What do you think of intergral fiberglass tanks
with baffles and inspection ports? I think they
are the best option.

You could buy structural panels, tab them in on
both sides. Similarly with baffles. Closing off
the top would be easy too and just as easy to
cut in inspection ports--or even cut off completely,
and reglass later, for service.

Another advantage would be you could fair in
the inside so that there is a slope to carry debris
to the drain fitting.

"DSK" wrote

Bart Senior wrote:
Bladders make me nervous. Unless they are
secured with a solid tank, in which case what
do you need a bladder for? Water can be
taken out at the filters, and I tend to keep my
tanks filled so condensation is not a big
concern for me.


If you're away from the fuel dock for any long period, then you don't
have the option of keeping the tank full all the time. With our boat, if
we're going to actually use that great range to go anywhere, like out in
the eastern Bahamas, the plan will be to return with around 25% tankage.
And you're up north, where condensation is worse (more cold weather).

We tend to fill up at fishing boat docks, where the fuel is cheaper,
That means going past a lot of pleasure boat marinas and watching the
fuel gage sink for a few days.

The military drops fuel bladders out of airplanes for resupply. Now
*that* would make me nervous, but using one in a boat should be a piece
of cake. The biggest problem is getting the installation right so that
the tank is properly supported, protected against chafe, and the fill,
suction, & vent hoses don't get kinked or twisted.

Another up side is that a bladder tank can be put into an otherwise
unusable void. That's pretty much the situation with the space under our
aft cabin sole.

Regards
Doug King