Questions about adding permanent gas tank.

[Mark42]

I have been thinking about adding a permanent fuel tank to my boat, probably in the bow. While looking at hardware to mount it, I came up with these questions: <br /><br />- When a permanent gas tank is installed in place of portable units, is a steel or copper fuel line used or is rubber fuel line used between the o/b and tank?<br /><br />- Is the primer bulb fuel line retained? If so, how is it connected? <br /><br />- Are the new fill necks the anti-siphon style like cars have or can a siphon hose be used to empty the tank? <br /><br />- Is there a preference for which side of the boat the fill goes on? (I will probably be filling it at the local gas station, so it really doesn't matter to me, I'm just asking). <br /><br />Thanks,<br /><br />Mark

 

[18rabbit]

Re: Questions about adding permanent gas tank.

Mark - I have an enclosed bow on the RIB, similar to your boat. The permanently installed 20-gal aluminum fuel tank is mounted to the deck under there. There are 4 flanges on the tank for screws. You don’t need big screws to hold everything in place. The tank sits on a 1/8-inch rubber mat cut to the match the delta shape of the bow tank.<br /><br />- Use only USCG approved hose for above deck gasoline. Same for the vent hose and fill hose.<br /><br />- The fuel line is routed past the helm. The squeeze bulb is under the dash.<br /><br />- Don’t know about “new” fill necks. My tank is about 30-years old.<br /><br />- An aluminum fill neck for my tank is welded to the top of the tank. A slit was put in the hypalon and a flap glued over the opening. All I do is push down on the hypalon and the fill neck is visible. It has a screw on cap like the kind that is on those 5-gal military style gas cans.<br /><br />Maybe putting the fill cap in the center of the bow, toward the tip to allows you to fill it from either side?!? That is the way mine is done.

 

[prockvoan]

Re: Questions about adding permanent gas tank.

DON't USE RUBBER under any alum fuel tank!If you are using the boat anywere around saltwater,what happens is,the water gets under the tank,sits inbetween it in the rubber.After some time,the rubber will start to eat out the bottom of the tank.Rubber has carbon in it.Use plactic strips.

 

[Tinkerer]

Re: Questions about adding permanent gas tank.

Mark <br /><br />This is only my personal preference, but I'd go for an exposed chrome fill cap as it looks good. Wherever you put it it has to be clear of anywhere anchor or mooring ropes are likely to catch on it. That wipes out a lot of the foredeck. My preference would be a little forward of the windscreen near the gunnel so you can reach it with a fuel hose at a gas station, but well out the way of ropes and less vulnerable to any water that ships over the foredeck. <br /><br />If you want to get a balanced look you could put a matching false filler neck head and fuel cap on the other side. Twin chrome filler caps looked great on the '60's Jaguars and other cars. If you do that it would be an idea to put a permanently locked fuel cap on the false side, or a solid block in the false filler neck, so nobody pumps fuel into the boat.<br /><br />You could use a drain tap on the tank rather than a syphon, except it's got nowhere to go but into the boat. Alternatively you could have a drain tap and fit a hose over the spigot when you want to drain it and just syphon it through there, or run the hose down the floor and out a bung hole. The advantage is that this way you can get rid of most of the gunge in the tank if the drain is at the lowest point. If you angle the boat right while you're doing it, you can probably drain it near dry if you're thinking about avoiding stale fuel over winter. The last little bit that won't syphon out could be drained directly into a tray on the boat.<br /><br />I've been thinking about adapting a plastic auto fuel tank which is pretty cheap from a wreckers compared with a stainless steel made to measure tank.<br /><br />There can be a problem with filling gas cans in the back of a vehicle when you're on the vehicle filling them and static electricity can set off the fuel vapour. If you're grounded with your feet on the ground there shouldn't be a problem but I suspect it mightn't be a good idea to have the filler cap where you need to be in the boat while filling it.

 

[Tinkerer]

Re: Questions about adding permanent gas tank.

Ignore. I'm an idiot and hit the quote button instead of the edit button.

