fuel tank

[fillet1]

Can anyone give me a L x w x ht dimension for the 65 gal tank in my 85? The tank is located forward in the cockpit next to the helm on the centerline.

I'd take any names of suppliers if you have it also. ;)

[Vic]

Hey Fillet, I went through this last year. I had one built locally. for $460.00. The supplier on the original tank was in Perry Florida. But they told me that they dont build them any more. I had to take my old tank to him and had him match it. I have the same exact same setup as your boat. When you get your new one. Sherwin Williams has an epoxy bottom paint for alluminum boats that works well for painting your new tank.

Plastic is the way to go, IMHO. 8)

[macojoe]

I have the 2 alum. Sides that are factory and the extra 25 gal belly tank is plastic! Thats the only way to go.

I had an older (1978) V20 CC that I bought used and fished offshore in the GOM out of Port Aransas Tx for 12-14 years until I finally won a tournament that basically bought me a new boat.
I did a lot of maintanance on that boat over the years and figured it was about due for a new fuel tank when I sold it. (It wasn't leaking, but had some salt corrosion on top around the petcock and guage sender)
Looks like there's a lot of experience on this board so I thought I'd ask......
Were (are) those aluminum belly tanks in the V20s prone to fail in a certain time frame? (The transom was having some problems, too.)

That was my first offshore boat and I really loved it. I ran it all those years and basically got what I paid for it when I sold.
That was one fish catchin boat. :)

[reelapeelin]

Fillet...Pipe Dream might be able to help you w/tank dimensions as he replaced his, but I don't know what year his is...

Kingfish...I think aluminum repeatedly exposed to saltwater will fail at a given time...sounds like you are one lucky boatowner and get to use it often. and what previous owner did is a who-knows...so for yours to corrode around the top fittings is not surprising... ;)

[fillet1]

SK -

Do you know if you can foam in a plastic tank?

My '91 V-20 has a plastic tank that is foamed in.

[Pipe_Dream]

I saw this thread yesterday but didn't think I could add anything relevant as fillet says his tank is next to the helm -- mine is aft of that, so I don't know how they compare. Dimensions are complicated, as the bottom of the tank is V-shaped but flat on the bottom, kind of like this: \_/ I'm sure I still have the sketch with dimensions somewhere around here, so Fillet, if you have access to a fax I could fax it to you.
Florida Marine Tanks has specs on old Wellcraft tanks (so I understand) and can make a new one out of aluminum for you. I had a plastic tank built to same dimensions by Triple "M" Plastic Products in Kennebunk, Maine for about the same price quoted by Florida Marine for aluminum. It's foamed in and will probably outlast both me and the boat! :)

[fillet1]

Pipe,
Thanks for that info.
I am starting to think that I am better off replacing the tank now while I have the time, rather then finding out in the spring that I have a problem and lose fishing time as a result. Its good to know that you can foam in the plastic. Since I only have a 115 on the back and dont plan on running more than ten to twenty miles tops on any given day, i was thinking I could get away with a smaller tank if I had to.

In removing the acces ports on the fuel tank hatch, I definitely smell gas, but not a strong odor. This is after the boat has been sitting for a while. It smells in the aft bilge area too, but there are fuel lines, oil tanks etc back there as well.

In removing the tank first- what the heck do I do with the 50 gals of gas in the tank already? Thats a lot of $$$ for 5 gal gas cans to store it!!

Second -is there a point where the tank will "break free" from the remaining foam once I get enough of it out? or is it adhered to the hull bottom somehow? Do I need a chain hoist or something to break it lose?