Reply
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread Display Modes
 
Old 02-02-2014, 12:22 PM   #1
Guru
 
fryedaze's Avatar
 
City: Solomons Island Md
Vessel Name: Fryedaze
Vessel Model: MC 42 (Overseas Co) Monk 42
Join Date: Sep 2011
Posts: 1,721
Steel fuel tank age survey

Rather that hijack an ongoing thread I thought I would attempt to get some age info on tanks. So, how old are your steel fuel tanks?

Mine are 25 years old.
__________________
Dave Frye
Fryedaze, MC 42 (Monk 42') 1989 Overseas Co
https://mvfryedaze.blogspot.com/
fryedaze is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-02-2014, 12:34 PM   #2
Guru
 
SomeSailor's Avatar
 
City: Everett, WA
Vessel Name: Honey Badger
Vessel Model: 42' CHB Europa
Join Date: Oct 2011
Posts: 784
Mine are 34 years old and when I had them open this fall for inspection and polishing, they were in good shape. No leaks or major rust.
SomeSailor is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-02-2014, 01:25 PM   #3
TF Site Team
 
Larry M's Avatar
 
City: Jacksonville
Join Date: Nov 2008
Posts: 11,682
27 years old. No leaks or exterior rust. We're in the process of servicing them (2-350 gallon) by adding another inspection port, cleaning and coating the interior bottoms and sides with Flamemaster CS3204. Hopefully they'll be good for another 27 years.

http://www.flamemaster.com/Technical...ev%2001-07.pdf
Larry M is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-02-2014, 03:03 PM   #4
Guru
 
City: Hotel, CA
Join Date: Sep 2011
Posts: 8,323
47 years. It was pulled, sandblasted, inspected and painted 2 years ago as part of a refit. Tank was determined at that time to be good as new.
__________________
Craig

It's easier to fool people than to convince them that they've been fooled - Mark Twain
CPseudonym is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-02-2014, 04:48 PM   #5
Guru
 
BruceK's Avatar
 
City: Sydney
Vessel Name: Sojourn
Vessel Model: Integrity 386
Join Date: Oct 2011
Posts: 13,333
33 years old. Both port and starboard were rusted on the tops, due to leaking decks. Both were treated for rust, the stbd one was repaired with fiberglass at the filler tube junction.
__________________
BruceK
2005 Integrity 386 "Sojourn"
Sydney Australia
BruceK is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-02-2014, 05:03 PM   #6
Guru
 
rochepoint's Avatar
 
City: Sidney BC Canada
Vessel Name: RochePoint
Vessel Model: 1985 Cheer Men PT38 Sedan
Join Date: Apr 2009
Posts: 1,744
Ours are 29 years old and looking good.....but still a concern. Opened them up about 5 years ago, a little rust inside on the bottom but nothing to be concerned. No surface rust, but still wondering, so I follow all posts regarding fuel tanks and possible replacement.
__________________
Cheers
Mike
MV RochePoint
rochepoint is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-02-2014, 05:28 PM   #7
Veteran Member
 
BelfastCruiser's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2011
Posts: 66
Just had their 40th Birthday! They have nice big access ports so access is no problem. Cleaned every 10 and thoroughly inspected on the 5s, with the occasional peek in between.
BelfastCruiser is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-02-2014, 06:18 PM   #8
TF Site Team
 
Insequent's Avatar
 
City: Brisbane
Vessel Name: Insequent
Vessel Model: Ocean Alexander 50 Mk I
Join Date: Mar 2012
Posts: 4,262
Mine were replaced 18 months ago. The old ones were 31 years old, and were 5/32" black iron. One wing tank was leaking, and the other wing tank had thin spots and was not far off leaking. One of the rear tanks was in fair condition, although the other rear one was on its way out. I replaced all 4. The insides had some reasonably hard sediment in them, but hardly any rust. The rust was from outside in, tank sides that were against the hull and on bottom.

At the same time I fixed the primary cause of degradation. Problems arose from the engine room vents being vertical louvres with no dorade box inside. I am guessing it was mostly rain that entered. Where the tanks touched the hull sides then rust was fastest. I now have horizontal louvres for the vents plus a custom dorade drainage. If not storing in a boat shed then covers for the engine room vents would be a very good idea to help keep the tanks dry.
__________________
Brian
Insequent is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-02-2014, 09:01 PM   #9
Guru
 
City: Venice Louisiana
Join Date: Dec 2013
Posts: 1,097
35 years in my trawler. midship side tanks, 400 gallons each, had rust on the tops, no rust thru. They could have been easily repaired and put back in service, had I not cut them up to remove them. Lower 250 gallon tank had a leak in the bottom, again would have been easy to fix but the tank was "dissassembled" to remove. These were all 1/4 in mild steel, installed to James Krogens specifications. The rust on the top of the side tanks was due to window leaks. The lower tank I dont know for sure, but it had rusted from the outside. Other than that it looked like new. The 250 gallon stainless steel (316l) water tank also looked new, and was modified with cleanout ports and reinstalled. Of all things, this boat had a bladder tank for black/gray waste. A later retrofit is my guess.
kulas44 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-02-2014, 11:06 PM   #10
Guru
 
