Boat fuel tank installation Tips

Some tips on the proper way to install a aluminum fuel tank in boat. Which does not include foam or fiberglass. Only Neoprene rubber, 5200 , screws, and thats it. Dont use anything that holds water like WOOD or FOAM it will cause crevice corrosion.

Boat fuel tank installation Tips sentiment_very_dissatisfied 31

Boat 12 years ago 166,483 views

Some tips on the proper way to install a aluminum fuel tank in boat. Which does not include foam or fiberglass. Only Neoprene rubber, 5200 , screws, and thats it. Dont use anything that holds water like WOOD or FOAM it will cause crevice corrosion.

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Most popular comments
for Boat fuel tank installation Tips

Patrick Diaz
Patrick Diaz - 6 years ago
I
kenneth shook
kenneth shook - 6 years ago
A little red thread lock on the clamps is also a good idea
Apply after u tighten them
Sayit AsItIs
Sayit AsItIs - 6 years ago
Hah - 5200 on the bottom and you will never get that out again in the history of mankind
usmm01
usmm01 - 6 years ago
Where did you buy the tank?
BG MARINE SERVICES
BG MARINE SERVICES - 6 years ago
How did you remove the aluminum fill pipe and aluminum vent pipe?
usmm01
usmm01 - 6 years ago
How did you remove the aluminum fill pipe and vent?
Rob Mitchell
Rob Mitchell - 6 years ago
I sanded mine then treated with aluma prep and alodine then coated with epoxy. Also you could spray it with corrosion block
Jim Hale
Jim Hale - 6 years ago
very good
Jeff Brown
Jeff Brown - 6 years ago
After reading a bunch of articles on installing my aluminum tank, I can say this video offers sound advice.. I also raised my tank out of the bilge a bit by sitting the neoprene pads (every 12-16" on trex board to allow water to drain underneath where it would have otherwise sat in contact with the tank. I attached the neoprene rubber using Life caulk (or use 5200 or 4500) to the bottom of the tank so no water can get in. My tank was coal tar epoxy coated, which is worth requesting by the builder or coating the tank yourself if that's not an option. I actually sanded the rubber and light scuffing on the coal tar epoxy for better adhesion between the two and removed sanding residue first. reminder to electrically ground out the tank to the negative of the battery terminal or common ground, and never use bronze fittings on aluminum tanks for shutoffs and barbs as the dissimilar metal will eat the tank in short time due to electrolysis. I was told stainless is ok. thank you for the video!

10. comment for Boat fuel tank installation Tips

netltube
netltube - 6 years ago
minor note, awab hose clamps are better for below deck fuel lines, non perforated (stronger) and have rounded edges
u tuber
u tuber - 7 years ago
what about using sea cast to fill in areas...
Josh J
Josh J - 7 years ago
Rds in perry Florida is a great place to get a tank I just had them make one for my 1997 Cape Horn 19 a 80 gallon tank cost me 1k and they built it to my spec with a screw in fuel sender way better than the old 5 screw fuel senders
Naxxt Productions
Naxxt Productions - 7 years ago
did you 5200 the rubber directly on the fiberglass on the bottom of the boat directly?
Michael McCormick
Michael McCormick - 7 years ago
@DIYBoaters

Do you have a vent? And if so, where do I purchase one? Thanks. (trying to install an aluminum tank but it heats up and fuel goes out the carbs)
Kevin Byrd
Kevin Byrd - 7 years ago
Where is the tank physically located in the boat?
locoslair
locoslair - 7 years ago
Great point on closed cell corrosion, extremely important, my 1973 ish 23 sportcraft tank held water next to the foam as the foam broke loose over the years the water was trapped and the tank developed hundreds of pinhole leaks. An explosion was adverted when I smelled gas one day took off the deck cover and gas was everywhere. Had the tank replaced and installed it similar to the way you did...Thank God on this one for sure. I don't think a lot of boaters are aware of this problem figuring its ok since they built it that way, BIG MISTAKE even today.Good job on the vid!
Darris Banks
Darris Banks - 7 years ago
That pvc pipe that you have running, is that encase the area floods with water and they act as a drain?
Joaquim de souza
Joaquim de souza - 7 years ago
looks great
foxyred813
foxyred813 - 8 years ago
I see your fill has a 90 degree angle on it. I'm trying to refit my boat tank and putting a bend like that is my best option but I heard it slows down filling, and even stops frequency. Did you have any issues like that? Thank you!

