Anyone using bladders for fuel tanks ??

[deduckhunter]

We are replacing the tanks on a 32' boat because of a leak and we are looking at a bladder instead of aluminum. Our idea was to cut the face out of the old tank and bulkhead the space to hold the bladder. The ones in there now hold 200 gallons a side and we never use or need that much. Going with smaller tanks will allow us to set the tanks back and get some eight off the bow also.

So, anybody using bladders now ??

[jawz12]

We are replacing the tanks on a 32' boat because of a leak and we are looking at a bladder instead of aluminum. Our idea was to cut the face out of the old tank and bulkhead the space to hold the bladder. The ones in there now hold 200 gallons a side and we never use or need that much. Going with smaller tanks will allow us to set the tanks back and get some eight off the bow also.

So, anybody using bladders now ??

you're kidding,right ?

[34 silverton]

that does not sound like a good idea.

[Hatterized]

gotta wunder iffin he has ever used a bilge blower......

also wunder iffin he has ever put fuel in a rod holder thinkin it was a fuel fill......

[longfisher]

I gave some thought to using bladders some years ago to extend the range of my boat (only holds 83 gallons) so as to reach a little further offshore.

But the bladders would have had to be on deck in the cockpit (WA cuddy) and I just couldn't see a good way to contain the floppy, shifting thing in a sea.

I also had a thought of instant death should anything pierce the bladder (lots of sharp stuff on a fishing boat) and unleash a flood of flammable liquid towards the stern WHERE THE MOTOR AND BATTERIES ARE.

So, I gave up on the idea.

I doubt it'd be a good idea for you below decks either and for some of the above reasons.

[deduckhunter]

I'm not talking about an auxilery bag. There are companies that make them for this exact use. They can make them any size you need and have vents. The bladders would be fully enclosed in the old tank when installed and not exposed to anything that would puncture them.

This is the company we've spoken to http://www.atlinc.com/marine.html

[plyand glass]

hey deduckhunter,
do you have a funeral home close by? i mean seriously , you arent really considering the bladder option are you. first off the original tanks should have baffles in them when they were built , so how you gonna ''CUT THE ENDS OUT" and insert a bladder.
Sounds like a REALLY bad idea, just bite the bullet and have some tanks built ,sure you'll spend some dough ,but if the bladders get punctured during install ,what you gonna do PATCHUM UP? please tell me you are kidding. Smaller tanks will work if you don't need all the gallons carried around but you need to figure on reserve to get home in case of bad weather.
Talk to jawz12 ,he's near you and probably can get you rigged up,or get you in touch with a MARINE TANK FABRICATOR,the bladder shouldn't even be considered!!!!
I'm not the sharpest pencil in the box but i know a bad idea when it's thrown out there, good luck!

[deduckhunter]

So did everyone look at the website ??

I'm not the glue sniffer you think I am...

[plyand glass]

hey deduckhunter,
what kind of glue do you use? i've tried epoxy and i only got a headache and a rash. No , i'm not busting on you,i just think that a bladder under deck in a gas boat is a really bad application,no matter what the manufacturer says , i would feel much safer with a fabricated tank properly mounted,GROUNDED and protected from corrosion by proper marine enviroment coatings than a soft bladder with no baffles rolling around in the bilge. just my humble opinion .i know they build them for small aircraft , and planes get jostled around , but think of your worst day offshore trying to get in in 6-8 on the nose with a 2 ft wind chop on top of that.talk about gettin jostled around! anyway,good luck with her!

[deduckhunter]

Who said Gas ??? She's a diesel !!!

Have you looked at the website and read the description on them? They have "baffles" in them. Some type of foam. They are in use in plenty of boats now and seem like an ideal solution for the boat.