1972 OUTRAGE Plastic Belly Tank - Moderated Discussion Areas

  ContinuousWave
  Whaler
  Moderated Discussion Areas
  ContinuousWave: Whaler Repairs/Mods
  1972 OUTRAGE Plastic Belly Tank

search | FAQ | profile | register | author help

Author Topic:   1972 OUTRAGE Plastic Belly Tank

TommyWhaler posted 01-21-2011 06:24 PM ET (US)
I know the original [fuel] tank [on a 1972 Boston Whaler OUTRAGE] was [made of] aluminum and I can get one made right here in my town, however, has anyone used a PLASTIC belly tank, instead of aluminum? One of the certified Whaler dealers I use said they would go with plastic [in preference to] aluminum [for the plastic tank's better resistance to] water build up and corrosion. Thanks for your input.
contender posted 01-21-2011 08:11 PM ET (US)
I see you are in Daytona. Take a ride down to Marine Liquidators in Ft. Pierce. I was there two weeks ago and they have [fuel tanks made of] both [aluminum and plastic] and hundreds of tanks to choose from. I would also write down anything else you might need. That place is a gold mine for finding boat stuff. [Their telephone number is] 772-465-6460. [Their address is] 2901 North US Highway 1, Ft Pierce. [The value of a visit there is] worth the [cost of the travel in making the] trip. There is a place in California that builds custom plastic tanks: Plastic Mart, [telephone number] 866 310 2556. Shipping is expensive. I would just be worried about the reaction of chemicals they are putting in the gas now, I do not think it would affect the plastic tanks they make now but just a thought. I cannot see a down side but I'm old fashion. I'll take alum.
TommyWhaler posted 01-21-2011 08:40 PM ET (US)
Thank you for your response. I have only run non-ethanol gas since I got this boat and had the motor gone thru, and knock on wood, no problems so far. Old 1985 Evinrude 150. The belly tank is out, sitting in the back yard to use as a [template] if I do decide to go back with alumimum. I am running off an 18-gallon above-deck tank, and [the engine] sucks that dry in no time.
I do need to take a trip down to Ft. Pierce and see Marine Liquidators. Thanks for the info.
dfmcintyre posted 01-21-2011 09:05 PM ET (US)
Why have an aluminum one fabricated instead of just ordering one from Florida Tank?
contender posted 01-21-2011 09:06 PM ET (US)
If you head down there take the dimensions of your tank you may find one
TommyWhaler posted 01-22-2011 07:00 AM ET (US)
Well dfmcintyre, Florida Tank is actually in North Carolina. When you add the shipping charge on top of the tank cost, they are significantly higher in cost. But, my original post dealt with doing away with the inherent problems associated with aluminum tanks. However, thanks for the reply.
jimh posted 01-22-2011 08:02 AM ET (US)
I was not aware that there was any vendor or fabricator who could make a custom plastic fuel tank to fit an existing fuel tank cavity. Can someone explain how these custom plastic fuel tanks are fabricated in a one-of-a-kind fashion to fit a particular fuel tank cavity space?
I understand that with aluminum fuel tanks it is not particularly difficult to cut aluminum sheet stock and weld a number of pieces of aluminum into a fuel tank of a particular size and shape on a custom, one-of-a-kind basis. But I do not understand how one would fabricate a plastic fuel tank like that.
It was my understanding that plastic fuel tanks were made in molds of some sort. It would seem very expensive to have to create a mold to use in creating a plastic fuel tank on a one-of-a-kind basis to retrofit a new tank into an existing fuel tank cavity. Could we have a further explanation of how this custom plastic fuel tank fabrication is actually accomplished? Thanks.
dfmcintyre posted 01-22-2011 10:21 AM ET (US)
Contender -
One problem with trying to find a tank that would fit the cavity is that the bottom "V" is off set from what I recall. It was off set to allow for the rigging tunnel.
Tommy -
Have you thought about installing saddle tanks? They were an 18(?) gallon option on that model. There _are_ some current plastic ones that would fit. I had a pair and had four stainless steel brackets fabricated to hold them in place. Fueled through a cutout in the top of the gunnel. Never used them and sold them to another forum member.
Best - Don
contender posted 01-22-2011 04:55 PM ET (US)
Jim: You are correct you need a different mold for every diffent tank you wish to make out of plastic. Plastic Mart has/makes/stocks plastic tanks (maybe my wording was not correct, I'm not saying they have an exact whaler tank to fit) but they do have a bunch of different molds and can do different things for the plastic tank. The problem is though like I have stated the shipping is very expensive. And you would probably just be better off purchasing a local tank, or having one made local.
Dfmcintyre: Marine liquidators purchased/bought out a lot of marine stores (some places even had whalers and their equipment)around the state and maybe farther. If you choose to take a ride down to them I would bring your old tank along for a match or something close. I would even try to give them a call tell them what you are looking for...

