Tank Location - Zodiac Futura Mark III

[0976claxton]

Just posted a thread about the battery box location. Now I'm starting to have thoughts about where I should place my tank to help balance everything out in order to get on plane faster. I am considering securing a 12 Gallon tank within the bow area (you know, where the Aluminum flooring ends and the wood bow material begins). Defender sells a 12 Gallon tank that would fit perfectly. I envision screwing in some mounting straps to the wood plank and using it to strap down the 12 gallon tank. Does anyone see why this might be a bad idea (e.g., too much shaking of the fuel tank)??

I should preface that I just got my 40HP yesterday and have not ran it on the ocean yet. Judging from my previous experience with the 25HP, I can only imagine that it is going to really raise my bow substantially until I get it on plane. Having the 6-12 gallons of fuel up front could really help balance everything out for me.

Believe me, I will take her out for a test run shortly to see how bad the bow raises when I accelerate, before I buy/rig anything.

Constructive criticism wanted...

 

[Sea Rider]

Re: Tank Location - Zodiac Futura Mark III

If 12 gallon tank has a handle, glue a D'ring patch up on bow and secure using a belt, if your sib has 2 lateral d'rings at bow can place a rubber strap at rear tank to maintain it against bow and rock the least. 12 gallon will give about45 kilos for better bow balance when alone. You could place battery near transom secured with proper baterry mount, have it next to engine.

If you have your trim angle at 90? (2-3 hole out transom) with sib being paralell on water surface, any sib will plane extremely fast, sit towards bow at a confortable throttlening position and accelerate to 3/4.

http://www.pbase.com/locozodiac/image/93145022

Happy Boating

 

[nobrainsd]

Re: Tank Location - Zodiac Futura Mark III

You are definitely correct in trying to move fixed weight forward in your boat, particularly since you have gone to a bigger outboard and will be sitting next to it. I ran for a while with a large 12 gallon plastic tank strapped down to my wooden front flooring section. I used stainless footman's loops. I drilled shallow holes on the underside of the flooring. Installed bolts with washers through the floor and covered the assembly with epoxy to end up with a flush smooth floor bottom to avoid chafing the sib bottom. Worked very well. Did not flail around or pull up the floor in a well inflated Futura. The low profile footmans loops aren't a big deal to step on with shoes. I'm careful to avoid stubbing my toe when barefoot. The long gas supply hose worked just fine. You may find that you have gas pick up issues at very low tank levels, but you can always unstrap the tank and move it if you need the very last bit of gas. I still carry this forward tank as an auxillary tank when I need range.

I like having a full size battery to run my lights, depth finder and other accessories. I have a remote control outboard so there was a longer battery cable already. But I did extend it to place the battery where I wanted it up forward. I simply bought battery cables , bolted them to the outboard cables and sealed the connection. I killed a couple of regular sealed batteries (the regular plate construction did not like the pounding). I now run a sealed AGM marine battery that was expensive but withstands the abuse and outlives regular batteries. With my gas tank and battery forward and a pair of smart tabs on my transom the ridiculous bow rise I had on hole shots has been tamed. Good luck with your Futura!