Island Fish Lifter
Well-Known Member
Does anyone have any experience in this area? Gereral advice?
aluminum fuel tank bonding
- Thread starter Island Fish Lifter
- Start date
TheRock
Active Member
I will be installing a new fuel tank in a few days.. are you referring in how to install it? I have a recent thread going on right now.. http://www.sportfishingbc.com/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=9594
What I been told is to use Neoprene mats.. its black so it looks like rubber but its not.. Neoprene won't react with the aluminum to cause pitting.. Don't use rubber it will corrode your aluminum. Also there is a clear coat called "Nyalic" you can paint it on your aluminum tank.. The Neoprene and "Nyalic" can be bought at Trotac Marine.
What I been told is to use Neoprene mats.. its black so it looks like rubber but its not.. Neoprene won't react with the aluminum to cause pitting.. Don't use rubber it will corrode your aluminum. Also there is a clear coat called "Nyalic" you can paint it on your aluminum tank.. The Neoprene and "Nyalic" can be bought at Trotac Marine.
The best thing you can do for your tank is bond it to your existing zincs, and allow free circulation. There is very little that will stick to aluminium under water to begin wtih, Nylac will come of via blistering through osmosis (It says on the can do not use under water).
Even if you coat it perfectly, the tank with 300 pounds of fuel in it will crack the coating located between the tank and whatever it rests on. Aluminium will last a long time if it can have the air/water circulate around it, that's why an aluminium boat will last forever.
Howeveer, stick a chunk of aluminium plate, the good stuff, up against a piece of wet plywood (Like the little deck in your bilge the thing usually sits on), and it will do an impression of an eroding urinal cake in no time flat.
Here are some good pointers on how to install a tank:
http://yachtsurvey.com/fueltank.htm
www.lastchancefishingadventures.com
Even if you coat it perfectly, the tank with 300 pounds of fuel in it will crack the coating located between the tank and whatever it rests on. Aluminium will last a long time if it can have the air/water circulate around it, that's why an aluminium boat will last forever.
Howeveer, stick a chunk of aluminium plate, the good stuff, up against a piece of wet plywood (Like the little deck in your bilge the thing usually sits on), and it will do an impression of an eroding urinal cake in no time flat.
Here are some good pointers on how to install a tank:
http://yachtsurvey.com/fueltank.htm
www.lastchancefishingadventures.com
MyEscape
Active Member
I just thought I would let you know that at Eagle Craft we use thick white plastic on our tank cradle it's like cutting board material
DO NOT USE any form of Black anything!!!!! most materials like rubber etc use carbon to make them black, carbon and aluminum do not like each other!!!!!!! As LC said you want air to circulate around it and use all aluminum fittings and isolate your tank sender. Any questions feel free to call me anytime Monday to Friday 1-888-393-6464
Cheers
DO NOT USE any form of Black anything!!!!! most materials like rubber etc use carbon to make them black, carbon and aluminum do not like each other!!!!!!! As LC said you want air to circulate around it and use all aluminum fittings and isolate your tank sender. Any questions feel free to call me anytime Monday to Friday 1-888-393-6464
Cheers
Island Fish Lifter
Well-Known Member
Thanks for the info. I was refering to grounding. I have a ground plate through the hull and noticed today that it wasnt wired to anything. Upon closer inspection, I found that the only ground wire on my fuel tank was the sender. There was two green #10 wires coming off the tank and only going to the fillers on each side of the boat. I know that the fuel sender ground is not good enough for bonding.
Here is what I did; I used all #10 wire and soldered everything. I ran a groung from the tank, to the thru hull ground plate, to my large zincs at the transom and finally to Battery ground.
I have etremely large zincs mounted to my trim tabs and run bonding wires to my outboards for added protection and now to my fuel tank.
Its important to know my hull is fiberglass.
Here is what I did; I used all #10 wire and soldered everything. I ran a groung from the tank, to the thru hull ground plate, to my large zincs at the transom and finally to Battery ground.
I have etremely large zincs mounted to my trim tabs and run bonding wires to my outboards for added protection and now to my fuel tank.
Its important to know my hull is fiberglass.
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