Gas tanks

[Tim Holmes]

Has anyone tried or is using a tandem fuel line setup to switch tanks on the fly with control valves? I would like to try this as it would avoid having to change the fuel line from one tank to another on long motoring journeys.

[raycarlson]

No,but if your doing long motoring journeys,carry a spare set-up,the more splices,valves you add the greater chance for a pin hole vacum leak.In all my years of boating the majority of engine malfunctions always had the fuel line (outboard style) as the leading culprit.Most engines you can switch lines from one tank to the other without the engine dying while on the move.

[c130king]

Tim,

It is on my list of things to "consider" for the future. I have a single 12-gallon tank that is "hard plumbed" to the engine. If I add a second tank, which I would like to do someday, I will either have to re-plumb the first tank to make it quick disconnect or figure out some way to have two fuel lines maybe leading into a valve that I can switch to select fuel from the second tank (and its own fuel line).

But I have seen the quick-disconnect type on other boats and it seems to work well. But the fuel line is "exposed" to people stepping on it and such. My "hard plumbed" line is out of sight.

Cheers,
Jim

[Kelly Hanson East]

Plumbing the tanks for quick connects is two fittings, which cost under 20 USD.

I ran out of gas three boat lengths from the boat ramp on Thursday, and managed to switch tanks, pump the bulb, and restart in 15 seconds.

Adding all the extra connections and failure points doesnt seem to make sense...and, yes, I bought all the parts to do this same mod and have never put them on....

[Rick Westlake]

Wag-Aero sells the left-right-off fuel valves for a Piper Tri-Pacer ...
(I had to replace the one on my Snowbird!)

Tim,

It is on my list of things to "consider" for the future. I have a single 12-gallon tank that is "hard plumbed" to the engine. If I add a second tank, which I would like to do someday, I will either have to re-plumb the first tank to make it quick disconnect or figure out some way to have two fuel lines maybe leading into a valve that I can switch to select fuel from the second tank (and its own fuel line).

But I have seen the quick-disconnect type on other boats and it seems to work well. But the fuel line is "exposed" to people stepping on it and such. My "hard plumbed" line is out of sight.

Cheers,
Jim

[Québec 1]

Tim,

I I have a single 12-gallon tank that is "hard plumbed" to the engine. But I have seen the quick-disconnect type on other boats and it seems to work well. But the fuel line is "exposed" to people stepping on it and such. My "hard plumbed" line is out of sight.

Cheers,
Jim

Does the 12 gallon tank fit under the seat with no mods necessary. I think I will get one of those.

My gas line was hard plumbed to one side of the boat when I bought it (believe it or not the gas line use to go through the transom steering linkage access over the the people sleeping in the rear berth and back through the interior hull to just under and through the port cockpit seat!!!!) and took it out and now have the quick release on both tanks. When I come in to dock I always shake my tank and if I feel there is not a lot left in the tank just change the gas line to the other tank with the motor running.(takes 5 seconds) I really like this set up better. As far as people standing on the gas line...it's not an issue!
Q1

[jposey66]

Does the 12 gallon tank fit under the seat with no mods necessary. I think I will get one of those.Q1

I have two 2 12 gallon tanks on my installed by the previous owner. They seem to fit fine. There is a little extra welting under the open end of the flip up seat to hold it off the tank. Also, if the vent is closed and the tank expands, it will push the seat up a bit. 24 gals of fuel is way overkill for me, so I will be swapping to 6 gal tanks soon.

Jeff Posey
Madison, AL

[c130king]

My fuel system was installed by the PO. The 12-gal tank is on the starboard side, the fuel line is "putty'ed" into the bottom/aft side of the tank and then runs through a hole cut into the bottom/aft side of the starboard underseat compartment. Then it is routed to the transom and it comes out of the engine well in the same place all the throttle controls come out and from their it is clamped onto the engine.

