We are cosidering adding another 40 gal fuel tank in the aft compartment of our 1988 Legend to increase cruising range before heading to Mexico. Has anyone done this and do you have any advice?
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That is a lot of fuel !
If you are adding fuel capacity for just this trip let me suggest you carry some extra fuel tanks and refill your main tank when needed. It will be cheaper to puchase 5 gallon carry on tanks then 1 good 40 gallon permently installed tank (don't forget cost of fittings,hose and another filter)Other then cost the big advantage is that they are not permant and can be removed when not needed and you still have storage space where the tank would have been mounted.Another thought is unless you will really use total fuel capacity over a short (1 year)time you will have a issue of a fuel tank with old fuel and the diesel bug issue/junk in the bottom of tank. So unless you will need added capacity long term (as oppossed to one trip) I would not add another permant tank.Most sail boat have larger then needed tanks for most commom useage. Anyway just my thoughts,enjoy your trip!
If you are adding fuel capacity for just this trip let me suggest you carry some extra fuel tanks and refill your main tank when needed. It will be cheaper to puchase 5 gallon carry on tanks then 1 good 40 gallon permently installed tank (don't forget cost of fittings,hose and another filter)Other then cost the big advantage is that they are not permant and can be removed when not needed and you still have storage space where the tank would have been mounted.Another thought is unless you will really use total fuel capacity over a short (1 year)time you will have a issue of a fuel tank with old fuel and the diesel bug issue/junk in the bottom of tank. So unless you will need added capacity long term (as oppossed to one trip) I would not add another permant tank.Most sail boat have larger then needed tanks for most commom useage. Anyway just my thoughts,enjoy your trip!
Agree w/ Pete,
If you want to carry that much additional fuel and don't want 8 "jerry" cans tied on deck, you can buy 1 or 2 fuel bladders (Nauta, sp?). They come in various sizes.. I have 2, ~30gal bladders that sit nicely on my aft deck and (at least on my boat) gravity feed into the fuel tank fill.
If you want to carry that much additional fuel and don't want 8 "jerry" cans tied on deck, you can buy 1 or 2 fuel bladders (Nauta, sp?). They come in various sizes.. I have 2, ~30gal bladders that sit nicely on my aft deck and (at least on my boat) gravity feed into the fuel tank fill.
Weight?
I've thought about it myself. (We have a 1985 h40.) But at 275 lbs. @ 40 gal. I was concerned about the boat balance. If you do add a tank take some pictures (especially the water line) and post them so we can see how it came out. Mike sends S/V Camelot out
I've thought about it myself. (We have a 1985 h40.) But at 275 lbs. @ 40 gal. I was concerned about the boat balance. If you do add a tank take some pictures (especially the water line) and post them so we can see how it came out. Mike sends S/V Camelot out
What I did,,,
On my H34 is convert the stern water tank to fuel. It's all on my web site. The conversion means you have to commit to a large watermaker. In Mexico, you will want one anyway. I read something this winter about Mexican water. The second or third leading cause of death to Mexican males is water borne pathogens. Not good. The only time we ever put shore based water in our tank was in Puerto Vallarta. Yep, half sand. If you can't catch it, don't use it. And water is rare in the Sea of Cortez. And Jerry can's? Everyone has them anyway. You don't want to pull up to most Mexican docks for fuel. Not if you value your yacht. A good dingy and Jerry can's, is how it's done. 'Course that was in the '90s. And Mike after all the Jerry cans I've hauled, your math seems suspect. Seems like 40 gallons should weigh just short of a TON! But you're right.
On my H34 is convert the stern water tank to fuel. It's all on my web site. The conversion means you have to commit to a large watermaker. In Mexico, you will want one anyway. I read something this winter about Mexican water. The second or third leading cause of death to Mexican males is water borne pathogens. Not good. The only time we ever put shore based water in our tank was in Puerto Vallarta. Yep, half sand. If you can't catch it, don't use it. And water is rare in the Sea of Cortez. And Jerry can's? Everyone has them anyway. You don't want to pull up to most Mexican docks for fuel. Not if you value your yacht. A good dingy and Jerry can's, is how it's done. 'Course that was in the '90s. And Mike after all the Jerry cans I've hauled, your math seems suspect. Seems like 40 gallons should weigh just short of a TON! But you're right.
