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Anyone make there own ?
I know you all like to use small tanks 'couse of weight.
BUT
I feel I need more range.
I think 15 gallons.
I plan on making one up towards the front.
It's a very "Custom" shape.
I'm thinking Fiberglass.
Did some research, looks like normal Epoxy resin and glass will not
Hold ethanol gasoline.
But Vinylester resin should.
What do think?
Yes, you could make one...Vinyl ester is used as a impermeable barrier layer in the new style fiberglass swimming pools...I didn't know it would work for gasoline also....I would think it will be very labor intense to make even a simple tank from scratch....Add up the materials then check a place like Summit Racing for a 15 gallon fuel cell close to the shape you need and see if it's cost effective to even go that route...Did you look at all options for the fuel tank ??? I see all kinds of pre-made plastic boat tanks both portable and permanent on Ebay...
OK now for the obvious concern going through my mind but I need to throw this out there...
You say "I plan on making one up towards the front".....Don't be tempted to fabricate the fiberglass "in place" using the hull...Yeah, I know some have done it...But your intended use of running over ice ramps,logs, etc... with twin hulls is going to flex everything drastically whether you realize it or not...Even if you would add something between it before forming it up..Say closed cell foam sheets for example would be fine but you can't let it in there between the tank and hull...You need a boundary layer/void between the tank and hull for flex,dents and a plain old collision if something goes horribly wrong...
Any thoughts on balancing out the tank ??? Remember 15 gallons X 6lbs = 90lbs that's a lot of weight on one side...
Lastly, remember optimum hull{s}weight balance is 3/4 back from the front...
I'm by no means saying you're doing anything wrong I just wanted to throw some though into the mix maybe some others will have ideas too..
That's why I ask!
Up front in between the cats , it would be center of the boat.
Yes I would have to make it free floating .
Is that where I need to balance from?Quote:
optimum hull{s}weight balance is 3/4 back from the front...
If on the ground on a pipe, 3/4 from the front?
as in , the hull in the water, or with the grass rake.
That's good to know.
Yes for instance if the hull length is 15ft then you'd want it to balance at the 10ft area back from the bow...Keep in mind that's a starting point...The real fine tuning is after it's in the water and you see what the hull needs for planing...
The bug is 11'7"
so 9 feet back.
You know the trouble with building our rigs is we really don't know where the optimum placement of heavy items really are until you start running it and have the ability to move something around...If that's not possible you just give it the best educated guess...:wink:
I learn more and more from all the info on this sight, Thanks all.
Got my fuel tank today. I think it will work out very well.
It has fuel take outs on top as well as a tube to vent the tank.
I'm going to adapt My Snowmobile filler cap and fuel gauge,
just a float and indicator, to fit in the top where the Car fuel pump would be.
I wish the front portion was an inch thinner.
There are no baffles in that part of the tank.
Think I could slowly crush it down an inch or two?
I was thinking a 3/4" piece of plywood and lower the truck on to it
To make a slight "Taper" to the front 4" of the tank...
What type of material is the tank made from ???
Stamped steel
be careful not to split the seams. or make a buckle it to tight.
So how did the bending of the tank ceremony go ??? Did you chicken out on bending it down ??? :wink:
I did.
I'll make room for it the way it is.
I'd be scared too...:lol:...Something has to give and with my luck usually it doesn't go the way I thought it should... With all the seams of a steel tank it really wouldn't take much to split a corner or side...I think you made the right choice IMO...
Ok, this is how I do it but I'm not sure it will transfer to your hull. With your hull on the ground put a piece of pvc pipe in the hull and see where it balances. It would be about four feet from the back of the hull. You should be able to get your tank location close like this. I ran my boat to see where it rode on plane then put the pipe under that point and tried to get the balance as close to that point that I could.
Depending on the hull length and construction you may not get things where they need to be but closer is better. This is another reason I like a little longer hull.
Papee how many more tricks do you have up your sleeve. that is a simple & quick method to find the balance point.
That's what I was going to use too.
The hull is 11'2" from the front of "Grass" racks to back.
So it should balance at around 3 feet from the back ???
Is this done with something about the owners weight on the seat, or perhaps the seat is positioned right over the balance point? Would that be getting to fussy and take the fun out of the building? :confused:
Quote:
Originally Posted by Papee