1976 22-2, Beginning the rebuild...

[Capt Matt]

I went with a custom built aluminum fuel tank on my rebuild. Yes it was much more expensive than poly but I had a exact amount of space I wanted to fill for the most fuel capacity possible (52gal). I had four mounting tabs wielded right on the top of the tank to thru bolt into my stringers which made for a easy and really strong install with no straps or foam.
If you can find the right size poly tank then why not. Guess I'm old school and like the aluminum.
A mid 70's 22-2 has more room between the deck and floor than a flatback so getting close to 75 gal should be no problem.
Capt Matt

[gran398]

I went with a custom built aluminum fuel tank on my rebuild. Yes it was much more expensive than poly but I had a exact amount of space I wanted to fill for the most fuel capacity possible (52gal). I had four mounting tabs wielded right on the top of the tank to thru bolt into my stringers which made for a easy and really strong install with no straps or foam.
If you can find the right size poly tank then why not. Guess I'm old school and like the aluminum.
A mid 70's 22-2 has more room between the deck and floor than a flatback so getting close to 75 gal should be no problem.
Capt Matt

Matt, the one I had fabbed for the 22-2 is tagged at 75 gallons, but will hold 82 according to the maker.

That was a great idea on the brackets...what do you think about welding some on mine....or since it wasn't done at the factory, forget it?  Sure don't want to screw it up.

It hasn't been installed yet.

How many brackets does yours have? Thanks!

[Necessary Evil]

Who built your tank Matt?

[Necessary Evil]

A quick funny...

[Capt Matt]

Bruce at Action Wielding in Cape Coral built the tank. I had 4 tabs wielded on. As long as the tank has never had fuel in it it should be no problem putting the tabs on it. In fact I had measured the tab locations wrong on min and Bruce removed the tabs and re wielded them while I waited at no extra charge.
Capt Matt

[gran398]

Thanks for the good info Matt...have some thinking to do.

[Capt Matt]

I had the tabs put straight up. Once the tank was in I then simply drilled through the stringers and tab then thru bolted with stainless nuts and washers. Should be in for ever. Think of the tabs like hangers.
Even if you kept the trapazoid/foam filled stringers you could bend the tabs to fit flush to the stringer angle, push a stainless sleave thru the stinger then thru bolt
Seemed like the best way to go, no straps or foam needed.
Capt Matt

[gran398]

Hey, there's the light bulb idea I was looking for...a stainless sleeve through the stringers. Prevents wallowing out through slight movement/vibration.

Thanks for the good thinking...gives me more to chew on. The tank is new, never fueled. The builder also thinks the tabs are a good idea.

We may run 4 down each side into the trap stringers, and two on each end to hit the bulkheads. Probably overkill...but when its going to be covered over for the rest of its life...what is overkill?

[Capt Matt]

No such thing as over kill in our book. Build it one time right and be done!
Will the tank sit on short stringers?
 I went without a V bottom in my tank as I have not had much luck in the past with digital sending units being accurate on v-bottomed tanks. It cost me a few gallons of capacity but I prefer to know what I have in there to the exact amount.
I shopped around for hard plastic strips to 5200 on the bottom of the tank and on the top of the tank  stringers and ended up buying some crazy hard plastic at home depot that is made to go under garage doors. It was close to the perfect length and just needed some trimming and it was cheap.
Capt Matt

[dirtwheelsfl]

best and cheapest rubber ive found to do that with is a big rig mudflap from napa. perfect density and thickness...

[slvrlng]

best and cheapest rubber ive found to do that with is a big rig mudflap from napa. perfect density and thickness...

This stuff will work but then there is an issue with the carbon in the black rubber reacting with the aluminum and causing corrosion. I think that's why Pascoe says what he does about using starboard.

[dirtwheelsfl]

is it not getting coated?

[gran398]

is it not getting coated?

There are all kinds of opinions on coating. Some say it protects the aluminum....others say if the coating (usually epoxy, tar-based, or powder coat) suffers even a minute chip, it allows moisture to become trapped against the aluminum, causing corrosion.


Mine is not coated.

Speaking of the runners...we will be using solid fiberglass strips. Hard to find, but the builder does commercial aquarium work, he has all kinds of weird fiberglass stuff.

For what its worth, Pascoe does not recommend any plastic which contains parafin or parafin-like derivatives (starboard, polyethyl, polypro) as the 5200 will not offer a secure bond between the aluminum and the runner.

Lew is correct re the rubber, again per Pascoe.

[Necessary Evil]

Got a little more demo done. On the fence about Coosa or marine ply for the deck. Probably go with Coosa. Thinking 1/2 inch Bluewater 26 for deck, 2 2 inch laminated together for transom. Opinions?

[Necessary Evil]