitting for diesel. > > --- In Ca… [at] yahoogroups.com, Allen Edwards <allen.p.edwards@...> > wrote: > > > > I just went through this decision. I bought a new plastic tank. I would > > have bought another identical steel unit in a heart beat if they still > made > > them, but they don't. If you want aluminum, you can get it made to order > > from a number of companies. Send them the dimensions and they will give > > you a quote. You can pay 3x that and get stainless steel. > > > > I am using gasoline and would not consider putting the old tank back in. > > It has to come out for other reasons so now is the time. If you get a > > leak, all that happens is that your boat smells like every other diesel > > powered boat I have been on. :-) > > > > Allen > > > > > > > > > > On Sat, Mar 10, 2012 at 5:22 PM, James <jamesbibb@...> wrote: > > > > > ** > > > > > > > > > > Pulled my old farymann and the old steel fuel tank out of the 2-29. > Tank > > > doesn't look that bad. Has anybody considered reusing the existing > tank, > > > cleaning it and replacing the fittings? I'm saying this as I'm > > > automatically listing every component and assuming "nows the time", > however > > > cost plus shipping to Alaska as well as finding a plastic or aluminum > to > > > fit is a bit tedious. > > > > > > > > > > > > > >

The Atomic is too modern and engine for me. I have a Gray Marine 4-112. The factors that went into my thinking before the decision to rebuild was that I typically run the engine 15 minutes at a time. I put on about 30 hours last year. Efficiency is not so important and it just seemed like a simple engine that I can fix myself with very little to go wrong was a good thing. But it does seem like they don't smell as much. There is that safety factor but I am very sensitive to the smell of gasoline and don't have any propane on the boat. Now with the completely new fuel system, I should be in good shape for longer than it will matter. I bought the smallest thank they make so that maybe I would be able to add some fuel every year. Allen On Sat, Mar 10, 2012 at 6:16 PM, Gerald Sobel <so… [at] yahoo.com> wrote: > ** > > > I bought a lining kit for my 62 Econoline Van which I had planned to keep > for the rest of my life, but now, I'm not so sure. It has a few pin hole > leaks at the bottom, I guess, where water has settled. It's a liquid > sealant you pour in after scouring the inside with nuts and bolts and a > cleaning fluid. It is somewhat similar to what is used to line aircraft > tanks. If anyone is interested I'll look on the box and tell them what it > is I have. > Allen, are you saying the advantages of having an Atomic outweigh the > advantages of a diesel, because of the smell factor? I know one thing, the > cost of diesel isn't any bargain, so you'd have to figure that in against > the efficiency of it vs. a antiquated flat head gas engine. > Jerry > > ------------------------------ > *From:* Allen Edwards <al… [at] gmail.com> > *To:* Ca… [at] yahoogroups.com > *Sent:* Saturday, March 10, 2012 5:45 PM > *Subject:* Re: [Cal_Boats] Considering keeping existing steel fuel tank > > > I just went through this decision. I bought a new plastic tank. I would > have bought another identical steel unit in a heart beat if they still made > them, but they don't. If you want aluminum, you can get it made to order > from a number of companies. Send them the dimensions and they will give > you a quote. You can pay 3x that and get stainless steel. > > I am using gasoline and would not consider putting the old tank back in. > It has to come out for other reasons so now is the time. If you get a > leak, all that happens is that your boat smells like every other diesel > powered boat I have been on. :-) > > Allen > > > > > On Sat, Mar 10, 2012 at 5:22 PM, James <ja… [at] mac.com> wrote: > > ** > > Pulled my old farymann and the old steel fuel tank out of the 2-29. Tank > doesn't look that bad. Has anybody considered reusing the existing tank, > cleaning it and replacing the fittings? I'm saying this as I'm > automatically listing every component and assuming "nows the time", however > cost plus shipping to Alaska as well as finding a plastic or aluminum to > fit is a bit tedious. > > > > > >

I thought mine did not look that bad when I replaced my old Farymann 6 years ago. I cleaned it and repainted it with a rust resistant paint. It began to leak this fall. I am now shopping for a replacement. I am thinking I may need to measure it once I have it out and get a custom made tank, probably plastic, for a replacement. I want to get the fittings in the right placement. on the Cal 29, there is only a small space between the top of the tank and the deck fill. Has any other Cal 29 owner on the list replaced their fuel tank? I would be interested in what type of tank they purchased as well as how they anchored it back in that space. Terry On Mar 10, 2012, at 5:22 PM, James wrote: > Pulled my old farymann and the old steel fuel tank out of the 2-29. Tank doesn't look that bad. Has anybody considered reusing the existing tank, cleaning it and replacing the fittings? I'm saying this as I'm automatically listing every component and assuming "nows the time", however cost plus shipping to Alaska as well as finding a plastic or aluminum to fit is a bit tedious. > >

