Belly tank on starchief?

[fshngho]

Re: Belly tank on starchief?

Let me ask something I had been wondering about. If you install a belly tank about midship (or more forward) is there any problem with fuel delivery? I mean will the engine, expecialy OB, be able to draw fuel from the tank? I don't know if the primer bulb and vaccum from the engine is enough or will it require an electric fuel pump?

 

[barato]

Re: Belly tank on starchief?

dunno on that one. i know people feed their OBs off bow tanks but there's no gravity issue there. i suspect it will work fine. you aren't really gonna put one of THOSE things on the back of your boat....???! don't you care about the oil slime on your transom?

 

[123gman321]

Re: Belly tank on starchief?

I'm not sure Barato because the fittings I think would add 2 to 3 inches to the height.
Fshngho I was wondering the same thing. I had a 12 footer with a 9.9 and had a 5 gallon tank in the bow with a long fuel line and never had a problem. Put it there to offset my lard *** in the stern.
What I want to know is do these belly tank with the fill tube, pickup, and air vent at one end have an internal pipe to the other end of the for the air vent to vent the air when being filled.
Deadwood has one and it works so it's doable just a matter of planning, money, and work. Any things possible with SC.

 

[barato]

Re: Belly tank on starchief?

Gman, you may be right....i'd want to check this further before committing $400+ to project.

i suspect that if your fill tube location works OK, you can probably revise vent fitting location....just drill and add one with brass fitting from your friendly Ace hdwe. i think the plastic is thick enough that you could tap threads into it and then seal with appropriate gas proof goop.

 

[fshngho]

Re: Belly tank on starchief?

Quote "<you aren't really gonna put one of THOSE things on the back of your boat....???!"> Barato

Dats a big 10-4 my friend
I'm smart enough to know any engine type can cause problems, but I personally believe in OB's myself. I just don't want to deal with outdrive issues that others seem to have. OB's lower units seem to have a far superior life span. Besides, I really like the extra room that a OB allows inside the boat. To each their own

 

[barato]

Re: Belly tank on starchief?

i actually like OBs just fine and they do have a lot of practical arguments. just trying to stir the pot....

 

[Deadwood]

Re: Belly tank on starchief?

I'll try to get some pics taken and posted in the next week or so. I'm many miles from the boat right now but am hopefully heading up tomorrow after work. I didn't have to rip mine up either....that's why I don't have a clue about the gas tank...firm believer in "if it ain't broke, don't fix it." By all means start that thread. We'll be going "why didn't I think of that???"

Here's how mine looks aesthetically. Sorry but didn't delve further into what type it is under the floor. (Like I said before, "if it ain't broke..") The first is a side shot of the filler cap and vent, followed by the piping down to the belly tank and then the cap covering the gauge connections. Thinking back now maybe I can glean more info looking at it from the aft with the doghouse removed. Next time!