annageek
Well-Known Member
When my wife jumped on board the other day and said "it smells a bit diesel-ey" down here, for no good reason, my immediate response was to dismiss it.
Anyway, it turns out, after starting high and working low, eliminating all other possible sources, our 210 litre mild steel diesel tank was weeping through a rusty spot on the bottom. We found about 15l of diesel in the bilges since the last time we were on board a week ago, so the leak rate was pretty high! Realising leaks like this seldom get better and usually get worse, I managed to scrounge enough jerry cans to take out the remaining 150l of diesel from some really helpful people.
The plan is to make a jury rigged tank to finish the season using a 42l plastic one I've managed to find and replace the main tank this winter.
My question is, what would you go for - aluminium, stainless steel or plastic?
I thought about looking at repairing the existing tank, but at 37 years old, it's older than me, and probably at the end of its life. The plan is to keep the current boat for many more years, so a proper, long lasting solution is required.
Having had a motor boat a few years back that had pitting corrosion in an aluminium tank that almost resulted in a huge petrol leak, I would be against aluminium.
The tank is in the engine bay, which, with the engine having been run seems to get super hot. Woudl this affect the integrity of a large plastic tank (e.g. the bespoke sort that Tek Tanks supply)? This may be academic, as the cost looks as though it may be prohibitive, but the fact it will not corrode is very tempting!
If I go with 316 stainless steel, is there anything that should be done to prevent crevice corrosion due to saltwater that gets trapped between the skin of the tank and the fibrelass berers that it sits on?
Anyway, it turns out, after starting high and working low, eliminating all other possible sources, our 210 litre mild steel diesel tank was weeping through a rusty spot on the bottom. We found about 15l of diesel in the bilges since the last time we were on board a week ago, so the leak rate was pretty high! Realising leaks like this seldom get better and usually get worse, I managed to scrounge enough jerry cans to take out the remaining 150l of diesel from some really helpful people.
The plan is to make a jury rigged tank to finish the season using a 42l plastic one I've managed to find and replace the main tank this winter.
My question is, what would you go for - aluminium, stainless steel or plastic?
I thought about looking at repairing the existing tank, but at 37 years old, it's older than me, and probably at the end of its life. The plan is to keep the current boat for many more years, so a proper, long lasting solution is required.
Having had a motor boat a few years back that had pitting corrosion in an aluminium tank that almost resulted in a huge petrol leak, I would be against aluminium.
The tank is in the engine bay, which, with the engine having been run seems to get super hot. Woudl this affect the integrity of a large plastic tank (e.g. the bespoke sort that Tek Tanks supply)? This may be academic, as the cost looks as though it may be prohibitive, but the fact it will not corrode is very tempting!
If I go with 316 stainless steel, is there anything that should be done to prevent crevice corrosion due to saltwater that gets trapped between the skin of the tank and the fibrelass berers that it sits on?