Like I said, I will "consider" how I want to upgrade this if at all. I may live with the single 12-gal tank and carry 2 x 5-gal tanks to refill the 12-gal tank (which is pretty much what I do now). Or I may install quick disconnect types on all new tanks. Just depends on how ambitious I feel...someday in the future.

Cheers,
Jim

[Russ]

No,but if your doing long motoring journeys,carry a spare set-up,the more splices,valves you add the greater chance for a pin hole vacum leak.In all my years of boating the majority of engine malfunctions always had the fuel line (outboard style) as the leading culprit.Most engines you can switch lines from one tank to the other without the engine dying while on the move.

Agreed.

We have 2 x 12 gal tanks and quick disconnect. Fewer parts the better with fuel lines. I have run out of fuel and switched in seconds. Our tempo tanks also have a fuel gauge so I have a rough idea of how much fuel is in them.

--Russ

[Kelly Hanson East]

The 12-gal tank is on the starboard side, the fuel line is "putty'ed" into the bottom/aft side of the tank and then runs through a hole cut into the bottom/aft side of the starboard underseat compartment.

Jim - Im pretty sure this is akin to running the fuel line below decks. If the line develops a leak, fuel will be delivered to the aft berth.

I dont think this is a good thing.

[c130king]

Yeah, I know. Boat came this way.

I guess your saying I should extinguish the scented candles...

Which is probably why at some point in the future I will go with the quick-disconnects and get all new fuel tanks. But it is not on my list of mods/installs for next month...it will have to wait until I move back to the U.S. and have more time to spend on that project.

Jim

[Russ]

The 12-gal tank is on the starboard side, the fuel line is "putty'ed" into the bottom/aft side of the tank and then runs through a hole cut into the bottom/aft side of the starboard underseat compartment.

Jim - Im pretty sure this is akin to running the fuel line below decks. If the line develops a leak, fuel will be delivered to the aft berth.

I dont think this is a good thing.

Yea, that's not cool. With a hole in the fuel compartment running below decks, you probably also have fuel vapors leaking below. Since gas vapor is heavier than air, you should vent well before making sparks and perhaps even consider a blower. The "putty" would also have me concerned about leaks. Vibration and what not could loosen that up.
The reason we get away with NOT having a blower on a Mac is that the fuel is all kept back and away from the cabin where it can all vent out the back of the cockpit.


--Russ

[Highlander]

if you have inboard tanks you should consider this mod I'm working on bilge blower fan that can be switched from venting the bilge or head or both at the same time
Its legally required in canada for inboard gas tanks but optional for the head
http://i235.photobucket.com/albums/ee20 ... 0015-1.jpg

http://i235.photobucket.com/albums/ee20 ... 0019-1.jpg

http://i235.photobucket.com/albums/ee20 ... 0021-1.jpg

http://i235.photobucket.com/albums/ee20 ... 0007-3.jpg

just to finnish off installing hard 3" pipe across the v-berth & 2 vents one in the head & one under the V-berth into the bilge area

J

[Kelly Hanson East]

Below deck tanks in the US also require bilge blowers....FYI

[Divecoz]

Of all the things you can do on..... or to these boats, I find the built in or below boards fuel systems ......to be way down the line on my list of possible needed projects ... I realize some have done it, but its just not a real issue for me, to have my fuel hose running all of 18 inches or less across the floor to the motor from under the passenger seats. Actually mounting the tank below boards makes no sense to me, even routing the fuel line and all that is involved to do it correctly and safely is far too much work effort and money for what little space you can gain top side.
But as I try............ to always remember to say ..... to each his own.
What has been working fr me .............
I have the possibility of carrying 4 tanks on-board ( close to 30 gallons of fuel) with a 12 gallon under the starboard side and a 6 on the port side which are always there. I have it available to add an additional 6 next to the "permanent" 6 and another 6 hanging vertically under the helm seat. I carry 3 hose systems total with One being in a plastic crate / box that most often replaces the optional , long distance 6 gallon tank under the port seat.