18 gallon fuel tank placement ????

[thomasgoodmaniii]

i came across a deal i couldn't turn down today. an 18 gal. aluminium fuel tank with sending unit for $50. the dimensions are 6x14x72. the tank loaded with correct amount of fuel will weigh 108 lbs. if i mount this under the cockpit floor will it adversley affect the handling of the boat being so far to the rear? i also have 4 group 27 batteries that i am installing that my be moved to compensate. i kind of already had in mind to mount them in the trays molded in the interior pan behind the companionway door. any advice would be great never had the boat loaded in the water.

 

[MrBill_FLL]

will the fuel tank be in the same area as the living space? (against uscg rules). or are you going to contain the tank and vent it?

 

[thomasgoodmaniii]

yes i'm going to install a blower and a external vent. sumner has a similar setup i was really concerned with how it would affect the boat undersail and if i should move the batteries forward to compensate. and yes the two areas are combined but that probaly wont stop me i have seen many boats with fuel tanks under the floor and no air tight seal between them and the cuddy just a blower with exhaust and intake vents.

 

[Bob McL]

I would relocate the batteries as far forward as possible to maintain balance. Remember, you will probably have to go to larger gauge wire to minimize voltage drop as you increase the distance of the the battery run from your panel and charger if your outboard has one.

 

[doehunter]

Do the blowers run all the time? Do they take much power?
I too would like to increase my tank capacity and get it out of the cockpit. Right now I'm just using a big trolling motor battery and I'm not set up to generate power yet.
Jim

 

[thomasgoodmaniii]

i'm planning on glassing down from the cockpit floor inside to the floor of the hull and fabbing a removable door with gasket to seal the cabin so vents should be adequate but i'm going to install a blower for intermitent use. they seem to draw from 3-5 amps by the specs i have seen on the internet as i have debated using one to generate air flow for the cabin. as for generating power i have an outboard that doesn't have a charging setup but i prefer the simplicty in the event that my batteries go completly dead on the water because some outboard charging systems will fry when hooked up to a large draw, in my case 4 deepcycle batteries. i have resorted to a harbor frieght 2 cycle 800w generator(under $100) and battery charger. i'm hoping to use my 3k watt inverter to soften the start and use the generator to power my 5k btu ac as well.
thanks for the placement advice Bob Mcl sounds like sound logic to me.