 

[lawyertob]

Re: Questions about adding permanent gas tank.

Originally posted by Mark42:<br /> I have been thinking about adding a permanent fuel tank to my boat, probably in the bow. While looking at hardware to mount it, I came up with these questions: <br /><br />- When a permanent gas tank is installed in place of portable units, is a steel or copper fuel line used or is rubber fuel line used between the o/b and tank?<br /><br />- Is the primer bulb fuel line retained? If so, how is it connected? <br /><br />- Are the new fill necks the anti-siphon style like cars have or can a siphon hose be used to empty the tank? <br /><br />- Is there a preference for which side of the boat the fill goes on? (I will probably be filling it at the local gas station, so it really doesn't matter to me, I'm just asking). <br /><br />Thanks,<br /><br />Mark

Mark,<br /><br />My T-186 had a built-in tank from when it was new in 1976. There was a copper line running from the tank back to a fitting in the splash well. That fitting is exactly like one that would go into a new portable tank. Then you hook up a regular hose like you probably already have to go from the fitting to the motor. The bulb is in the hose just as before. Basically the hose sucks gas from the fitting in the splashwell the same as it would suck from a portable tank.<br /><br />I have a new fill neck and I see no reason why you couldn't siphon through it.<br /><br />As for which side the fill goes on, I can say that mine is located on the port side. Also, that the port side is called the port side because traditionally that is the side that faces the port or shore...however, I tend to think that unless you plan to fill up on the water at a marina, it shouldn't matter. Besides which, I am sure that most marina pumps could be approached either way.<br /><br />All that being said, I seem to remember someone saying that copper tubing shouldn't be used in boats. I can definitely see how embrittlement could be a problem if the tubing was not properly supported.<br /><br />I guess I will just watch this thread and see if anyone has a definitive answer.<br /><br />Just my $0.02 worth,<br />Joe

 

[Mark42]

Re: Questions about adding permanent gas tank.

Thanks for the info, folks.<br /><br />I really want to get rid of those two 6 gallon cans I use now. They sit under the splashwell and stick out into the floor area. That space is easy for passengers to access as compared to under the front deck for stowage. The front is kind of wasted space right now. So it would be better to move the fuel to the front and let the passengers store gear under the splashwell. <br /><br />I was also going to cut a piece of 3/8 plywood, covered with matching white vinyl as a cover to the splashwell area. It will help keep gear dry and safely stowed. Besides, my wife likes things to have a "finshed" look. Boy, the trouble I go through to make her happy!

 

[Tinkerer]

Re: Questions about adding permanent gas tank.

Mark<br /><br />There is an issue about trim with the extra weight forward.<br /><br />I don't know enough to offer an opinion on it but maybe somebody else can.

 

[f_inscreenname]

Re: Questions about adding permanent gas tank.

A plastic tank (no chance of rot) tied down with ratchet straps to the deck., Approved rubber fuel line to from the tank to motor. I think you will have to leave the squeeze ball in place to get the gas from the tank to the motor. I don't think the motor’s fuel pump would be strong enough to draw the gas all the way without being primed first. <br /> I almost want to put a inline ball for my I/O. After leaving it sit for a week or two it always takes extra cranking to get the carb’s bowls full. A couple of pumps and it would be ready to go but when running it would probably suck it flat.

 

[mellowyellow]

Re: Questions about adding permanent gas tank.

f-n gives good advice above.<br />how much room do you have under the splashwell?<br />I had a 12 gal mounted on port side in my old 16'.<br />the fill was directly above and the vent and the<br />fuel line went through the splaswell. fuel line<br />had perm. attatched metal fitting and the hose<br />was clamped and bulb was in between that and the<br />motor.<br /><br />look in the store above, I bet they have a size<br />that will fit nicely.

 

[DJ]

Re: Questions about adding permanent gas tank.

