Fuel Tank for 26S? Suggestions, please.

walt · Mar 9, 2014

It might depend on how you use the boat. In my case, my use is very bursty - it is for a week and then the boat sits on dry land for a long time. After the week use, I always need to get all the gas I didnt use into by car gas tank so two 3 gallon portable tanks has worked just fine. If your in a marina for a long period, use the motor a lot and fill up at the marina, or do long trips like Sumner did, something more permanent may be more convenient. The main point being having some way to get the gas out of the tank in into your car is worth keeping in mind since gas has a "shelf life".

FYI, you should get between 10 to 12 miles per gallon with that outboard.

walt · Mar 9, 2014

I also put Seafoam in the gas and just do it one tank at a time since I often only use a portion of a three gallon tank per a trip. Saves on how much Seafoam you use ($$$)

centerline · Mar 9, 2014

I also use two 3 gallon tanks rather than one larger one...

but to circumvent the stale fuel issue, I use ethanol free gas WITH an additional marine stablizer and a bit seafoam once in awhile... the outboard, all my yard equipment and the ATV's get the same gas, and it WILL keep for many months without any perceptible degradation.... and no pre-season maintenance to make sure it all runs ok, because it will fire up as nicely as if it was used just yesterday....
seafoam is the best preventative maintenance tool money can buy for small engines...

centerline · Mar 9, 2014

you are about out of options... you could go to six, 1 gallon containers... or four, 1.5 gallon.... or if you need to carry more fuel, just start multiplying

where you carry the containers when on the boat is another problem you may need to address... you can see my album, mac 25, for how I covered it neatly...
I think some of the 26 models had a fuel locker and some didnt.... my locker could be added to almost any boat....

Sumner · Mar 9, 2014

Sock Puppet said:
Can I go with (3) 2 gallon containers?:2cool:

Mine has the locker, but it's also the only storage separate from the cabin. A couple of stackable 3 gallon tanks would probably be about right. I won't decide for sure until I can get the boat here at the house and break out the measuring tape and start loading all the junk in.

Just a couple thoughts. If you use a normal 3-6 gallon tank and put it in the laz without modifications it is vented to that compartment as soon as you unscrew the vent plug which you have to do. Our boat came like that, but I never ran it like that as it is a dangerous situation. We moved the tank up to the cockpit seat on the port side which worked for us since Ruth sits on the starboard side regardless of tack. Most wouldn't want this.

We carried a couple of smaller tanks in the laz that never leaked, but still didn't like that situation. Since we were going on a long trip to Florida with a lot of motoring....

http://purplesagetradingpost.com/sumner/macgregor2/outside-35.html

....I installed the permanent 19 gallon tank with the external fill and the proper vent and ground wire and the ...

http://purplesagetradingpost.com/sumner/macgregor2/outside-37.html

... the ventilation blower (that we have never needed to use). It worked great in Florida on the two trips. Fuel isn't always easy to find heading down the SW coast. We topped the tank off twice on the 400 mile trip and were glad that is wasn't smaller. I wanted to put in a 12-14 gallon but the shape of the 19 gallon actually took us less of the useable space in the laz vs. the smaller tanks.

Prior to Florida I don't think we used 5 gallons total in our trips to Idaho/Canada and Lake Powell so for most people I just don't see the need for the larger permanent tank. We might never completely fill ours again. It is convenient though to use and I feel very safe with it.

One idea that I like is taking a 4-6 gallon tank and putting it in the laz with two quick disconnect lines to it. One the fuel to the outboard and the other going to an external vent. Pop those off and fill the tank out of the laz and put them on and you have gas and a proper vent line. I'd also add the laz. blower like above just in case it was deemed to be needed at some point. I've seen pictures of this, but can't remember who did it,

Sum

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vizwhiz · Mar 9, 2014

Hey Sumner, where would you run the vent line in the installation you described?

chp · Mar 10, 2014

I did like Sumner suggested and put a fuel quick disconnect on my vented fuel cap and vent out of the laz. Before that we had fuel fumes inside the cabin. I also have a valve on the vent line so as to open and close the line to keep moisture out of the tank when the boat sits. Sorry I have no pics. I have a 5 gal. tank and as others use non ethanol fuel and a stabilizer. Have had no problems with my 2 stroke Merc.

