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Ericson 35-III Fuel tank

gulfcoaster

Member III
Repaired my 1987 Ericson32-3 fuel tank at a radiator shop.

They cleaned the tank and welded a repair for $160 three years ago. The original manufacturer of Ericson fuel tanks is Berry Sheet Metal in southern California. They were still in business three years ago. I was quoted $500 for a new tank including shipping.
 

bgary

Advanced Beginner
Blogs Author
Use Google to make the search: for example, "Ericson Yacht forum fuel tank replacement"

you can also google it this way: "site:ericsonyachts.org fuel tank replacement"

that'll limit the search so that it only returns matching results from this site.
 

Rocinante33

Contributing Partner
Berry Marine Sheet Metal in Santa Ana, CA made a replacement for me for $400. I took my old one to him and he made a beautiful copy with heavier wall construction. Excellent craftsmanship. He probably has the plans for your boat in his file cabinet!

I only had to drive two 90 mile trips (each way), through the worst traffic on the planet , past Dizzyland, to get it done.
 

Loren Beach

O34 - Portland, OR
Senior Moderator
Blogs Author
This is the Time...

If having a new tank fabricated be Sure to have a cleanup port or two put in. Also an opportunity to have a Wema gauge sender installed for the new electric fuel gauge readout you are installing at the panel area or at the nav station.
 

Prairie Schooner

Jeff & Donna, E35-3 purchased 7/21
Anyone have any experience with replacing the fuel tank on a 35-III?

edit * Somehow I thought Larry's question was recent. I realized this after I posted my reply but couldn't delete it. So, I'm including this disclaimer. > Moderators, please feel free to delete my entire reply if you think appropriate. Sorry/Thanks, Jeff *


Hi Larry,
Sorry for the late reply. I did the replacement on our 35-3 in the spring. The conversation is here, primarily:

Other posts I found helpful:
- https://www.practical-sailor.com/systems-propulsion/diesel-engines/diesel-fuel-tank-replacement
- https://ericsonyachts.org/ie/threads/ericson-30-fuel-tank-replacement.18261/page-3
- https://ericsonyachts.org/ie/threads/fuel-tank-inspection-port-design-and-installation.13949/
testing + https://ericsonyachts.org/ie/threads/plastic-diesel-fuel-tanks-worrisome-outcome-for-tally-ho.20227/
- https://ericsonyachts.org/ie/threads/removal-of-fuel-tank-in-32-3.20272/
- https://ericsonyachts.org/ie/ubs/thelonious-ii-fuel-tank-inspection-ports-five-minute-video.397/
Christian, inspection ports-
patch leaked + https://ericsonyachts.org/ie/threads/replacement-fuel-tank-for-38-200.16667/
E33- https://ericsonyachts.org/ie/threads/new-fuel-tank-ordered.20005/
Loren- https://ericsonyachts.org/ie/threads/diesel-tank-replacement.6303/
- https://ericsonyachts.org/ie/threads/1986-38-200-fuel-tank-removal.19449/
E38 tank pics - https://ericsonyachts.org/ie/threads/diesel-bug.19192/
- https://ericsonyachts.org/ie/threads/need-advice-please-on-aluminum-diesel-tank-repair.18542/
ready-made ports - https://ericsonyachts.org/ie/threads/inspection-ports-for-fuel-tanks.18789/
case studies - https://goodoldboat.com/tankseasy-to-forget-too-important-to-dismiss/

I got our tank in then got busy with other work and Sailing. I haven't back-filled the thread with my installation and probably won't get to it for a month+. If you have any questions, feel free to ask here or send me a direct message "Conversation".

Jeff
 
Last edited:

Loren Beach

O34 - Portland, OR
Senior Moderator
Blogs Author
Awe Shucks.....
Do not fret about the "age" of a particular thread. :geek:
Depending on the title of the thread, continuing a relevant thread will help you and others with future word/phrase searches, also.

Since our boats continue on - often with new owners of the same boat - the collected info becomes more and more useful over the years. While the OP may not be checking in, other current owners will find the info and pix useful. This is real-world material, gathered in one place, that probably exists nowhere else on the WWW.
While on the subject, when you see some great text and pix concerning your model, as a hedge against the future it is often good to copy/paste the info down to your own desktop and save it in your "future projects" file.
 

