DIY Diesel tank

[Seagreen]

I have a fancy to make my own diesel tank. I seem to remember an article about this sometime ago in PBO. Can anyone point me in to any info about this? Thought I'd cost a home made one against a professionally made one, just to see.
Answers gratefully received, as ever.

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[fishermantwo]

It might help if you mention the capacity and whether a yacht or motor boat. If its a large tank you will need baffles. If its a small tank give some thought to converting a stainless steel beer keg.

 

[lexi]

Are you making in Stainless or GRP.

Alex

 

[Seagreen]

My initial thoughts were a grp tank. It will be no bigger than 10 or 15 gallons and be a deep V shape to fit in the hull. It is intended to replace two rusting steel tanks in the cockpit lockers. I've a mate who might make it for me in SS but I've not broached the subject with him yet!

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[oldsaltoz]

How do you plan to fill a tank in your keel? could end up with a smelly cabin. if you only need 10 gallons perhaps rebuilding the cockpit tanks will be better.

Fibreglass is a simple method, made very easy if you use foam and baffles, klegacell would be good, make sure you have a sloped bottom with a well for water-crud drainage at the lowest point. pick up and return lines should have external joints, a large filler tube makes life better too. You could even build in a sight glass.

Avagoodweekend......

 

[Seagreen]

Tank going under raised cockpit sole quite far aft and lower in the hull. Doesn't need to be huge as I generally sail everywhere. I have two 30L drums for spare diesel should I need this.

The cockpit tanks take up precious space needed to store other things, also by a design quirk, these tanks can only be filled half full or they gush diesel out of the breather pipes!

 

[30boat]

you could probably extend the breather pipes up and attach them to a bit of rigging or something.

 

[Niander]

If its a small tank give some thought to converting a stainless steel beer keg. ....
Thats what i have looks and works a treat
.

 

[oldsaltoz]

Got you now, tank close to and low down the transom, I would be looking at a standard size off the shelf tank if you get one to fit as this will be the most economic.

If has to be a special shape, get a quote first and compare the price to what you expect to pay if you build it yourself or get your friend to advise probable total cost.

Placing a tank in close proximity to the engine may require some extra precautions to reduce fire risk and what else may happen in the event a fire breaks out; this is not an easy area to access so a steel tank with steel fuel lines will be an advantage.

Avagoodweekend......

 

[Seagreen]

A mate suggested running the breather pipes up the inside of the mizzen mast, which is a great idea, but that wouldn't solve the space and storage problem.

 

[rob2]

If you're tempted to use a sight tube, bear in mind that my insurers required me to remove mine! It was a plastic tube permanently fixed between two spigots moulded into the tank. The replacement is a converted domestic heating tank fitting. It is plumbed in with copper pipe and has a "press to open" valve at the base. In the event of fire, only the fuel in the sight tube is initially exposed due to the valve.
The assembly is available from BES.

 

[Seagreen]

I was thinking of using a car type MCG gauge, but calibrated to the shape of the tank - so non linear dial markings but more accurate as the level drops. I find dipping unreliable and just want a sender unit to make guesstimation more practical. a sight glass would be impractical.