Mark,<br /><br />Good advice so far.<br /><br />1. Use USCG rubber hose only.<br /><br />2. Yes, you need the primer bulb. Your choice on location.<br /><br />3. Filler neck. You can now get combo fill/vent necks. I suggest using one of those. Then you only have to drill one hole in the boat.<br /><br />As far as location. I would put it on the same side as the fill for my tow vehicle.<br /><br />Yes, you can siphon through the filler necks. They are wide open.<br /><br />Don't forget to add a fuel/water seperator, while you're at it.

 

[lawyertob]

Re: Questions about adding permanent gas tank.

Originally posted by DJ:<br />[QB] Mark,<br /><br />Good advice so far.<br /><br />1. Use USCG rubber hose only.<br /><br />....<br /><br />DJ,<br /><br /> Just for clarities sake, are you saying that you need to run USCG rubber hose all the way from the tank in the bow to the fitting in the stern? My boat came with copper, but I can see how it could break if not supported...of course it hasn't broken in over 20 years. I do want to do it in the best and safest way possible...and never have to do it again. I had kind of planned on using new copper tubing and tabbing it to the hull with fiberglass every so often so that it would be fully supported. The old tubing that came out is VISUALLY in good shape.<br /><br />$0.01 for your thoughts,<br />Joe

 

[DJ]

Re: Questions about adding permanent gas tank.

Joe,<br /><br />You betcha, I meant rubber. USCG approved rubber ONLY Not auto parts store stuff.<br /><br />Double clamped on every fitting, using good SS (stainless) clamps.<br /><br /><br />As I recall, the USCG aproved rubber is "red stripe".<br /><br />Expensive-yes. Worth it-yes.<br /><br />Copper, in a high vibration atmosphere (read boats) is an accident waiting to happen.<br /><br />Fuel systems are nothing to scrimp on. Do it right, and ENJOY!<br /><br />By the way, "burying" a fuel line, is a bad idea. Keep it where you can get at it. Plus, "buried" fuel lines tend to leak into places you can't see.

 

[TexomaAv8r]

Re: Questions about adding permanent gas tank.

I assume you would run the fuel line down the port side gunnells and not along the starboard side where wires and control cables are routed?

 

[Twidget]

Re: Questions about adding permanent gas tank.

Would a permanent tank fit in the transom area Mark? My boat is one of these. I dont know if it was an option or what, but my boat has a gas gauge, vents and a filler/vent for a built in tank. It has temp tanks and I have thought about putting in a permanent tank. Maybe you have the room with the right tank.

 

[Mark42]

Re: Questions about adding permanent gas tank.

Twidget,<br /><br />I have been looking for the right tank to fit under the splashwell. Things could get crowded there with the battery and VRO oil tank there too. There is also a 2" indentation in the floor right smack in the center where a bilge pump should go, so that messes things up too. I guess I could put the pump in the corner. It just won't do anything until there is a full inch or so of water across the back of the transom. <br /><br />If I remember right, the dimensions under the splashwell total are 48w x 14d x 10h (10 at lowest height, 14 at highest because it slopes fore to aft). So its a tight fit. Could get another 6 inches in width if I cut the ski racks short so they do not extend under the splashwell on each side. <br /><br />I guess an option is to put the VRO tank and battery up front, and a low wide tank in back. <br /><br />Right now I fit the battery, VRO tank, and two 6 gallon Tempo tanks all in a row under the splashwell. The tanks stick out about 8 inches.<br /><br />BTW that is a nice boat. Looks to have deep cockpit depth. I like that 'cause it keeps the kiddies from falling out.

 

[mellowyellow]

Re: Questions about adding permanent gas tank.

only 10" high huh? think mine was 18"...<br />maybe a short/wider tank that would fit under the<br />middle of the splashwell against the transom?<br /><br />or a 1 tank stowed away and 1 transom tank?<br /><br />

 

[Twidget]

Re: Questions about adding permanent gas tank.

BTW that is a nice boat. Looks to have deep cockpit depth. I like that 'cause it keeps the kiddies from falling out.

I couldnt agree more, I have an 8 year old. Helps with a dry ride too. <br /><br />The transom seats that were in the boat when I bought it were large, with an open base to hide the portable tanks. I need to cut out part of the base with the new seats, so I can put the cover back between them.