E37 Fuel Tank
Date: July 8, 2002
From: Tom shir1@msn.comHi, I'm in need of replacing the diesel fuel tank on my E-37 l978 vintage. I'm hoping someone has replaced one and can give me a fabricator or company that sells them. Also, since I plan on putting one in that is not as deep, the one now is nore than 3 feet in depth, has anyone installed one with less depth and any suggestions on how to make the job go smoothly. Thanks for any help.
Date: July 8, 2002
From: Lynn Olson nodakram@earthlink.netTom,
My engine maintenance guy, Don Glanz, came up with a very clever and less expensive solution.More than likely your leak is near the bottom of the tank; the part that lays in the bilge water. Don pulled the tank and took it to a fabricator who cut the bottom off where the leaks were located. He then had the fabricator weld a new bottom on the tank. This fix will also take care of your requirement to reduce the capacity. The only issue I would be concerned about is the need to fabricate something for the tank to sit on. I would avoid stainless steel due to electrolysis. You might be able to build a fiberglass box or even use some pvc pipe. Fuel weighs about 6.5 pound per gallon, ie 40 gal = 260#.
Date: July 8, 2002
From: Christopher J Land endvr37@juno.comI had to replace the water tank in my 1982 E37. Both the water and fuel tanks were made by the same company. I cannot remember the name of the manufacturer (I sold my E37 almost a year ago). I do know that the company still had the blueprints on the tanks. I think it was called Florida Tanks. For some reason I think that their facility in MO actually made the tank for me. All I did was get the name of the tank mfg off the plate on the tank, as well as the model number etc, and send it to them with a check. They shipped me a brand new tank that was a perfect fit.
Take a look at your current tank. It's the best place to start. If you can't find the info, let me know and I'll see if I can wade through all my old receipts for the tank I bought. By the way, I'm sure they could find some way to shorten the tank for you. I assume you are wanting to get the bottom of the tank off the bottom of the bilge. You may want to consider what I did. My tank was OK but not great. I removed it and took it to a "Rhino" spray on truck bed liner shop. They etched it chemically on the outside and then coated it. I lived aboard and cruised the Caribbean for 2 years and keep my extra volume of fuel without worry of rusting out the bottom of the tank from seawater against the bottom.
Date: July 8, 2002
From: Rick Martini rpmartini@worldnet.att.netTom,
The original builder for the E37 fuel and water tanks was Florida Marine Tanks. A new tank will cost you ~ $300 if my memory is correct. Here's their website:http://www.floridamarinetanks.com
Date: July 8, 2002
From: RTMLAW@aol.comThe fuel tank for my 1979 A-Plan recently began to leak. I found the original manufacturer in Florida is still in business. Their web site is: http://www.floridamarinetanks.com. They have the original templates and would build and deliver a new one for about $375 plus shipping. I found a fabrication shop in Pensacola (Eden lies just over the line in Alabama) that would copy the tank for about $500. I then found a local fabrication shop in Foley, Alabama that cut off the bottom two inches where the pitting and leak lay, welded on a new bottom and attached three two inch aluminum tubes to have the resulting tank be the same height, all for $75. The label of the original tank said it held 50 gallons. The resulting shortened tank actually held sixty gallons when filled to the brim.
Date: July 9, 2002
From: Allan Jones Ajonesanc@cs.comHi,
I have not replaced my fuel tank but just replaced my water tank this spring. The cost of tank replacement is about $7.00 per gallon for aluminum, the proper choice for fuel and $12.00 per gallon for stainless. You could just cut the bottom out of your fuel tank at the desired height, if the rest of the tank is still good.The tanks were made by Florida Marine Tanks, I believe, and they are still in business.
Any good welder that is familiar with marine materials and techniques should have no problem doing the job. Nigel Calder's maintenance book has a good section on the proper construction of marine tanks.
Date: July 9, 2002
From: John Esposito JWESPOSITO@aol.comHi Tom,
Had problem with both tanks on my 1980 End 37. The fuel tank sitting in the bilge rotted out . I had 6" cut off the bottom and and a new bottom weld on. I then fabed a bed out of pressure treated lumber on end so any water could pass freely under. Saved a lot of trouble and money! Don't forget to pressure test with soapy water at about 2 or 3 psi. On the water tank I cut top off and the baffles and had a liner made out of 1/4" polyethelene. The alum tank shell gave plenty of support to the thin poly. If you want new tanks try Luthers in Bristol, R.I.
Date: July 9, 2002
From: Hugh Joyner hjoyner@tampabay.rr.comThere's a fabricator here in Bradenton, FL that made an exact replica of my original E37 fuel tank, and charged about $350 for it. I don't have the name handy, but I can get it if still desired.
Date: July 9, 2002
From: Carl Hibbard Chgypsy@aol.comThe original company that made them, Florida Marine Tanks Hialeah, Fl fax 305-621-8524 (# Ck 1999 ) is still operational and I believe still has the specs, they just don't know what fuel gauge went in it. BTW if you have a new one built have inspection ports on each side of the baffles for clean out purposes.
<<Also, since I plan on putting one in that is not as deep>>
...........this will be x amount of work....remove the old go down and clean off the glass and build up a platform to hold your tank up. Between the new platform and the old forward bulkhead in the bilge if you size the tank correctly it shouldn't move around to much.Are you replacing the tank due to leaks ? I so probably the seams. Get the tank pumped out (Safety Kleen can do), or an electric pump into 5 gal cans...lotsa trips.Pull it out. Clean it out real well (steamed ?) The welds can be glassed over. The problem was that all the water in your fuel went to the bottom.
You might consider building a portable fuel polisher. That would keep the fuel clean and quite water free.
Date: May 15, 2007
From: Paul Uhl endvr32@endeavourowners.comIn the May 2007 issue of Practical sailor <http://www.practical-sailor.com/> there is an in depth article exploring the ideal fuel tank replacement. It looks at the pros and cons of various materials, construction methods, and ways of minimizing corrosion in the first place.