Edelweiss's Avatar
 
City: PNW
Vessel Model: 1976 Californian Tricabin LRC
Join Date: May 2011
Posts: 1,860
Original 1976 black iron tanks, all four tanks are under the two double beds in the aft cabin, 500 gallons total. Tanks are kept full and I have never had a problem with exterior or internal rust.
__________________
Larry B
Careful . . .I Have a Generator and I'm not afraid to use it !
Edelweiss is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-03-2014, 07:37 AM   #11
Guru
 
jleonard's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2008
Posts: 5,037
Original tanks are 31.
__________________
Jay Leonard
Ex boats: 1983 40 Albin trunk cabin, 1978 Mainship 34 Model 1
New Port Richey, Fl
jleonard is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-03-2014, 08:53 AM   #12
Moderator Emeritus
 
Bay Pelican's Avatar
 
City: Chicago, IL
Vessel Name: Bay Pelican
Vessel Model: Krogen 42
Join Date: Oct 2007
Posts: 2,993
Tanks replaced at 28 years. Serious rust forward bottom of both tanks where water accumulated in front of the tanks from pilot house leaks.
__________________
Marty
Bay Pelican is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-03-2014, 08:53 AM   #13
Senior Member
 
City: Great Lakes
Vessel Name: NONE
Vessel Model: NONE
Join Date: Jan 2013
Posts: 448
20+, Six tanks total, 4 - 200gal main tanks, 2 - 100 gal keel tanks. Mine are steel completely encased in fibreglass. No problems I am aware of but then again I can't see the condition of the metal. Don't know what to think of this fibreglass over steel, could be good or bad.
Capt Kangeroo is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-03-2014, 09:02 AM   #14
Senior Member
 
Adelaide's Avatar
 
City: La Conner, WA
Vessel Name: Adelaide
Vessel Model: 1983 Tung Hwa Clipper
Join Date: Sep 2011
Posts: 385
30 years, no end in sight to mine. Virtually no rust on the outside. Not worth it to inspect the inside for rust when 99% of failures are due to lack of exterior boat maintenance.
Adelaide is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-03-2014, 09:25 AM   #15
Guru
 
fryedaze's Avatar
 
City: Solomons Island Md
Vessel Name: Fryedaze
Vessel Model: MC 42 (Overseas Co) Monk 42
Join Date: Sep 2011
Posts: 1,721
Quote:
Originally Posted by Adelaide View Post
30 years, no end in sight to mine. Virtually no rust on the outside. Not worth it to inspect the inside for rust when 99% of failures are due to lack of exterior boat maintenance.
Adelaide, where did you come up with the 99% exterior failure number? I started this thread because my biggest worry with my boat is the unknown of if or when I will have a fuel tank leak. I am trying to get a feel for failures. I am considering installing inspection ports this spring so we at least know the condition of the tanks.
__________________
Dave Frye
Fryedaze, MC 42 (Monk 42') 1989 Overseas Co
https://mvfryedaze.blogspot.com/
fryedaze is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-03-2014, 10:35 AM   #16
Senior Member
 
Adelaide's Avatar
 
City: La Conner, WA
Vessel Name: Adelaide
Vessel Model: 1983 Tung Hwa Clipper
Join Date: Sep 2011
Posts: 385
Quote:
Originally Posted by fryedaze View Post
Adelaide, where did you come up with the 99% exterior failure number? I started this thread because my biggest worry with my boat is the unknown of if or when I will have a fuel tank leak. I am trying to get a feel for failures. I am considering installing inspection ports this spring so we at least know the condition of the tanks.
It's common knowledge that iron tanks fail from the outside in. If your boat was properly maintained (deck fittings,windows, teak decks etc...), then your tanks probably have very little to no rust on the outer surfaces.....they don't have an expiration date. By all means inspect them and clean them for piece of mind. In my situation, the tanks are in great shape and I choose to continue to watch my Racor, changing filters when necessary and visually inspect the fittings, tops, sides, and bottoms of my tanks. I'll be looking for obvious signs of water intrusion, or rust formation.
Adelaide is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-04-2014, 05:43 AM   #17
FF
Guru
 
FF's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2007
Posts: 22,553
I started this thread because my biggest worry with my boat is the unknown of if or when I will have a fuel tank leak.

Ease your mind and simply eyeball the tanks , as suggested.

Dont see Rust? No problem.
FF is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-04-2014, 10:15 AM   #18
TF Site Team
 
koliver's Avatar
 
City: Saltspring Island
Vessel Name: Retreat
Vessel Model: C&L 44
Join Date: Nov 2007
Posts: 5,663
34 years.
koliver is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-04-2014, 11:06 AM   #19
TF Site Team
 
Larry M's Avatar
 
City: Jacksonville
Join Date: Nov 2008
Posts: 11,682
Quote:
...Ease your mind and simply eyeball the tanks , as suggested.

Dont see Rust? No problem.
How about tanks leaking from the inside because of water and sludge? Most of our tanks are not designed with a sump. I know of 3 tanks that leaked from the inside. Two were repaired successfully in place. The owner of the third replaced his. Just saying.
Larry M is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-04-2014, 11:07 AM   #20
Guru
 
Nomad Willy's Avatar
 
City: Concrete Washington State
Vessel Name: Willy
Vessel Model: Willard Nomad 30'
Join Date: Oct 2007
Posts: 18,743
One of my black iron tanks lasted 30 years and the other had been a leaker years before we bought the boat.
__________________
Eric

North Western Washington State USA
Nomad Willy is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are Off


» Trawler Port Captains
Port Captains are TF volunteers who can serve as local guides or assist with local arrangements and information. Search below to locate Port Captains near your destination. To learn more about this program read here: TF Port Captain Program





All times are GMT -5. The time now is 04:21 AM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.8 Beta 4
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.
Search Engine Optimization by vBSEO 3.6.0
Copyright 2006 - 2012