saltlife728
Member
Just wondering if anyone would know the deminsions of the fuel tank on a 88 Welcraft V20. Looking into getting a new one for the boat.
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Just received my new Moeller 52 gallon tank today. Lost 8 gallons capacity, but it's a poly tank and it was only $450 inc. shipping from iBoats. I do have to replace the vent hose, and extend the fill hose, though.
Any recommendations on how to install it? I'm leaning towards rubber isolation pads beneath and glassed in on top and in back with some 1x4s. I may choosed glassed 1x4s underneath instead of isolation pads. I definitely won't be foaming it in.
Wont expanding foam collapse the tank some and not allow for hydrocarbon swelling?
Good questions. My answers would be
1) I don't think so
and
2) I don't think so.
If you just foam the bottom of the tank and maybe a quarter to a half up the sides that shouldn't collapse the tank at all. And since the top and the sides would be free of foam any expansion should be able to happen without a problem.
Remember the original question was what was the best way to mount the tank. Foaming is ideal, since the expanding foam locks the tank in place. The problem with foam has always been if you need to remove a foamed in place tank it's a real bear. But by wraping the tank in a plastic film, you solve that problem. The foam adhears to the plastic film, not the tank, so removing the tank is as easy as simply cutting the film and lifting the tank out.
Understand this is just my opinion, but really, I cannot see any downside to it. Can anyone else see any problems? I see this as one of those "so simple it's a wonder why no one thought of it before" type of problems.
The downside to it for my application is that the foam will soak up and become saturated with water. The 1" PVC pipe from the cuddy to the bilge appears to be a plan gone wrong. Water has for years been getting trapped against the bulkhead and rotted the bottom of it out. So I cut the bottom of the bulkhead away, and fiberglassed it to seal the wood from further water damage. I removed the PVC pipe and water will freeflow from my cuddy to my bilge along the hull bottom. I can't have foam in there or it will get soaked, as well as impede the movement of water.
Maybe I could build a raised shelf and cover it with a shower pan then rest the tank on top of that? But I was thinking more along the lines of installing some 1x4's above and in front/back of the tank to keep it from moving or floating.