seegrass

So after a late season start due to new engine, new transom assembly, all new bilge pumps, I go to take the boat out today, and notice strong fuel smells. After looking and checking out as much as i could, fuel pump , lines, filters, i think the tank may need to be replaced as fuel is leaking down into the bilge. The only way to get the tank out is to cut the floor. The boat is a 2003 walk around style caravelle. Does anyone have a ballpark idea of cost for a 120 gallon tank including installation?
Thanks!

CBP

netjob

Rmoody79

captpepin

seegrass

Ughhh, i was hoping for less but realistically believe the 4-5k is accurate. Any recommendations as to who could do this nice and clean, I live in the metro west area but can tow anywhere?
Thanks again!

Salty22

i was just quoted $8k-$10k all in to have my 150 gallon tank replaced. $2k of that was for the tank itself. Onset Bay Marina would be the one doing the work in my case. It sounds like they make custom fabricated tanks so it sounds like they're qualified to do the work.

My boat is only 6 years old and needless to say I'm pissed about the tank failure.

seegrass

wow, that sounds a bit steep, but i havent taken mine for an actual estimate, only calling around for ballpark pricing, with no luck, but I have read on many sites that gas tanks are roughly $10/gallon.
i would be a bit upset at having to replace a tank in a six year old boat as well, hopefully theyll be able to tell you why it failed so early. The consensus i get is that aluminum tanks are good for 15-20 years depending on how wet your hull is, and how its mounted.

StarsandStripers

Make sure its not your sending unit first
I once thought I needed new tanks because of the same exact symptoms especially after I filled up, so I opened the deck up noticed the gasket on the sender was iffy looking and the the screws had loosened over time. I retapped the the screw holes,.put a new sending unit in and problem solved

scarab63

what kinda boat ?

BLUESMAN

Harpoon

What kind of boat ?

Salty22

I'm not ready to drop the manufacturer name just yet. I want to give them a chance to support their product before I tell the whole internet what happened. I'd much rather share a great customer service story than complain about a top tier manufacturer before they've had a chance to react to the situation. At this point, it's out of my hands and it is up to them if I tell a good or a bad customer service story. I'll just say the facts when the dust settles.

The real kicker is that this fuel tank is actually my second tank that failed on this boat. The first one only lasted two years. I'm meticulous about maintaining my boat and I recognize the pattern but my dealer told me there is no way I could be causing the tank damage by using it or maintaining it improperly.

I'll do a separate write up once I get my boat sorted out so I won't hijack this thread with my fuel tank issues. Back to your regularly scheduled programming...

thejtdude

I had a custom built tank made in 2015. I could not find a direct replacement. The cost was $10 a gallon. It was a 75 gallon tank. I cut my own deck out and replaced the tank myself. It was below the cabin in a cruiser so there was no glass work needed in my case.

classic162

Just did a customers boat with 2 smaller tanks. Smaller tanks the price per gal. goes up to about $15 per gal.

MRWSeaHunter

I had my 2 tanks replaced on my old Grady 2 years ago, a 75 and a 150. John at Compass in Plymouth did them, with new tanks and all new plumbing for about 5K, if I remember right. Impeccable work and they stay in touch throughour the job.

bertrick

Back in 2006, I replaced my Bertram Fiberglass tank with a Stainless Steel tank made by Nautic Marine in Florida. They build Stainless tanks for the CG. It cost $3,600 back then and I did the replacement myself, it's really not that hard, it just takes time. Perfect for a winter project. I had the help of another member here who also owns a similar Bertram as he replaced his too. The tanks were tested to 6 PSI and both are still shiny new.

Another place to consider is Ronco Plastics in California. Quality organization and although I have not used them for fuel, I purchased a water tank from them that is also tip-top.

Dgny

I had a tank failure on my 25' Pursuit CC. Bad support from Pursuit, despite escalating the issue all the way to the company President on what was clearly a manufacturing error (tank in pristine condition aside from one specific spot where galvanic corrosion had bored a hole all the way through as the result of the tank being seated and foamed in on top of, and in direct contact with, a more noble metal).

Anyway, the tank replacement cost was the relatively inexpensive compared to cutting the deck out to remove/replace the tank and then doing the fiberglass repair work to get everything back together again.

I live in westchester but had the boat towed out to Peconic NY to Chuck's Fiberglass. He did an excellent job and was easy to work with...

Chuck
Chuck's Fiberglass Service
631-734-7345

seegrass

Im still looking for a qualified shop in MA to cut the deck and replace the fuel tank in my boat. Any recommendations would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks!

captpepin