Stainless Steel Tank Removal

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swifty

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My stainless steel tank has failed on a seam. Like most boats it was not designed to be removed easily. It is too big for its access hatch and would require some serious cutting surgery to the boat to remove it. One idea I am considering is cutting it in situ and removing it in pieces, it is a diesel tank now fully drained and has been open to the atmosphere by removing all panels to allow air flow through it. Has any forum member had experience of carrying out this task and what equipment was used, I would be grateful of any advice. My plan is then to replace with a plastic tank 1 or 2 through the access hatch, I will probably lose some capacity but will be happy about this.

Thank you.
 
Chop it up with a grinder using stainless cutting discs wash it with fairy and water first. You could replace with nauta tanks the are pretty bomb proof I have them for my water tanks and have used the fuel versions in the past for extended range tanks in helicopters( they are not cheap but good kit never is)

John
 
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Don't use a grinder - too many sparks and grit flying around. Get a Reciprocating saw, which is what I used to cut up a steel fuel tank, which like yours could not be removed. I hired mine, very quick and easy, get the correct metal cutting blades. It took far longer to rotate the tank to be able to cut all round than the actual cutting! Lidle/Aldi had them for sale recently for not a lot. Replace with a plastic tank, no chance of leaks. Vetus, Plastimo and others make ready made tanks much cheaper than having a new stainless one made. Good Luck.
My tankage was reduced from 40 gallons to 19gallons - not a problem at all.
 
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The big scare with cutting fuel tanks is explosions.. you heat the metal by design or side effect, releasing fuel vapour which ignites in a confined space and explodes.
The solution is to prevent the explosion, ignition is ok since you would have a very small fire that can be easily exinguished, explosions are another matter....
First, if the space is enclosed it must therefore have a lid.. fill the tank with water and there is no oxygen for the fuel and so no explosion,once the lid is off the space is no longer enclosed so no explosion. if water isnt favourable then smoke or inert gas (CO2 for example) will do the trick.

Note that have never had the guts to do this but it is supposed to work, even when plasma cutting.
Pneumatic cutting tools are fun to use (if you dont mind the noise)
 
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Swiftly, A friend and I removed mine with a combination of a nibbler and an oscillating saw. I was worried about sparks, so we just took it gently with those tools and they worked just fine. What took the time with my tanks was cutting the bits where they are next to the hull to make sure I didn't cut into the hull. I actually did it with the boat out of the water as I was too scared about sinking the boat. Also the other advantage of these is that they don't make a great mess of grindings and acrid smoke in the boat.

Puggy
 
pvb said:
The suggestions were cutting with a grinder or a reciprocating saw, which aren't likely to cause an explosion in a diesel tank.
Click to expand...

Grinder will heat the metal, saw almost not at all.
Its heating the metal that releases vapour and increases the pressure inside the tank. Once the vapour density/ oxygen level and pressure and temperature reach ignition point it go bang.

Look up "lower explosive limit"
 
swifty said:
My stainless steel tank has failed on a seam. Like most boats it was not designed to be removed easily. It is too big for its access hatch and would require some serious cutting surgery to the boat to remove it. One idea I am considering is cutting it in situ and removing it in pieces, it is a diesel tank now fully drained and has been open to the atmosphere by removing all panels to allow air flow through it. Has any forum member had experience of carrying out this task and what equipment was used, I would be grateful of any advice. My plan is then to replace with a plastic tank 1 or 2 through the access hatch, I will probably lose some capacity but will be happy about this.



Thank you.
Click to expand...

Rather than remove it, have you considered the possibility of putting a bladder inside it? I guess it depends on whether baffles get in the way, and shape etc, but if it's possible, then certainly an easier route.
 
longjohnsilver said:
Rather than remove it, have you considered the possibility of putting a bladder inside it? I guess it depends on whether baffles get in the way, and shape etc, but if it's possible, then certainly an easier route.
Click to expand...
+1 from me. That's what I would do.
 
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