Integral fuel tank - or not?

[Pooch]

I'm considering buying a small outboard motor - my boat has a 5 hp maximum limit. Any opinions out there on whether or not to buy an outboard with the integral fuel tank. If you have an integral fuel tank, do you wish you didn't - is range or storage a problem? If you have an external fuel tank, do you wish you had an integral tank - does the external tank take up too much room in a small boat? Any positive aspects of one vs. the other?<br /><br />Thanks in advance for your opinions

 

[JB]

Re: Integral fuel tank - or not?

Howdy, Pooch. Many years ago my boat was a 7' SportYak, and I powered it with a 3hp Johnny twin with integral tank. Most of the time I took along an extra quart of premix in a plastic bottle. If I was in for a long day and many miles I took a whole gallon. I think I ONCE had to refill the tank. I had plenty of room in the boat for me, my tackle box, my lunch box and a small cooler for. . . um. . .beverages.<br /><br />Then I got power mad. I wanted an engine that would PLANE my little boat. So I got a 5.5 horse Johnny with a 6 gal. remote tank. It was FAST! I'll bet I got it up to 10 or 15 mph and it actually got on plane! I HATED IT!!! There was not enough room for me and the gas tank, let alone essential stuff like the cooler. Tackle box?? What tackle box?<br /><br />Little boat? Little engine with built-in tank. Trust me.<br /><br />Red sky at night. . . <br />JB

 

[Pooch]

Re: Integral fuel tank - or not?

Thanks for the reply JB - any other opinions out there?

 

[kev_79]

Re: Integral fuel tank - or not?

with a 3 or 5 hp motor, I would go with intergal tank. It would take most people two years to use 6 gallons with a 5 hp motor. The intergal tank will take you as far as you can probably stand at the blinding rate of 9 mph. Intergal tank+1/2 gallon milk jug=long day of fishing. Good Luck

 

[Fouled Plug]

Re: Integral fuel tank - or not?

If you're really torn, I know at least Mercury (and probably others) have a 5hp with an integral 2.5 quart tank AND an external 3.5 gallon one for global circumnavigation. That way you can decide what range you really need for any given situation.

 

[what200]

Re: Integral fuel tank - or not?

I think it depends on how far you gotta. Two years ago a friend and I went for canoe ride with a 2.5 Johnson down Little river to De Soto falls in January. This is about a 3 mile ride at 6 or 7 mph. The water must have been around 30 degrees because I remember sliding the empty Jack bottle across the ice for fun (it was brought along for warmth). Well- we ran out of gas about half way back. Unfortunately we had chain saw with us (trees falling across the river were a problem at the time due to ice) and we tried fill'er back up enough. Two half druck guys in a canoe trying to fill a motor with a chainsaw in a canoe had its predictable effect and I was completely sober by the time I got to shore. So an external tank would have been nice at the time.

 

[JB]

Re: Integral fuel tank - or not?

A note about my Johnny 3, Pooch. It had an optional fuel pump and a set of valves so I had the option of using a remote tank, which I did later on a bigger (12') boat. Pretty much the same as the Merc described above.<br /><br />It seems to me that an engine with its own tank and the option to hook up a remote if you wanted to would be ideal.<br /><br />Have fun!<br />Red sky at night. . .<br />JB