When to replace fuel tanks

K

Ken O

New member
I was reminded today to be skeptical of 30-year-old parts on my C-22 when my wife reported that we had no steering. Luckily we were only at hull speed and I was able to rig a tiller.

The fuel tanks also appear to be original also-brown plastic 20 gallon tanks. Does anyone have experience with plastic tank longevity? The senders are also bad, so new translucent tanks would be great, but I am balking at the $500+ price for a new pair of tanks.
 
I had a bad pickup in one of the tanks on my 2005 Angler 19. I stripped the tank fitting trying to remove pickup. I decided to replace both tanks and all fuel fittings and hoses. I think I still have one of the original tanks (starboard?). You are welcome to it, just cover shipping. I can provide pics and details if you are interested.

I am happy with my decision to replace them. I plan on keeping my “adventure boat”.

PS. I’ll be going through Billings this August and could throw it in my truck. FREE SHIPPING!
 
Hey Ken, I really have no idea what the life span is for these tanks but the brown ones in my '89 cruiser seem to be in pretty good shape. I gave them a good once over last year when I replaced the fuel senders, fill hoses, and vent hoses in both tanks.

Having said that, they are indeed 32 years old and made of plastic so, maybe it would be prudent to get new ones. Also, mine are only 18 gallons each. It would be nice to have a bit more capacity and be able to get a visual on the fuel level like the transparent tanks.

Since we're talking about this, does anybody know where the fuel pickups end up down there in the tank? Due to the design/location where the pickups enter the tanks both pickups are on the high side (slope of the deck causes them to tilt toward the center) of the tank. Is there some kind of extension tube that allows the pickup to get down to the low side of the tank? If not, I could see my capacity being cut be several gallons just because the pickup isn't getting to the bottom of the low side of the tank.

Does that make sense?
 
FYI
Unknown to the builder, the molds for the plastic tanks were thrown in the garbage during a house cleaning. Factory plastic tanks are gone for good unless new molds are built.
The builder is having to have aluminum tanks built.
 
Thanks for the info folks. Two new senders are $120 and 2 new tanks are $500, so $380 more. I think I'll go for the tanks and cross them off the worry list.

Patrick: Thanks for the offer on the tank. I'll decline, but contact me if you have time to visit when in Billings. Our C-Dory will still be on Yellowstone Lake, but we will be home some in August.
 
I don't think the tanks wear out, it is just everything else on them that does. The gaskets on mine leaked and I tried replacing them, but the little bolts/screws just broke off or stripped out. I bought Modine 19 gallon tanks and they are very similar to the originals.
 
If it is not broken, don't replace it. To my knowledge the original tanks in the 1993 boat I owned are still in use.

Here is what I wrote in 2017, and the PDF still shows the Moeller tanks available:

Moeller Marine still has the Port and Stb FT 2339 and FT 2340 23 gallon tanks listed as available--these are 23 gallon tanks and were used many C Dorys. There is an option of 18 gallon tanks which fit under the splash well also. Other 25 gallon Moeller tanks are about $250 each...
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Click to expand...

Moeller Marine PDF
 
Those two Moeller part numbers can NOT be purchased in plastic.
Even the factory was NOT aware the molds were dumped in the trash.
Thataway is listing a part number that was for the original plastic tanks.
They are gone.
 
I’ve heard about the lost tank molds also. But here is my experience…

I ordered new tanks for my CDory from Fisheries Supply in Seattle, Washington. The part numbers were FT2339 and FT2340. They are 23 gallon tanks and fit perfectly. Just a tad shorter in height than the original 24 gallon tanks. I paid $299 for each tank. Not cheap, but no other choice. I believe they were custom ordered from Moeller and drop shipped to me. The tanks are made of rotomolded plastic.

I received these tanks in May of 2019. I think this was well after the loss of the original molds.

I would contact Fisheries Supply. www.fisheries supply.com

Have your credit card handy!
 
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