How old are your gas tanks?

pnmudge · Post by **pnmudge** » Thu Apr 14, 2011 2:39 pm

Just wonderin'......

Our '76 F-28 still has the original gas tanks.... which makes them 35 years old. I feel like we're running on borrowed time, and quite frankly can't believe we've made it this long without any leaks.

They look great from the outside.. but of course are slowly (or quickly?) rusting away from the inside, and I live in dread of the day we find a leak.

I'm crossing my fingers that we make until Sept/Oct when we plan to have them replaced... but since we have to take the engines out to do it, it's not going to be an easy (or cheap!) job.

So I'm wondering how many years you guys have been able to get out of your tanks?

Stripermann2 · Post by **Stripermann2** » Thu Apr 14, 2011 2:43 pm

As far as I can tell, mine are original as well. 26 years now.

jimbo36 · Post by **jimbo36** » Thu Apr 14, 2011 3:44 pm

What exactly constitutes the necessity to replace fuel tanks that are in good condition. Age? As a longterm ACBS and Chris Craft Antique Boat Club member, and owner & past owner of several boats with problem free original fuel tanks I wonder what the criteria really is. Obviously there are several factors that effect tank deterioration. What warning signs, other than speculation due to age, are visable? Testing proceedures?

jimbo36

pnmudge · Post by **pnmudge** » Thu Apr 14, 2011 3:46 pm

good question.... i'd like to know the answers....

i just always figured galvanized steel can't last forever with small amounts of water eventually rusting away at it.......

or rather, that's what i've always been told...........

risctaker · Post by **risctaker** » Thu Apr 14, 2011 3:51 pm

I am in the same boat (pun intended) and to complicate things have a boat-load (pun intended) of corn gas inside of them that have to be removed. So.. my plan is to have the tanks pumped, cleaned and pressure-tested. Other than that the only other solution is to replace the tanks. Quite frankly, with the age of some of these boats we're involved with, if I see a fuel leak, I'm unloading the boat quick!. Pull engines to replace the tanks in a 35-40 year old boat?? Some of you guys are going overboard (pun intended). Dump the boat and buy something newer...doesn't have to be a LOT newer...just "newer" and maybe something that the previous owner has gone through all that headache!!

Allen Sr · Post by **Allen Sr** » Thu Apr 14, 2011 3:58 pm

pnmudge wrote:good question.... i'd like to know the answers....

i just always figured galvanized steel can't last forever with small amounts of water eventually rusting away at it.......

or rather, that's what i've always been told...........

Are you sure they are galvanized steel? I was thinking the same thing on my 84 but it turns out they are aluminum.

risctaker · Post by **risctaker** » Thu Apr 14, 2011 4:08 pm

Most boat manufacturers switched to Aluminum and now any new tank you buy would most likely either be aluminum or poly. The tanks in the older Trojans (all older boats probably) are galvanized steel. If you choose to put in new tanks, be careful of the Poly tanks as the ethanol in corn gas will start dissolving the inside of the tank - go with new Aluminum IMHO

rooferdave · Post by **rooferdave** » Thu Apr 14, 2011 4:46 pm

I am at a cross roads, my tanks upon visual inspection with the sending units removed, look good, gonna send the carbs out for rebuild to avoid the ethonal issues, now do I pull the tanks and have em scrubbed? or roll the dice? Hope there is not too much build up on the walls as I cannot see any... can't check with the previous owner ...he is in prison....for life

alexander38 · Post by **alexander38** » Thu Apr 14, 2011 5:39 pm

us guys with 80's get lucky, remember that's when corn gas came out the first time. So some boat co. changed tank metals over to alum. at least some of the better ones, and yes Paul and Jamie I have alum. ones and even came with gas lines for corn gas.

randyp · Post by **randyp** » Thu Apr 14, 2011 8:14 pm

The original galvanized tank in our 1977 F26 started rusting on the inside in 1999. The rust probably would have gone through the tank the next year or 2, so we'd have gotten 23-24 years before we'd be sending big bags of money to NY State Encon for polluting our lake.......and the ensuing clean up.......You are indeed living on borrowed time. Of course, it could be a lot worse.....like leaking gas into the bilge and then.....BOOOOM!

Big D · Post by **Big D** » Thu Apr 14, 2011 8:22 pm

42 tears so far and counting. I'm thinking she's always had her tanks kept full off season which used to help. Now with the corn gas, well tank empty or full off season is still up for debate. Do you get more water from a full tank of corn gas or from condensation in an empty tank?

prowlersfish · Post by **prowlersfish** » Thu Apr 14, 2011 8:34 pm

alexander38 wrote:us guys with 80's get lucky, remember that's when corn gas came out the first time. So some boat co. changed tank metals over to alum. at least some of the better ones, and yes Paul and Jamie I have alum. ones and even came with gas lines for corn gas.

My came with galvanized tanks but where changed when repowered

dodgeem · Post by **dodgeem** » Thu Apr 14, 2011 10:21 pm

Found some rust in the fill valve this weekend in one of the two rear 55 gallon tanks. Thinking about just shutting them down and running on the midship ones until I can really inspect.

captainmaniac · Post by **captainmaniac** » Thu Apr 14, 2011 10:38 pm

Big D wrote:42 tears so far and counting

Tears ? What happened - see the price of gas at the pumps?

Original tanks in my '79 (galvanized as far as I can tell). No external signs of corrosion. I did have to replace fuel line to the genny last year (completely dried out and cracked), and a friend with a Viking had a fuel leak last year but it was also the rubber fuel line that gave out in his case too - not the tanks.

prowlersfish · Post by **prowlersfish** » Thu Apr 14, 2011 11:14 pm

dodgeem wrote:Found some rust in the fill valve this weekend in one of the two rear 55 gallon tanks. Thinking about just shutting them down and running on the midship ones until I can really inspect.

If its in the filler thats not the tank , just the filler rusting.