Fuel pump and Hp rating

[Joe4711]

Hi all,

('78 Wellcraft 16.5' Air slot.)

My questions for the day.

1) Does fixed fuel tanks have a electric pump in each tank, and do I use a switch over valve when I run two tanks. I'm thinking of two side tanks instead of a belly tank.

2) My boat is rated for 120hp, I got hold of a 140hp motor, could I get away with that or am I inviting problems.

Thanks for all the help,
Joe.

 

[Boatist]

Re: More questions

Re: More questions

Joe
A little tip for you. You will get a lot more replys if your subject that people see has some meaning. Subjects like HELP or Questions most do not open includng me. People are busy and they look down the list and only open the one they are interested in or have knowledge of but your thread most will not open. Do you open every thread to see what it is about? Most do not have the time.

Fuel pumps are in the motor not in the tank for every boat I have seen. If you run two tanks then you could use a Y valve to switch between tanks.
Have no idea what kind of boat you are talking about. This is another area where giving more information will help you get more and better replys.
On small boats two side tanks could cause the boat to have an uneven load and it could be dangerous when making turns. Their is a reason why most boats with built in tanks have them in the center. Fuel is heavy and in rough water you want weight low and in the center of the boat. This effects the way the boat rolls in waves. Commerical boat must be certified as to how long it takes to turn upright if it rolls on the side. Example a commerical party boat changed there deisel engines to a smaller lighter deisels. The boat rolled over comming in with a group of Rock Fishermen. Been a while but I think only one died but had many with broken ribs, arms and Legs. When the boat rolled on it side people hung on the rails but could not hold on and fell 24 feet to the other rail and the impact with the other rail caused most of the injuries.

Coast Guard investagation found the boat engines were much lighter and that they also had added weight to the upper structure. Both iteams made the boat more likely to roll and also to take longer to right it self. The boat should have went thru recertification but did not. The Skipper lost his licence and we never saw the boat again. Many law suites were filed. The people were lucky for the most part as the roll happened less than 1 mile from the coast guard station and in the main channel where there were lots of boat comming in to pick up people in the water.

Horse power rating is there for a reason. The reasons are many. For example will your transom support the weight of a bigger heaver motor? Some will say your insurance will not cover you if you exceed the HP rating on the boat.
If you ever enter a Bass tournment you can be disqualifed if the motor is bigger than the boat rating.

Try changing your subject line and see if you do not get more replies.
You should also read the tips and rules at the top of the threads.

Good Luck and Enjoy the Fourm.

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: More questions

Re: More questions

Join us in May, http://forums.iboats.com/showthread.php?t=291501

this is what the coast guard has to say about overpowering.

The United States Coast Guard has an opinion on this frequently asked question, and their answer from their website is reproduced below:
Can I use a bigger motor on my boat than what it's rated for?
It is not a violation of Coast Guard regulations to install or use an engine larger than specified on the capacity label, but there may be state regulations prohibiting it, and restrictions from your own insurance company regarding this.
There are no Coast Guard regulations against exceeding the safe loading capacity, however, there may be State regulations or restrictions from your insurance company which prohibit this. There is a Coast Guard regulation that gives Coast Guard Boarding Officers the power to terminate the use of a boat (send it back to shore) if, in the judgment of the Boarding Officer, the boat is overloaded. There is no fine for this, unless the operator refuses the Boarding Officer's order. We certainly hope that you will abide by the rating, as overloading may lead to capsizing or swamping of the boat.
NOTE: The Coast Guard Capacity Information label is required only on monohull boats less than 20' in length. The label is not required on multi-hull boats, pontoon boats (catamarans), or on any sailboats, canoes, kayaks, or inflatable boats, regardless of length.
As the Coast Guard mentions, local regulations may apply. For example, in the state of Ohio one should be guided by this regulation:
Capacity Plates
(ORC 1547.39 & ORC 1547-40)
No person shall operate or permit operation of a watercraft in excess of any of the stated limits on the capacity plate. When no capacity plate exists, no person shall operate or permit operation of a watercraft if a reasonably prudent person would believe the total load aboard or the total horsepower of any motor or engine presents a risk of physical harm to persons or property.

 

[Joe4711]

Re: Fuel pump and Hp rating

Sorry, I quess what I meant to ask was if you still need the hand priming bulb on the fuel system when you use permanently (behind covers)installed tanks, or could you use a electric fuel pump to keep the gas under pressure to the motor.

Tx,
Joe.

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: Fuel pump and Hp rating

electric fuel pumps have no place on an outboard, extremely dangerous fire hazard. you still need the primer bulb near the engine. the motors fuel pump will suck the gas out of the tank just fine.

 

[Joe4711]

Re: Fuel pump and Hp rating

Tashasdaddy,

Thanks. Not knowing better I imagined that built in tanks will have metal fuel lines, filters and pumps like autos. When you don't know, you don't know.:redface:

I looked at a photo of Oregonboatnewb's new boat and was supprised to see the fuel tank and battery mounted next to each other, it is probably the same system that was originally used in my boat but that scares the s... out of me.

(Wellcraft 16.5' air slot)

I am going to look at boats today to see if I can figure a way to put tanks in my boat, I dont think a 12 gal carry on is going to run my 140 hp to long,probably less than a hr.?

Tx,
Joe.

 

[Silvertip]

Re: Fuel pump and Hp rating

Electric fuel pumps are used on some boats but those boats are typically fuel injected I/Os which require fuel pressure to operate. Carbureted outboards do not need pressurized fuel systems and as was pointed out, there is no Engine Control Unit (ECU) to tell the fuel pump to shut off if the engine stops running. If the pump is left running on a carbureted engine and there is even a minute leak, a float that's hung up, or a needle & seat that is not sealing, you pump the engine full of fuel and when you hit the key to restart the engine it either doesn't turn over because its hydrolocked with excess fuel or it goes "kaboom". As for fuel tanks -- you can put them anywhere they will fit but it's all about center of gravity. The lower in the boat it sits, the more stable the boat is. You do need a selector valve on a dual tank setup. You cannot use a simple "Y" fitting to connect both tanks because one will always run out of fuel before the other and you therefore begin sucking air.