20. comment for Boat fuel tank installation Tips

Sokthea Seng
Sokthea Seng - 9 years ago
OK did you say you only use neoprene rubber only on the 4 corner or all on the bottom. Did you use any 2x4 to on it down too?
Sokthea Seng
Sokthea Seng - 9 years ago
OK then you say you only use neoprene rubber only on the 4 corner or all on the bottom.and you use treated 2x4 to chimmy around the tank?
Sokthea Seng
Sokthea Seng - 9 years ago
OK then you say you only use neoprene rubber only on the 4 corner or all on the bottom.and you use treated 2x4 to chimmy around the tank?
Sokthea Seng
Sokthea Seng - 9 years ago
awesome video! did you use waterproof paint on your tank and what are those pipe around ur tank for, for venterlation?
DIY Boaters
DIY Boaters - 9 years ago
+Sokthea Seng no paint on the tank, some people use a black epoxy paint but I prefer no coating, some of those pipes were conduit for old wiring.
Wind Ward
Wind Ward - 9 years ago
Good video on Aluminum tank install. However, in my experience the term used for lack of oxygen due to organic materials and foamed-in insulation touching the outside of an Aluminum Fuel tank, and usually holding moisture, is called Poultice Corrosion. As applied to Aluminum Fuel Tanks, crevice corrosion falls under construction of the tank and what to avoid in order not to trap debris and moisture between aluminum surfaces. Usually addressed by having welded joints using a continuous smooth bead, leaving no crevices to trap moisture. For marine corrosion reference I generally use ABYC standard training and "The Boatowner's Guide to Corrosion" by Everett Collier.
Lou Garcia
Lou Garcia - 9 years ago
Thanks for taking the time to make this video. I'm in the process of installing a gas tank for a home made boat. I notice that you have what appears to be a ground wire connected to the tank and it's located between the fill line and the engine gas line. This may be a dumb question but where is the other end of the ground connected?
JUST ENCASE
JUST ENCASE - 7 years ago
Any metal part has to be grounded out. So the filler cap and the bonding wire must be returned to the engine block or to the negative battery terminal. This is to prevent sparks. As a side note take this very seriously. I was up at Flaming Gorge two years ago, and a boat blew up. Yes KABOOM! People were thrown into the water. I do not work at the fueling station but I knew how to run the barge with the fire pump and me and my nephew put out the boat before it burnt the whole marina down. The people did not have a blower that worked. But the grounding is very important to prevent sparks, could save your life one day..
John Watkins
John Watkins - 8 years ago
+DIY Boaters where did you connect the bonding ground wire?? To the fuel full cap in the gunnel?
DIY Boaters
DIY Boaters - 9 years ago
+Lou Garcia sorry, missed your question thats the fuel fill ground or "bonding" wire its a good idea if you are using a metallic fuel fill. . if you are using a plastic fill no need
Matt Sturge
Matt Sturge - 9 years ago
you should spend the extra money and coat your tank with coal tar, will last forever.
DIY Boaters
DIY Boaters - 9 years ago
+Canefanforlife1 It wasnt about the money I have heard mixed things about the coal tar coating
Javier Ruiz
Javier Ruiz - 9 years ago
I want to add auxiliary tanks, what is your best. Suggestion to install these tanks?
Tom Scialpi
Tom Scialpi - 9 years ago
I have a 1993 Wellcraft V21 and im getting some gas on top of my tank and sender unit. I'm trying to see if its my hoses that are connected to the filler neck that maybe have some corrosion, because It only happens when I fill or when I just leave the gas dock and start running. Do you have any suggestions on what to do, and what gas hoses I should use ?
DIY Boaters
DIY Boaters - 9 years ago
+Tom Scialpi sounds like a leak in the fuel fill tube for sure. Always use marine grade fuel lines. Like SHIELDS brand.
Efrain Munoz
Efrain Munoz - 9 years ago
Great information, thank you.

