American Fuel Tanks was founded on a simple skill: welding. Vince Skandunas Sr. learned the trade in the early 1970s at NASSCO, working on shipbuilding projects in San Diego. In 1978, he opened his first fuel tank shop, and in 1984 launched American Tanks — turning his attention to a growing need in the boating industry: replacing fuel tanks worn down by decades of saltwater exposure.

Boat fuel tanks typically need replacement every 20 years or so, and Vince became the go-to expert for the job. Over the following decades, his reputation spread far beyond Southern California — reaching marinas and boatyards up and down both coasts, from Seattle to San Diego and Boston to Florida, as well as Hawaii.

His son, Vince Skandunas Jr. (“Vinnie”), started sweeping floors in the shop at age 15 in 1997, working his way up to master the craft of welding and tank fabrication alongside his father. In 2018, Vinnie took over the company, renaming it American Fuel Tanks and carrying the business into its next chapter.

Today, the same commitment to precision and reliability that built the company’s reputation continues to drive it — backed by decades of referrals from marinas, boatyards, boat brokers, and yacht brokers up and down the coast.