Whaler Central - Boston Whaler Boat Information and Photos

Posted by gloucesterman on 01/01/10 - 5:01 AM

Happy New Year all!

Back again. The 1999 Montauk 17 / Yamaha 90 two stroke/ 98% pristine, that I am looking at has a Pate fiberglass fuel tank. When the boat was new, this was an expensive upgrade. It appears that with reformulated gasoline that it is now obsolete. Is this a deal breaker?

I am in Massachusetts and a sea trial in January is out of the question. Right now the tank is a negotiating point, but don't want to set myself up for future headaches for the sake of a few hundred dollars.

Any input would be much appreciated.

Posted by Phil T on 01/01/10 - 6:42 AM

Put simply, the tank is, regardless of condition, worthless and needs to be removed and disposed of. The resin in the tank will degrade due to ethanol.

Replacement options for a under RPS tank are a Moeller (plastic) in White or a Mirax (aluminum).

A decent vendor and price for the Moeller is at Defender
Link to Moeller tank

Mirax tanks are sold direct. Link to their site.

Posted by number9 on 01/01/10 - 7:19 AM

Supposedly Pate began building their tanks to handle ethanol in the mid 1990s. Irregardless if it's a good boat and motor it wouldn't be a deal breaker for me.

Posted by HarleyFXDL on 01/01/10 - 7:20 AM

From what I have heard, fiberglass is NOT compatable with ethanol. If the boat is that nice and the price is that good, I would not let a above deck fuel tank hold up the purchase of what might seem to be a great boat. It is an easy, straight forward job to purchase another fuel tank to replace the fiberglass one.

Posted by coopgraphic on 01/01/10 - 8:00 AM

I agree with Kevin, I wouldnt let it hold up the sale of the boat but definitely replace it. My brother's 13' whaler had a fiberglas tank and it started to degrade and leave gel like deposits in the tank which led to having a mechanic come in and get the engine running right again. He ditched the fiberglas tank and got a basic tank for I think around $100 and has had no problems since.

-chris

Posted by WhalerDan on 01/01/10 - 8:33 AM

Pate didn't make an alcohol / ethynol proof fiberglass tank until around 2006. The tank has a large yellow sticker on top that says it's 100 percent alcohol safe. If the boat you're purchasing comes with an unsafe Pate tank, look and see if the fiberglass inside has started to flake and degrade. If so, you should factor in the cost to rebuild carbs and possibly change fuel pump. Make sure you also put new alcohol safe fuel lines, and a 10 micron fuel filter. IMHO the best option for fuel tank replacement is 2 12 gal aluminum tanks. If the boat you're looking at is priced right, but it. You don't have to have a sea trial. Run the motor from a portable 6 gal tank, check compression, etc. Don't loose the chance to buy a nice boat over something like a gas tank.

Posted by bottomfish on 01/01/10 - 8:58 AM

Moeller tank $200 custom Mirax tank $400. Quality boat much harder to find. It wouldn't slow me down if the boat is right. My .02

Posted by fluke on 01/03/10 - 10:58 AM

bought a 1988 montauk with original yammy 90 and pate tank, when I bought my 5 hp 4 stroke kicker I was adviced by my mechanic to change out the tank due to the smaller jetting and sensitivity of four stroke carbs. the yamaha 90 is a great outboard motor for the montauk and very dependable and easy to work on. I have had no problems with my carbs but did add a fuel seperator , also by advise, cant hurt.

Mark