RedDog

Member II
edit * Somehow I thought Larry's question was recent. I realized this after I posted my reply but couldn't delete it. So, I'm including this disclaimer. > Moderators, please feel free to delete my entire reply if you think appropriate. Sorry/Thanks, Jeff *


Hi Larry,
Sorry for the late reply. I did the replacement on our 35-3 in the spring. The conversation is here, primarily:

Other posts I found helpful:
- https://www.practical-sailor.com/systems-propulsion/diesel-engines/diesel-fuel-tank-replacement
- https://ericsonyachts.org/ie/threads/ericson-30-fuel-tank-replacement.18261/page-3
- https://ericsonyachts.org/ie/threads/fuel-tank-inspection-port-design-and-installation.13949/
testing + https://ericsonyachts.org/ie/threads/plastic-diesel-fuel-tanks-worrisome-outcome-for-tally-ho.20227/
- https://ericsonyachts.org/ie/threads/removal-of-fuel-tank-in-32-3.20272/
- https://ericsonyachts.org/ie/ubs/thelonious-ii-fuel-tank-inspection-ports-five-minute-video.397/
Christian, inspection ports-
patch leaked + https://ericsonyachts.org/ie/threads/replacement-fuel-tank-for-38-200.16667/
E33- https://ericsonyachts.org/ie/threads/new-fuel-tank-ordered.20005/
Loren- https://ericsonyachts.org/ie/threads/diesel-tank-replacement.6303/
- https://ericsonyachts.org/ie/threads/1986-38-200-fuel-tank-removal.19449/
E38 tank pics - https://ericsonyachts.org/ie/threads/diesel-bug.19192/
- https://ericsonyachts.org/ie/threads/need-advice-please-on-aluminum-diesel-tank-repair.18542/
ready-made ports - https://ericsonyachts.org/ie/threads/inspection-ports-for-fuel-tanks.18789/
case studies - https://goodoldboat.com/tankseasy-to-forget-too-important-to-dismiss/

I got our tank in then got busy with other work and Sailing. I haven't back-filled the thread with my installation and probably won't get to it for a month+. If you have any questions, feel free to ask here or send me a direct message "Conversation".

Jeff
My 1974 E35-2 has a really trashed gas tank. Is it really possible to replace this tank?
 

Prairie Schooner

Jeff & Donna, E35-3 purchased 7/21
@RedDog
We took the old aluminum diesel tank to a marine fabricator and he made a very accurate replacement. There are a couple things I wish I'd specified more clearly or differently, but it seems to be working fine. Is your engine gasoline or diesel? I don't know if gas would make a difference, but I suspect not.
 

RedDog

Member II
@RedDog
We took the old aluminum diesel tank to a marine fabricator and he made a very accurate replacement. There are a couple things I wish I'd specified more clearly or differently, but it seems to be working fine. Is your engine gasoline or diesel? I don't know if gas would make a difference, but I suspect not.
My tank is for gasoline. It does not leak but it sat for 5 years and has an amazing amount of goo in there. It is so bad that I have abandoned the tank and now run the engine from a 5 gallon can in the cockpit. The thick brown putty that comes out will foul any filter made in minutes. From the photos, it looks like the tank might be removable either toward the front into the cabin or out the side into the starboard cockpit locker. How have others gotten this tank out?
 

david poth

Member I
Larry,
I also have a 35-3. I removed the tank and had it repaired at a local welding shop. It had the typical pin hole in the lowest corner. I was able to get the tank out of the companion way in one piece. I had to remove the sliding hatch and it was not necessary to remove the traveler and hood.
 

Prairie Schooner

Jeff & Donna, E35-3 purchased 7/21
My tank is for gasoline. It does not leak but it sat for 5 years and has an amazing amount of goo in there. It is so bad that I have abandoned the tank and now run the engine from a 5 gallon can in the cockpit. The thick brown putty that comes out will foul any filter made in minutes. From the photos, it looks like the tank might be removable either toward the front into the cabin or out the side into the starboard cockpit locker. How have others gotten this tank out?
You may not need to remove the tank at all. Did you watch Christian's video in my post #7? Where is the tank on the 35-2? It will be a royal pain to cut holes and add ports, but easier than removing the tank. Once done, you'll have more room in the cockpit, it will be more convenient, and probably safer. My two cents, anyway.
 

RedDog

Member II
You may not need to remove the tank at all. Did you watch Christian's video in my post #7? Where is the tank on the 35-2? It will be a royal pain to cut holes and add ports, but easier than removing the tank. Once done, you'll have more room in the cockpit, it will be more convenient, and probably safer. My two cents, anyway.
Yes, I would like to cut a cleanout into the top. I think this would be the best option.
 
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