My 185 has flint tip tanks and I’ve been using them on wheels and they work fine.

I’m putting the plane on floats for the summer, and will sometimes need the extra fuel the tip tanks offer.

I’m kinda worried about the extra 100 lbs on each wingtip with all that leverage when pounding through waves. I know the wing is beefed up some with the flint STC, but still seems like a lot of force involved.

Any feedback running these on floats?

I’ve only got 62 gallons in the main tanks.

Ross4289 wrote:My 185 has flint tip tanks and I’ve been using them on wheels and they work fine.

I’m putting the plane on floats for the summer, and will sometimes need the extra fuel the tip tanks offer.

I’m kinda worried about the extra 100 lbs on each wingtip with all that leverage when pounding through waves. I know the wing is beefed up some with the flint STC, but still seems like a lot of force involved.

Any feedback running these on floats?

Did it for years in my 170, and in a 206, which puts the gas even further outboard. Common sense applied it works fine. Hardest part is fueling tips.

I did try to limit rough water ops.

MTV

Has anyone ever seen Flint tip tanks in a 170

I have them on my 170

See above. I had Fint tanks in my 170B for many years. Worked fine, though I only used them when needed.

Only problem I ever had was replaced one pump. After fifteen to eighteen years.

No complaints. Note that these are NOT wing extensions, they are fitted inside the outboard portion of the wing.

MTV

Mine are wing extensions and the fuel is in the wingtip.

mtv wrote:See above. I had Fint tanks in my 170B for many years. Worked fine, though I only used them when needed.

Only problem I ever had was replaced one pump. After fifteen to eighteen years.

No complaints. Note that these are NOT wing extensions, they are fitted inside the outboard portion of the wing.

MTV

Ah great now I have something else for the "wish list", thanks MTV.

Ross4289 wrote:
I’m kinda worried about the extra 100 lbs on each wingtip with all that leverage when pounding through waves. I know the wing is beefed up some with the flint STC, but still seems like a lot of force involved.

Any feedback running these on floats?

I run the wing x on my 185. Really like the extra area.

I think your instincts are right.
I would be very careful with the extra weight out there on the wingtip. carry jugs in the floats if it is rough at all save the tip fuel for only smooth water ops.

I'm sure there are people who have done it without any issue but I personally would not.

Ross4289 wrote:Mine are wing extensions and the fuel is in the wingtip.

I understand that, which is why I mentioned the 206, which has Flint tanks that attach to the outboard ribs. These are not nearly as strong as the much later Flint wing extension tanks you have. I've operated that 206 some with fuel in the tanks, and no problems. I agree that I'd keep fuel out of the tips if rough water is likely.

That's typically pretty easy, since any time I was running fuel in the tips, my first leg was usually fairly long, so by the time I got to my first stop, I'd already moved half or more of the tip fuel into the mains.

If you have the 84 gallon useable mains, you'll have a LOT of fuel aboard. If you have the small mains, it'll be easy to move fuel into the mains fairly early.
But, would I land/takeoff in really rough water with fuel out there? Not in the 206, and not if I could avoid it in your setup, but again, your wing structure is VERY much stronger than those early Flint tip tanks. Talk to Flint about what they had to do to get those tanks approved in that airplane......seriously.

MTV

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Thanks guys!