Hop to:

Contact Us | RETURN to ContinuousWave Top Page

Powered by: Ultimate Bulletin Board, Freeware Version 2000
Purchase our Licensed Version- which adds many more features!
© Infopop Corporation (formerly Madrona Park, Inc.), 1998 - 2000.

Author	Topic: 1972 OUTRAGE Plastic Belly Tank
TommyWhaler	posted 01-21-2011 06:24 PM ET (US) I know the original [fuel] tank [on a 1972 Boston Whaler OUTRAGE] was [made of] aluminum and I can get one made right here in my town, however, has anyone used a PLASTIC belly tank, instead of aluminum? One of the certified Whaler dealers I use said they would go with plastic [in preference to] aluminum [for the plastic tank's better resistance to] water build up and corrosion. Thanks for your input.
contender	posted 01-21-2011 08:11 PM ET (US) I see you are in Daytona. Take a ride down to Marine Liquidators in Ft. Pierce. I was there two weeks ago and they have [fuel tanks made of] both [aluminum and plastic] and hundreds of tanks to choose from. I would also write down anything else you might need. That place is a gold mine for finding boat stuff. [Their telephone number is] 772-465-6460. [Their address is] 2901 North US Highway 1, Ft Pierce. [The value of a visit there is] worth the [cost of the travel in making the] trip. There is a place in California that builds custom plastic tanks: Plastic Mart, [telephone number] 866 310 2556. Shipping is expensive. I would just be worried about the reaction of chemicals they are putting in the gas now, I do not think it would affect the plastic tanks they make now but just a thought. I cannot see a down side but I'm old fashion. I'll take alum.
TommyWhaler	posted 01-21-2011 08:40 PM ET (US) Thank you for your response. I have only run non-ethanol gas since I got this boat and had the motor gone thru, and knock on wood, no problems so far. Old 1985 Evinrude 150. The belly tank is out, sitting in the back yard to use as a [template] if I do decide to go back with alumimum. I am running off an 18-gallon above-deck tank, and [the engine] sucks that dry in no time. I do need to take a trip down to Ft. Pierce and see Marine Liquidators. Thanks for the info.
dfmcintyre	posted 01-21-2011 09:05 PM ET (US) Why have an aluminum one fabricated instead of just ordering one from Florida Tank?
contender	posted 01-21-2011 09:06 PM ET (US) If you head down there take the dimensions of your tank you may find one
TommyWhaler	posted 01-22-2011 07:00 AM ET (US) Well dfmcintyre, Florida Tank is actually in North Carolina. When you add the shipping charge on top of the tank cost, they are significantly higher in cost. But, my original post dealt with doing away with the inherent problems associated with aluminum tanks. However, thanks for the reply.
jimh	posted 01-22-2011 08:02 AM ET (US) I was not aware that there was any vendor or fabricator who could make a custom plastic fuel tank to fit an existing fuel tank cavity. Can someone explain how these custom plastic fuel tanks are fabricated in a one-of-a-kind fashion to fit a particular fuel tank cavity space? I understand that with aluminum fuel tanks it is not particularly difficult to cut aluminum sheet stock and weld a number of pieces of aluminum into a fuel tank of a particular size and shape on a custom, one-of-a-kind basis. But I do not understand how one would fabricate a plastic fuel tank like that. It was my understanding that plastic fuel tanks were made in molds of some sort. It would seem very expensive to have to create a mold to use in creating a plastic fuel tank on a one-of-a-kind basis to retrofit a new tank into an existing fuel tank cavity. Could we have a further explanation of how this custom plastic fuel tank fabrication is actually accomplished? Thanks.
dfmcintyre	posted 01-22-2011 10:21 AM ET (US) Contender - One problem with trying to find a tank that would fit the cavity is that the bottom "V" is off set from what I recall. It was off set to allow for the rigging tunnel. Tommy - Have you thought about installing saddle tanks? They were an 18(?) gallon option on that model. There _are_ some current plastic ones that would fit. I had a pair and had four stainless steel brackets fabricated to hold them in place. Fueled through a cutout in the top of the gunnel. Never used them and sold them to another forum member. Best - Don
contender	posted 01-22-2011 04:55 PM ET (US) Jim: You are correct you need a different mold for every diffent tank you wish to make out of plastic. Plastic Mart has/makes/stocks plastic tanks (maybe my wording was not correct, I'm not saying they have an exact whaler tank to fit) but they do have a bunch of different molds and can do different things for the plastic tank. The problem is though like I have stated the shipping is very expensive. And you would probably just be better off purchasing a local tank, or having one made local. Dfmcintyre: Marine liquidators purchased/bought out a lot of marine stores (some places even had whalers and their equipment)around the state and maybe farther. If you choose to take a ride down to them I would bring your old tank along for a match or something close. I would even try to give them a call tell them what you are looking for...