Smaller fuel tank.

[L124C]

I'm thinking about using a 6 gallon portable tank (from West Marine) instead of the 15 Gallon tank currently installed on my boat. My Yanmar sips diesel, and keeping the 15 gallon tank topped off, clean, algae free, etc. doesn't seem to make much sense for the bay sailing I do. A recent post in this forum "fuel dirty again" and the responses to it seem to confirm this. I'm planning on draining the larger tank and leaving it in place, and hanging or mounting the smaller tank in the port hold. If possible, I would like to mount it so that I could bring the tank to the fuel source, instead of bringing fuel to the tank. Any advice or thoughts?
Bill

[Valiente]

I went from a 12 gallon Imperial Monel tank (which I traded to a fellow sailor) to an 11 gallon U.S. Tempo plastic tank. This reduced my range by about 1/3, but gave me 1) a nice new clean tank, and 2) significant space savings and some weight savings in my starboard cockpit locker.

The practical effect was zero when I cruised locally, as I don't use the engine 10 hours in a year unless we go down the lake. Then, the solution was to carry a five-gallon jug of gas and to do a mid-lake refill in order to make an 80 NM motor.

Of course, if I'm motoring, it's because there's no wind, and that means refilling "at sea" isn't a nightmare of spilled gas.

While you're at it, replace the fuel fill, the vent hose, inspect and clean the vent, and the fuel line to the engine, which may be out of current code standards. Your engine will thank you. Mine did.

[sailingdog]

L124C-

It depends, it sounds like you're talking about a diesel fuel tank. Diesel fuel tanks have return fuel line as well as a supply line, and most portable tanks don't have both lines.

[Valiente]

Good point. I was talking about a gasoline tank for an Atomic 4.

[JimsCAL]

SD is right about the return line. You would need to add that connection to the portable tank. Other than that, I see no reason why you can't do what you propose.

[sailingdog]

Valiente-

I guessed that was the case, but the OP had clearly mentioned he had a Yanmar, and I don't think Yanmar makes a gasoline engine for a boat.

The problem I see with using a portable tank for this application is that the two lines in the tank would have to be designed such that they don't leak in transport. Also, you'd probably want to make it so that they can't be accidentally reversed, since the return line probably won't have a fuel pickup tube attached to it. Finally, you'd need to have some way of ensuring that someone doesn't try to operate the engine with only the fuel pickup line attached...since the fuel return line would then be spewing diesel into the bilge.

IMHO, keeping things simple, and seting up a new clean smaller tank for the diesel is a good idea, but I would use a separate jerry can to transport fuel to and from the fueling station. That way you don't have to worry about the lines being connected properly, or whether the fittings will leak if you tip the tank on its side and such.

[WouldaShoulda]

I just found that the 6gal tank at West Marine won't fit in my fuel lazarette!!

(9.9 outboard application)

I wanted to replace the older metal tank with a plastic one.

I guess the 3gal will do but it will look lonely in there. I'll have to make a bracket or tie-down to secure it.

Just daysailing.

[L124C]

For the record, I bought a 6.5 gallon tank from Vetus through Jamestown Distributors for about $200. It's translucent, so you can see the fuel level and comes with a "kit" that contains the fuel line connections. The kit consists of 90 degree plastic barb connections, which are slipped into rubber grommets in pre drilled holes in the tank. I expected a little more for $200! With the exception of the translucency feature, you could do about as well at a hardware store for a lot less! I Guess the tank is a little thicker than a plastic Jerry can! Oh well, I have a tank!

[xsboats]

Most water in fuel starts as moisture in the air, which enters the tank through the vent to replace the fuel used. I cut the tops out of my metal tanks, lined them with carpet, and secured collapsable fuel bladders inside with eyebolts in the corners.Bladders have no vent,so no water intrusion, and the carpet eliminates chafing. I kept one pair of small rigid tanks , each enough to run 8 hours, as day tanks. I clean the fuel when I transfer fuel to them and again when it goes to the engine.

[L124C]

Here is a "review" I did on the Vetus tank (Ftank25) I purchased from Jamestown Distributors. Apparently, JD didn't like it and deleted it. I guess they only want positve reviews. Sadly, the overall experience has been less than stellar!:

The site implies that the connection kit shown is included with the Ftank25. It isn't. They provide plastic 90 degree barbs that slip into rubber grommets in holes in the tank. While it will work, it's not the best arrangement, even for diesel. When Vetus drilled the holes in the tank, they didn't bother to clean out the plastic shavings in the tank. Make sure you do! The filler tube is molded onto the tank, and is 50mm (2 inch). So, if your filler intake on the boat is 1.5 inch, you need to adapt something. I'm still working on this. Surprisingly, according to JD customer service, Vetus and JD have no adapter.

As of 4/09 Jamestown Distributors finally did include my review. It apparently took a letter to the President of the company to do it. The funny thing is, the poor rating I gave the smaller tank now reflects on the larger tanks as well. If they simply separated the smaller (different) tank, and described it more accurately, it would solve the whole problem! Seems like the easy solution to me, but then, I know nothing about administrating a website! Anyway, Jamestown finally did the right thing.