The diesel fuel tank on our newly acquired Holland 25 is rusty on the outside and looks like it hasn't been moved since it was installed in 1976. The boat has been moored for 11 years with half a tank of fuel. Not sure if I can remove the tank without pulling the motor out first, and there is no inspection hatch. I will syphon the fuel out and have a look inside with a scope, but if the inside looks suspect I'm wondering if a replacement plastic tank (from Whitworths) would be a viable option for the long term?

G'day Frank,
I run a plastic diesel tank, and it was deemed acceptable for Cat A offshore certification, so I don't see any negatives at all. Make sure you spend some time on the mounting, it shouldn't be able to move in any direction at all. I have a floor mount, webbing and dyneema straps that took a bit of readjustment to get it all snug again after I pulled it out for inspection, it's no the sort of thing you want to be wrestling at sea in dirty conditions
Cheers!
SB

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shaggybaxter said..
G'day Frank,
I run a plastic diesel tank, and it was deemed acceptable for Cat A offshore certification, so I don't see any negatives at all. Make sure you spend some time on the mounting, it shouldn't be able to move in any direction at all. I have a floor mount, webbing and dyneema straps that took a bit of readjustment to get it all snug again after I pulled it out for inspection, it's no the sort of thing you want to be wrestling at sea in dirty conditions
Cheers!
SB

Thanks SB. Does it matter whether it is red or does it have to be yellow?

Mine is clear mate, or to be more exact you'd call it nude as the plastic is thick enough to make it opaque. ie: no color in the plastic at all. There was no requirement I can think of that needed it to be coloured, it's a permanent installation so not the same as a portable tank.

If you're referring to a Diablo tank (Whitworths sell em), they're great. I've used them as waste Tanks, water tanks, and diesel tanks. They have different lids for different purposes, and a great 20cm wide lid mouth for cleaning if necessary.

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Frank101 said..
The diesel fuel tank on our newly acquired Holland 25 is rusty on the outside and looks like it hasn't been moved since it was installed in 1976. The boat has been moored for 11 years with half a tank of fuel. Not sure if I can remove the tank without pulling the motor out first, and there is no inspection hatch. I will syphon the fuel out and have a look inside with a scope, but if the inside looks suspect I'm wondering if a replacement plastic tank (from Whitworths) would be a viable option for the long term?

Went with the Vetus tank in the Defiance refit.
Seems fine.
Also went with the Vetus filler system which does not allow backfill.
Can be a bit slow but no blowback.

Thanks everyone - plastic tank it is!

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Frank101 said..
Thanks everyone - plastic tank it is!

And for Diesel go the yellow.

Went with opaque as it is the best fuel gauge I have ever had.