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From: (no name) (no email)
Date: Sat Sep 29 2007 - 13:22:05 EDT
Appreciate what you are saying but a RC Cat of 2000 vintage surely can use a
plastic fuel tank WITHOUT running into any US GG 'certification issues' - yes
no maybe???
Then tell all the IP owners who are having 'real issues' with corroded alloy
water and fuel tanks and who are having to dismantle all of the internal
furniture modules and cut out floors that alloy is a good material to use for
tanks. Yes a properly designed alloy tank is an ok solution but too many
manufacturers and suppliers cut corners and we only find out about them later -
years later. Tanks are not a big issue in the scheme of things however other
matters are. Have a read here
_http://www.maib.gov.uk/publications/investigation_reports/2007/hooligan_v.cfm
_ (http://www
.maib.gov.uk/publications/investigation_reports/2007/hooligan_v.cfm)
regards
David
In a message dated 29/09/2007 17:35:48 GMT Daylight Time,
writes:
-----Original Message-----
From: (mailto:)
WELL that was the idea to draw attention to a 'better tank' and as i know
TEK then it was easy to post their URL i was not going to go trolling the net
for a US manufacturer
regards
David
REPLY
Concerning fuel tanks made from plastic., In the US you wil run into
problems with USCG regulations because plastic cannot stand up to the required
fire resistance test for fuel tanks.
Fuel must be made using a flame retardant material which is why aluminum
is used so often.
I work for a yacht design group and our designs use all the various tank
material depending on application.
We use aluminum as do others for many good reasons. As Ron pointed out,
care must be taken in how the tank is mounted, installed, and cared for,
A rotten bottom in only a few years tells me there was a problem in either
installation or possibly in the fuel content.
Ethanol suplemented fuel tends to absorb a LOT of water and this can
result in corrosion as the aluminum reacts.
Improper selection of a non marine grade of aluminum plate or the welding
rod also can cause corosion problems.
If two sisterships already has a problem, I suggest notifying the builder
since they may have a larger problem and if they do not attend to it perhaps
even a legal liability problem in the US. On the other hand it could be
something traced to a sub contractor tank supplier why unknowingly used
incorrect alloy for the tank construction.
We are having some degree of difficulty convincing foreign building yards
that they MUST provide documented proof that they used certified materials
for all fuel system parts and conmponents. for example al fuel hose MUST
cary the certification imprint. All marine grade raw plate has imprinted
markings as to th ealloy composition and they must have purchase order plus
delivery certification as to the alloy composition.
Failure to provide tracability and origin of the material is cause for
rejection under most class survey inspections.
regards
Arild.
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