30. comment for Boat fuel tank installation Tips

Josias Caldas
Josias Caldas - 9 years ago

Cameron Stone
Cameron Stone - 10 years ago
Awesome...thank you.  What kind of boat do you have?
DIY Boaters
DIY Boaters - 9 years ago
That was a 82 mako 20'B I now have a chris craft 36, I have had many boats
Steve Callihan
Steve Callihan - 10 years ago
Watched both videos- great job!
Ive got my coffin clean and am right where you were on the first vid.
Your thoughts on tank corrosion and not using foam are insightful.Where did you get your new tank?
Have you had any problem with the tank shifting or screws loosening without the foam over time?
DIY Boaters
DIY Boaters - 10 years ago
no problems with fastener just use large enough fasteners for the job. 

I had the tank made at a local welding shop in st petersburg fl
just craigslist in the services section and search for aluminum tanks

Thanks for watching
Steve Callihan
Steve Callihan - 10 years ago
great video- I have found that I've got multiple small punctate corrosion holes in my tank and need to replace it.  Do you have any videos on throttle /steering disassembly to remove the center console to get to the tank?
I have a 18 foot 1984 Mako
DIY Boaters
DIY Boaters - 9 years ago
Sorry I didnt see this sooner, but just look under the center console you probably have cable steering (safe-T) so just pull the pin or bolt and turn the steering wheel until the cable is fully out of the helm. then bust open you controls should be a cover plate on one side and disconnect the cables it is pretty self explanatory once you get into it.
sheepster86
sheepster86 - 10 years ago
question my tank iis roughly about that size whats the cost it?
DIY Boaters
DIY Boaters - 9 years ago
400$ more or less if you go aluminum a plastic tank will be cheaper if you can find one that sort of fits
sheepster86
sheepster86 - 10 years ago
question my boat mechanic guy is saying to use foam to hold my tank down im currently using a tank that's
 removeable but I wanna use my inboard tank y cant I foam to hold it down?
Chet layne
Chet layne - 7 years ago
DIY Boaters az
DIY Boaters
DIY Boaters - 9 years ago
Thats how most people say to do it.... but as I repeated in the video there is something called crevice corrosion that occours when water is held up against aluminum and causes premature corrosion and end to the tank
Mohammad Alkhabbaz
Mohammad Alkhabbaz - 10 years ago
Thanks for the tip, I won't put any foam in :-)
pitbull347
pitbull347 - 10 years ago
I bought the boat in November. The guy I bought it off of said the original owner replaced the deck and notice the tank had a lot of rust so he pulled it didn't want to buy another so he just put the new deck in and just used a top deck tank. Plus side is it was nice to know I'm only the 3rd owner not the 10th lol. Should I send u my email over this?
pitbull347
pitbull347 - 10 years ago
We're ur tank sits is kinda like where mine would fit. Any way I could email you the pics of my boat maybe u can u would know ? Thanks for replying
DIY Boaters
DIY Boaters - 10 years ago
sure email them 
pitbull347
pitbull347 - 10 years ago
I plan on doing mine it's a 1986 four winns 190 horizon. Really can not find any dimensions on where to start.
DIY Boaters
DIY Boaters - 10 years ago
did you get the boat with no tank and now you don't know what dimensions the tank should be? or you don't know where it should go? what exactly is the problem?
pitbull347
pitbull347 - 10 years ago
Hey bud I have a few questions about installing a tank on my boat. What kind of boat are u installing this tank on?
DIY Boaters
DIY Boaters - 10 years ago
that is a 1982 mako 20b what questions do you have?
DIY Boaters
DIY Boaters - 11 years ago
yes that is correct.It is completely sealed in with a rubber gasket. Thanks for watching

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