I am not aware of any sources for custom plastic tanks but there are a lot of sizes available. The thing that scared me away from aluminum was that you can't let them have any water trapped against the tank. You apparently have to basically seal them to their base. There were examples of tanks failing after a year. In hind sight, following the advice on installing them, it probably would have been fine. Here is the list of plastic tanks that you can get. I am unaware of anyone else making them http://www.moellermarine.com/aftermarket/fuel_storage_tanks/permanent_tanks/ I have no connection with this or any other vendor. Allen On Sun, Mar 11, 2012 at 9:32 AM, Terry Spencer <ts… [at] harbornet.com>wrote: > ** > > > > I thought mine did not look that bad when I replaced my old Farymann 6 > years ago. I cleaned it and repainted it with a rust resistant paint. It > began to leak this fall. I am now shopping for a replacement. I am > thinking I may need to measure it once I have it out and get a custom made > tank, probably plastic, for a replacement. I want to get the fittings in > the right placement. on the Cal 29, there is only a small space between > the top of the tank and the deck fill. > > Has any other Cal 29 owner on the list replaced their fuel tank? I would > be interested in what type of tank they purchased as well as how they > anchored it back in that space. > > Terry > > > On Mar 10, 2012, at 5:22 PM, James wrote: > > > > Pulled my old farymann and the old steel fuel tank out of the 2-29. Tank > doesn't look that bad. Has anybody considered reusing the existing tank, > cleaning it and replacing the fittings? I'm saying this as I'm > automatically listing every component and assuming "nows the time", however > cost plus shipping to Alaska as well as finding a plastic or aluminum to > fit is a bit tedious. > > > >

I too faced that dilemma. I don't like BPA's in my diesel so we went stainless. I built a full cardboard mock up from a refrigerator box and duct tape before ordering it from Ballard Sheet Metal in Seattle. They loved the idea that I took all the guess work out of the multiple, compound angles and the fit and that I assumed responsibility for installation. One full boat unit later and it dropped into place like it was designed for it. Danny --- In Ca… [at] yahoogroups.com, Allen Edwards <allen.p.edwards@...> wrote: > > I just went through this decision. I bought a new plastic tank. I would > have bought another identical steel unit in a heart beat if they still made > them, but they don't. If you want aluminum, you can get it made to order > from a number of companies. <SNIP>

I had an aluminium tank made by Pipe Works in Long Beach (562-432-6826) a few years ago. I had them shorten the tank to 15 gallons, and I want to say cost was around $300. Coast Guard certification would have been extra. Ronco (http://www.ronco-plastics.com/) makes plastic tanks, and I know a few guys using them for fuel tanks, but I think Ronco advises against using them as fuel tanks. As for anchoring, I blocked it in with a strip of wood across the top in the back, another across the bottom in the front, and others on the side; I just didn't put the slat across the top front because there really wasn't a need. Best, John --- In Ca… [at] yahoogroups.com, Terry Spencer <tspencer@...> wrote: > > > I thought mine did not look that bad when I replaced my old Farymann 6 years ago. I cleaned it and repainted it with a rust resistant paint. It began to leak this fall. I am now shopping for a replacement. I am thinking I may need to measure it once I have it out and get a custom made tank, probably plastic, for a replacement. I want to get the fittings in the right placement. on the Cal 29, there is only a small space between the top of the tank and the deck fill. > > Has any other Cal 29 owner on the list replaced their fuel tank? I would be interested in what type of tank they purchased as well as how they anchored it back in that space. > > Terry > > > On Mar 10, 2012, at 5:22 PM, James wrote: > > > Pulled my old farymann and the old steel fuel tank out of the 2-29. Tank doesn't look that bad. Has anybody considered reusing the existing tank, cleaning it and replacing the fittings? I'm saying this as I'm automatically listing every component and assuming "nows the time", however cost plus shipping to Alaska as well as finding a plastic or aluminum to fit is a bit tedious. > > > > >