building a fuel tank

[mdt]

I have totally stripped out the hull as you know of a 5.4. I have started the re-build process. What I am now looking into is… Can I build into the hull a fuel tank made from glassfibre and Vinyl Ester Resin as these resins seam to be the ones that are immune to fuel?

I am just very aware of how small these ribs are once you start strapping 40-50L of fuel down on the deck some where and doing this under deck up near the bow would help keep some of the weight up front, and I am just looking into how one can best use all the space that is going free while I have the thing in component form?

[codprawn]

Well they use them in many petrol stations so you should be ok. also have a look at various epoxies but vinyl esters are prob the best.

http://www.ch601.org/resources/fiber...nstruction.htm

http://forums.screamandfly.com/forum...ad.php?t=77204

[chewy]

I know its not an answer to your question but my two 5 gallon tanks don't shift and are strapped to the deck just in front of the console.

[mdt]

Oh I know there is lots of other options open to solve the age long problem of storing fuel on a boat.
Separate tanks strapped down
Tank with in the console either built in or removable.

But I recon IF I can make use of the bow of the boat as a tank I can mould it over and around the anchor locker drain etc and I recon it could be a good size and if I use some baffle foam in it to prevent it slopping about too much.

[JSP]

Sounds a great idea. Wish I could do something like that!

[chewy]

The foam sounds like good stuff, seen it in Merlin motorsport or somewhere?
I think the built in tank is a great idea. Have you got a photo of where your putting it?

[JSP]

It's going in the pointy bit!

[mdt]

Originally Posted by chewy

Have you got a photo of where your putting it?

I am thinking of stiking it between the two bits of wood

[chewy]

Originally Posted by JSP

It's going in the pointy bit!

Thats opposite the blunt bit ain't it?

What sort of volume is that gap?

[JSP]

Don't know if you've seen this stuff?
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/FIA-fuel-tank-...d=p3286.c0.m14

[chewy]

Thats the stuff he's on about putting in, posh ain't it!

[JSP]

It is isn't it?

[codprawn]

I once had a tank fiilled with explososafe or whatever it was called - used to take an age to fill.

[jwalker]

Vinyl Ester I don't know about but NPG resin is OK.

Here

[mdt]

Originally Posted by jwalker

Vinyl Ester I don't know about but NPG resin is OK.

Here

Ah, I had seen you had built your own tanks. But dose this NPG resin you speak of also stand up to petrol? I have been reading on the web that if it for diesel then it is relatively easy and most resins will do the job. But the “new” petrol has got ethanol or the likes in it and this is what can cause the issue.

Any pointer where one can get the NPG stuff from ?

[mdt]

Originally Posted by chewy

What sort of volume is that gap?

to tell the truth I made a start at trying to work out the volume, gave up, I then started to look for a sheet of waterproof some thing that could be used so I could just poor a known volume of water in to see how large it is. Could not find said suitable sheet. So I am working on the “it looks enough” stood there with a beer in one hand and a pencil behind the ear.

[JSP]

Originally Posted by mdt

...So I am working on the “it looks enough” stood there with a beer in one hand and a pencil behind the ear.

We've read the same book

[nik]

There is a thread about neo pentyl glycol and fuel tanks here

[mdt]

right then the pencel dropped out from behind the ear and i ran out of beer...

could not find the slide-rule so filled it up as below

Quiz time

what guesses do we have for the volume of water contained below?

[Poly]

Originally Posted by mdt

Quiz time

what guesses do we have for the volume of water contained below?

I would guess thats about 120 L