Flexible fuel bladders

[prv]

Why are they so bloody expensive?

I'm talking about the sort of thing you might use connected to an outboard in a fast inflatable, instead of a rigid tank clattering around. Somewhere in the 25 to 40 litre range, and suitable for petrol obviously.

The going rate seems to be around the four hundred quid mark!

I doubt it, but just in case, any cunning alternatives?

Pete

 

[Tranona]

Cos you don't want loads of volatile petrol swishing around in an inferior product. Price does not seem high. That is what flexible water tanks, not the plastic cheapest, cost.

 

[KellysEye]

I wouldn't put petrol in a bladder tank if it is pierced the result could be catastrophic. That's why you will never see one on a dinghy only plastic ones.

 

[rogerthebodger]

Is this the type of bladder tank you are looking for

http://www.turtlepac.com/products/collapsible-jerry-can-fuel-tanks.html

 

[prv]

Is this the type of bladder tank you are looking for

http://www.turtlepac.com/products/collapsible-jerry-can-fuel-tanks.html

Yes - or more specifically, some of the smaller models on this page: http://www.turtlepac.com/products/fuel-bladder-marine-pillow-tanks.html. Or similar items from a couple of other manufacturers in France and the US. But they're all fiercely expensive...

Pete

 

[prv]

I wouldn't put petrol in a bladder tank

Your loss. I believe they're mandatory on a ZapCat that's in-class for racing (I want to use one on a ZapCat-like boat that won't be raced) and they're also used on military inflatables and RNLI D-class lifeboats.

Obviously a terrible idea, then...

Pete

 

[l'escargot]

I had one that came with my last RIB. I wanted a second one and hunted high and low for one at a less eye watering cost, even looked at getting one custom made by a local RIB manufacturer, but I couldn't find anything at much less than 400 quid. Second hand ex RNLI or ex military ones sometimes come up on ebay but people are generally wise to their value.

 

[Adamastor]

Pennel have a special division called Nauta who hand-make their awesome tanks. The only advantage I can see to flexible tanks is their reduced bone-breaking characteristics compared to hard tanks.
Unless you're racing Zapcats or the like, I wouldn't go the flexible route.

 

[prv]

The only advantage I can see to flexible tanks is their reduced bone-breaking characteristics compared to hard tanks.

That's exactly what I was thinking

Unless you're racing Zapcats or the like, I wouldn't go the flexible route.

Ah ha

Not formally competing, but yes, I have just been roped in as a part-owner of a "ZapCat or the like". Actually it's a "Supacat", basically exactly the same design but they didn't license the name. Currently has a metal tank, which I was thinking of replacing with a bladder, but not at the prevailing prices.

Pete

 

[Adamastor]

A 6-Yankee-gallon unit from Nauta is a little under 300 Squids. That's not a lot compared to the fun you'll have. Have you got a steering damper and a heavy clod on the goat rope? If you have those then you HAVE to get the bladder!

 

[KellysEye]

>I wouldn't put petrol in a bladder tank

>>Your loss. I believe they're mandatory on a ZapCat that's in-class for racing (I want to use one on a ZapCat-like boat that won't be raced) and they're also used on military inflatables and RNLI D-class lifeboats. Obviously a terrible idea, then...

Have you ever seen a flexible tank on a yacht dinghy? I haven't and I've seen many hundreds of dinghies in dozens of marinas in the Seychelles, Croatia, Greece north to south, most of the Turkish coast, Malta, Corsica and Sardinia, the Balearics, Puerto Rico to Trinidad, Venezuela and the out islands, Bonaire and Curacao, the Bahamas and obviously the UK. If you have seen one where?

 

[charles_reed]

>I wouldn't put petrol in a bladder tank

>>Your loss. I believe they're mandatory on a ZapCat that's in-class for racing (I want to use one on a ZapCat-like boat that won't be raced) and they're also used on military inflatables and RNLI D-class lifeboats. Obviously a terrible idea, then...

Have you ever seen a flexible tank on a yacht dinghy? I haven't and I've seen many hundreds of dinghies in dozens of marinas in the Seychelles, Croatia, Greece north to south, most of the Turkish coast, Malta, Corsica and Sardinia, the Balearics, Puerto Rico to Trinidad, Venezuela and the out islands, Bonaire and Curacao, the Bahamas and obviously the UK. If you have seen one where?

Our friend, who's inclined to try and justify his feelings of superiority over the rest of hoi polloi by asking innocent-appearing, loaded questions, is specifically asking about fuel storage for high-speed power-boats. I doubt you'd see the unit to which he's referring unless you move in exotic power-boat-racing circles or have been a member of the SBS.

 

[Tranona]

>I wouldn't put petrol in a bladder tank

>>Your loss. I believe they're mandatory on a ZapCat that's in-class for racing (I want to use one on a ZapCat-like boat that won't be raced) and they're also used on military inflatables and RNLI D-class lifeboats. Obviously a terrible idea, then...

Have you ever seen a flexible tank on a yacht dinghy? I haven't and I've seen many hundreds of dinghies in dozens of marinas in the Seychelles, Croatia, Greece north to south, most of the Turkish coast, Malta, Corsica and Sardinia, the Balearics, Puerto Rico to Trinidad, Venezuela and the out islands, Bonaire and Curacao, the Bahamas and obviously the UK. If you have seen one where?

Once again displaying your ignorance. Why don't you read what wants it for, and it is not for a yacht dinghy.

 

[Beamishken]

Try asking on rib.net they are very popular with rib & sib owners where hard tanks can be a hazard
Someone on there might just be able to point you in the right direction

 

[Tidewaiter2]

Try the Avon website, they do black ones-on their Mil/Pro section.
Price-???

 

[KellysEye]

>Our friend, who's inclined to try and justify his feelings of superiority over the rest of hoi polloi by asking innocent-appearing, loaded questions, is specifically asking about fuel storage for high-speed power-boats.

No the OP said ""I'm talking about the sort of thing you might use connected to an outboard in a fast inflatable'' not storage for high speed power boats.

>Once again displaying your ignorance. Why don't you read what wants it for, and it is not for a yacht dinghy.

The OP didn't mention yachts but I did I because that's where you see hundreds of inflatable dinghies and fuel tanks so you get a meaningful sample. Most long distance boat have inflatables that plane (fast) because they anchor out a mile or more from restaurants or shopping, we had one. None of those or any other dinghy I saw I saw had a bladder fuel tank. If anyone does fit a bladder containing petrol in a dinghy, fast or not, good luck to them.

>asking innocent-appearing, loaded questions

It's noteworthy nobody has said they have seen a bladder petrol tank in an inflatable dinghy, including you. Quite why you think it was loaded I don't know, it was a straight forward unanswered question.

 

[prv]

Quite why you think it was loaded I don't know, it was a straight forward unanswered question.

Indeed - thanks. I'm not sure what loaded subtext Charles thought he saw in it, I'm afraid I'm not sophisticated and devious enough for such things.

(I was a bit rude about his part-time job as a fresh-water expansion tank in another thread, which is probably what triggered that post.)

This thread was more rant than question, the price of a petrol bladder still seems extortionate, but there's not much that anyone can do to help that. Even if I wanted to spend the money, I doubt my co-owners will. We're just going to make sure the rigid tank is well strapped down onto a rubber mat on the deck.

Pete