fuel tank options

[tal]

I have an SD80 Skeeter bass boat. It is 15'3" and had/has 2 6 gallon tanks under rear storage deck. The boat originally came with 2 steel yamaha tanks to fit the original yamaha outboard.

I repowered last year with a johnson and bought 2 of the plastic 6 gallon moeller fuel tanks. These tanks work fine except for the fact that the gas cap and fuel pickup are both on the same side. So, to have access to fill the tanks they have to be positioned where the connections are facing the front of the boat. This is not a problem when the tanks are full but when they get low I am having issues with air getting sucked into the line instead of fuel. If I turn the tanks around the pickup/gas cap is tucked underneath the deck of the boat and I can't fill them up with gas or reach the connections well, but I probably wouldn't have the air problem.

I think the steel yammie tanks were setup where the cap was on one side and the pickup on the other. I have seen Johnson/Evinrude stamped tanks like the yammie ones I had. Are these setup the same way? I'm trying to figure out my options here and there doesn't appear to be many. I have thought about putting a permanent below deck tank but it would be hard to pull batteries and work on bilges. Any suggestions?

 

[Tim Frank]

Re: fuel tank options

Get a pair of Yamaha tanks and change hose fittings as needed.

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: fuel tank options

a tank is a tank, as long as it is vented. the motor does not care.

 

[mikesea]

Re: fuel tank options

Tempo makes many different tanks,you might find one that will fill the space your 2 portables fit and make it permanent with a fill and vent,OR,they also have different types of portables ,I THINK that you can install and fill from smaller portables if its easier,Look them up online,Id be suprised if they dont have a website.Years ago I built an auxiliary 50 gallon tank in my boat,tempo had all kinds of lengths,hieght,width

 

[tal]

Re: fuel tank options

I still have the 2 yamaha tanks but the fittings looked kind of permanent on the tank? Maybe they can be changed out - I'll take a look at that. Also, a problem I always had with the steel yammie tanks is them building pressure/caving in during temp changes. The gas cap that came on the tanks are non vented so I'm sure this was the problem with those? They are just twist on type flat metal caps with no vents.

I'll take a look at tempo too, thanks.

 

[Tim Frank]

Re: fuel tank options

I still have the 2 yamaha tanks but the fittings looked kind of permanent on the tank? Maybe they can be changed out - I'll take a look at that. Also, a problem I always had with the steel yammie tanks is them building pressure/caving in during temp changes. The gas cap that came on the tanks are non vented so I'm sure this was the problem with those? They are just twist on type flat metal caps with no vents.

I'll take a look at tempo too, thanks.

I may be missing something, but can you not just change the fitting on the end of the fuel line that connects to the motor?

Don't the "non-venting" caps have two positions, "on" and "locked down" and could you not get a ventibng cap for those tanks?

 

[tal]

Re: fuel tank options

You're right, I could just change the fitting on the end of the fuel line. I can't remember if they were 3/8" or 5/16", so that would be the biggest factor.

Honestly, I didn't know the caps had 2 positions, I figured it was just "on" and that was it. It seemed like the halfway on or position that would allow it to vent would slosh fuel out. I'll need to go look at it, but thanks for the thoughts.