Keith wrote:

Did you check Ronco for a tank? They make more stock shapes than anyone I
know, and are very easy to work with. http://www.ronco-plastics.com/.

I'd stick with regular steel for the tanks if you can't find one at Ronco. I
have a pair that are 17 yrs. old and fine. You are right about the inside,
the diesel is a good anticorrosion treatment, as long as you keep the water
out. The outside should be painted with a good coating of some kind, and the
bottom should be supported so that air can circulate under it. Obviously,
you've got to keep the water off the top of the tank as well. Be sure to
have the maker put a sump with a dip tube from the top in the tank so you
can suck out any water that might end up in there.

In a sailboat, maximizing tank size is going to result in an irregular shape
with the fuel pick up at the deepest point. A sump is an unnecessary
embelishment. Water is going to be of concern only with contaminated
supply in a well designed system. If water in the fuel causes sleepless
nights tee into the fuel pump discharge so a liter or so can be pumped
into a container for disposal.

On Sat, 18 Oct 2003 12:39:43 -0700, w kensit
wrote:


In a sailboat, maximizing tank size is going to result in an irregular shape
with the fuel pick up at the deepest point. A sump is an unnecessary
embelishment. Water is going to be of concern only with contaminated
supply in a well designed system. If water in the fuel causes sleepless
nights tee into the fuel pump discharge so a liter or so can be pumped
into a container for disposal.

Disagree. Tanks that are less than completely full condense water
during thermal cycles, and water being heavier than gas or diesel, it
collects at the low point. This really ought to be a small sump, need
not be more than a tea cup - where it can be checked via a sampler.
Nothing stops an engine better than water in the fuel.

Brian Whatcott Altus OK

Brian Whatcott wrote:

On Sat, 18 Oct 2003 12:39:43 -0700, w kensit
wrote:



In a sailboat, maximizing tank size is going to result in an irregular shape
with the fuel pick up at the deepest point. A sump is an unnecessary
embelishment. Water is going to be of concern only with contaminated
supply in a well designed system. If water in the fuel causes sleepless
nights tee into the fuel pump discharge so a liter or so can be pumped
into a container for disposal.


Disagree. Tanks that are less than completely full condense water
during thermal cycles, and water being heavier than gas or diesel, it
collects at the low point. This really ought to be a small sump, need
not be more than a tea cup - where it can be checked via a sampler.
Nothing stops an engine better than water in the fuel.

Brian Whatcott Altus OK

Which all the more reason to end the season with full tanks. The only
time I experienced problems was from a load of contaminated fuel in mid
summer. My point is that unless your tank has a large flat bottom you
are in fact adding a sump to a sump.

Brian Whatcott wrote in message . ..
On Sat, 18 Oct 2003 12:39:43 -0700, w kensit
wrote:
....
Nothing stops an engine better than water in the fuel.

Other than me putting a wrench on it! Scotty