Bertram31.com General Bulletin Board

Re: Ethanol - New Thread

Posted By: peter fallon
Date: Saturday, 5 November 2005, at 11:32 p.m.

In Response To: Re: Ethanol - New Thread (Capt. Dick Dean)

I used fill the gas tank (1961 Fiberglass 172 gallon)from 5 gallon containers while the boat was on the hard in the boat yard in Riveria Beach Fl. for a couple of years. Gas came from the local RaceTrack high volume station. I had maybe 60 gallons in the tank, I use to run the engines monthly for about an hour, just to keep them from locking up, after the 2 year period I got ready to relaunch the boat. The engines were test run for 2 hours and suddenly quit running, wouldn't re-start no matter what I tried. Still had 40 gallons in the tank, pulled the inspection /pick up tube cover off. The remaining gas had gone bad, smelled like shellac. Pumped tank dry and cleaned inside it looked like brand new gel coated interior walls,supply tubes were clean screens clear and no sludge.
I checked the spin off fuel water separators, no water but the rubber seals were like jelly and lots of black tar like material came out. Checked the fuel lines which were only 4 year old USCG approved type A-1 3/8" hoses, they were completely degraded and the inner core had separtated from the outside sheild. The alcohol content in the gas had eaten away the rubber interior surface. Now I only put fuel from the dockside delivery truck, it's not much more than the local gas station and I've haven't had any fuel related problems in over a year. Just my own experience and 2 cents worth, and I haven't seen any problems with fiberglass fuel tanks in the last 10 31 Bertrams I've surveyed in the past 2 years.
P.S. When I took my tank out in 1995, I pressure tested it at 20 PSI (I tried to blow it up) for 4 days didn't loose any air at all and no signs of cracks in the glass. Most aluminum tanks are only tested at 4 to 5 PSI by the tank Manufacturers, I put the old ankt back in re-foamed with 4lb density and coal tar epoxeyed the foam to keep the water out. Saved myself $1,500 and no problems since. Ethnol is not just a N.E. problem it's all over.

Messages In This Thread

Ethanol - New Thread
Carl -- Saturday, 5 November 2005, at 10:46 a.m.

Re: Ethanol - New Thread
Capt. Dick Dean -- Saturday, 5 November 2005, at 4:33 p.m.

Re: Ethanol - New Thread
peter fallon -- Saturday, 5 November 2005, at 11:32 p.m.

Re: Ethanol - New Thread
Walter Kaprielian -- Sunday, 6 November 2005, at 10:11 a.m.

Re: Ethanol - New Thread
Walter Kaprielian -- Sunday, 6 November 2005, at 10:29 a.m.

Re: Ethanol - New Thread
peter fallon -- Sunday, 6 November 2005, at 6:26 p.m.

Re: Ethanol - New Thread
Mack -- Monday, 7 November 2005, at 10:44 a.m.

Re: Ethanol - New Thread
Carl -- Monday, 7 November 2005, at 3:41 p.m.

Re: Ethanol - New Thread
Carl -- Monday, 7 November 2005, at 3:55 p.m.

Re: Ethanol - New Thread
Mack -- Monday, 7 November 2005, at 4:14 p.m.

Re: Ethanol - New Thread
Matt K -- Tuesday, 8 November 2005, at 12:33 p.m.

Re: Ethanol - New Thread
Carl -- Tuesday, 8 November 2005, at 1:28 p.m.

Re: Ethanol - New Thread
Carl -- Wednesday, 9 November 2005, at 9:20 a.m.

Re: Ethanol - New Thread
Walter Kaprielian -- Wednesday, 9 November 2005, at 11:18 a.m.

Re: Ethanol - New Thread
Tony Meola -- Tuesday, 8 November 2005, at 9:56 p.m.

Re: How much was cleaning?
Rawleigh -- Wednesday, 9 November 2005, at 8:16 a.m.

Re: How much was cleaning?
Mack -- Wednesday, 9 November 2005, at 12:02 p.m.

Re: How much was cleaning?
Carl -- Wednesday, 9 November 2005, at 2:54 p.m.

Re: Different idea
Rawleigh -- Wednesday, 9 November 2005, at 4:21 p.m.

Re: Different idea
Carl -- Thursday, 10 November 2005, at 8:32 a.m.

Re: Different idea
bob lico -- Sunday, 13 November 2005, at 11:11 p.m.