Chris & Lenore · Mar 10, 2014

I'll add a couple comments as we have a regular 5 gal tank buried in the aft locker.

I added a vent line using a brass "threaded to barbed" connector (from Lowes). This threads into a thick part of the tank top and has a lock nut on the inside. If you locate near the fill hole, you can get the nut in place with your finger. I use 3/8 gas line for the vent - leading to a J shaped affair that vents I to the top of the motor well. The J is just made from more barbed to threaded brass fittings from Lowes.

I do not use a quick disconnect on the vent. I simply pull it off the upper barbed connector. I have seen tire air filers used for the vent but in both cases the gasoline attacked the rubber inside the valve.

One EXCELLENT thing you can do is to close off the aft locker from the cabin - it is open at the gunwales and when the scupper drain goes through it. I cut polyethylene sheet to fit the gunwales - easy to cut and it squishes into place. I used 5300 to keep it in place and seal it. The result is that no fumes get into the cabin.

I also have a 12 volt bilge blower installed that vents from the bottom of the aft locker to the motor well. To date, I have only used it once when some gas was spilled.

While I like this arrangement it is a PITA to fill the tank! The 5 gal tank is heavy plus I have two Rubbermaid storage containers that need to be removed before the tank. I usually fill the tank in place but for that I need to do acrobatics just to reach it at the bottom of the locker.

We are hard core sailors and use the outboard as little as possible so maybe a smaller tank (or two so we just switch them out) might be an answer.

I do like Sumners permanent tank with "proper" deck filler.

Here is a pic of our tank and gunwales sealing.

Sumner · Mar 10, 2014

vizwhiz said:
Hey Sumner, where would you run the vent line in the installation you described?

The tank vent is the right arrow and the other vent...

...is actually for the fuel line. I had someone suggest at one time they were too close together but I've never noticed a problem as there has never been a gas smell in the laz. It would be no problem though to move them further apart. It isn't like gas fumes are coming out in large quantities and as soon as they are out they are mixed with a lot of air.

There are more pictures on the whole plumbing for the tank and the outboard filter here...

http://purplesagetradingpost.com/sumner/macgregor2/outside-36.html

So far no bad gas problems on two pretty long trips. I like that filter. We were able to always fine non-ethanol gas at marinas. I do put the leftover gas in the Suburban once back home,

Sum

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Our Endeavour 37

Our MacGregor 26-S Pages

Our Trips to Utah, Idaho, Canada, Florida

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walt · Mar 10, 2014

Im not sure I want to know the answer to this.. but I think all the rules on gas tanks in the Laz apply to vented tanks. Most 3 gallon tanks dont even have vents and that is pretty much what I use - a completely sealed off tank if its in the Laz. No fumes because no venting and this is also no problem for the gas tank by design.

My vented tank always stays where it is in the picture (in a tray). This is an unused spot for me, you cant sit back there while sailing and side next to the outboard well is best for accessing the outboard when motoring. Most of the time, this is the only tank I have on board and keeps the weight aft low. Bright orange screws up the view a little however.

BILLNPR · Mar 17, 2014

I use a 3 gallon tank in the motor well as the 9.8 is on a mount outside the well. I have used a 6 gallon tank there too. Last 2 trips, I carried an extra 2.5 gallon cap, ie. an internal spout that pulls out. I put this on top of the 3 gallon tank in the motor well.

Doc_holiday · Mar 17, 2014

I was thinking of installing a small swim platform ladder and just bungie cording the tank on the platform. Of course not while anchored and swimming if we ever do. Might solve my no ladder and fuel tank location issue.

walt · Mar 17, 2014

similar idea?

Doc_holiday · Mar 17, 2014

That's pretty much it. With the S one would have the laz as a buffer

Roadking Larry · Mar 21, 2014

My S is set up similar to Sumners. Fuel fill on top with a fuel tank vent and a fuel line quick disconnect in the motor well. It has two smallish metal cowl vents "plumbed" down into the locker. Never had any gas smell in the laz locker.

Fuel Tank for 26S? Suggestions, please.

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