AND...
how do you pump the fuel in those bladders into your primary tank... they will be too heavy to lift up out of the bildge. Also.. if everyone agrees that storing fuel cans on deck is a bad idea, I see lots of everyones doing it routinly... I myself have never had cans, etc., torn off; and I have been thru some pretty rough weather with them secured on deck. Not that it can't happen... but, ...... I see lots of people carrying cans, bikes, fenders, dogs, etc. on deck without incident...
how do you pump the fuel in those bladders into your primary tank... they will be too heavy to lift up out of the bildge. Also.. if everyone agrees that storing fuel cans on deck is a bad idea, I see lots of everyones doing it routinly... I myself have never had cans, etc., torn off; and I have been thru some pretty rough weather with them secured on deck. Not that it can't happen... but, ...... I see lots of people carrying cans, bikes, fenders, dogs, etc. on deck without incident...
disagree
I disagree that jerry jugs represent such a bad idea for a Baja trip. An awful lot of folks do it that way. Two advantages of using jugs: (1) you can put them on the upwind rail (starboard on the way down, port during the bash home), which is a far better place for the weight than your stern; (2) you can ferry them into town in your dink, which makes you less dependent upon finding a panga guy to bring fuel to you.
I disagree that jerry jugs represent such a bad idea for a Baja trip. An awful lot of folks do it that way. Two advantages of using jugs: (1) you can put them on the upwind rail (starboard on the way down, port during the bash home), which is a far better place for the weight than your stern; (2) you can ferry them into town in your dink, which makes you less dependent upon finding a panga guy to bring fuel to you.
Good Idea
That ie exactly what I intend to do and what one of our club members did. You can use an electric fuel pump to pump the bladder into the main. Get one inexpensively at an auto parts store. Just take a spare. Fred's commemts about a watermaker are on point too and if you don't need it after you return, there is a strong used market for that equipment. Rick D.
That ie exactly what I intend to do and what one of our club members did. You can use an electric fuel pump to pump the bladder into the main. Get one inexpensively at an auto parts store. Just take a spare. Fred's commemts about a watermaker are on point too and if you don't need it after you return, there is a strong used market for that equipment. Rick D.
If everyone jumped off a cliff.......
Please read Nigel Calder, Larry Pardey, the Hiscocks, the Roths,Mr. Vigor and Mr. Howard for starts. The issue is heavy weather. Anything can be carried on deck under normal circumstances, and yes, the chances are you will not have issues. If you DO get caught, and if you DO need the fuel,, Murphy will inevitably reach out and haul your cans off the deck...and anything it's attached to. As long as this gentleman is asking for the appropriate and safe way to do things, let's make sure our answers keep him out of trouble
Do I carry things on deck? sure! When motoring across the harbor or VERY short jaunts up the coast less than 4 hours, when I have reasonable assurities the weather is in my favor. But I have the fortune of a cavernous sail locker, and aft lockers I can lay out in (H356).
Please read Nigel Calder, Larry Pardey, the Hiscocks, the Roths,Mr. Vigor and Mr. Howard for starts. The issue is heavy weather. Anything can be carried on deck under normal circumstances, and yes, the chances are you will not have issues. If you DO get caught, and if you DO need the fuel,, Murphy will inevitably reach out and haul your cans off the deck...and anything it's attached to. As long as this gentleman is asking for the appropriate and safe way to do things, let's make sure our answers keep him out of trouble
Do I carry things on deck? sure! When motoring across the harbor or VERY short jaunts up the coast less than 4 hours, when I have reasonable assurities the weather is in my favor. But I have the fortune of a cavernous sail locker, and aft lockers I can lay out in (H356).Jerry cans do work
Made round trip across Gulf of Mexico last year with 4 jerry cans mounted to each side of boat with home made rail rack mounted to stanchions and life lines. Jerry can setup took 14 hours of steep 15+ foot seas and never moved an inch. Wish I could say the same for crew! Besides the rack the best thing for securing the cans to the deck was the foam padding ($5.00 blue camping foam mat from Walmart) that was cut and secured to the bottom of each jerry with contact cement.
Made round trip across Gulf of Mexico last year with 4 jerry cans mounted to each side of boat with home made rail rack mounted to stanchions and life lines. Jerry can setup took 14 hours of steep 15+ foot seas and never moved an inch. Wish I could say the same for crew! Besides the rack the best thing for securing the cans to the deck was the foam padding ($5.00 blue camping foam mat from Walmart) that was cut and secured to the bottom of each jerry with contact cement.
Larry Pardey?
Seriously? You're going to turn to Larry Pardey, a man whose boat doesn't have an engine, for advice on fuel storage? Are you talking about the same Larry Pardey who, regarding installing a head an a boat, advises his readers to use a bucket? I've got a better idea: talk to people who've done the Baja HaHa. They'll tell you that half the boats make the trip with jerry jugs on the rail. It's just not that big a problem.
Seriously? You're going to turn to Larry Pardey, a man whose boat doesn't have an engine, for advice on fuel storage? Are you talking about the same Larry Pardey who, regarding installing a head an a boat, advises his readers to use a bucket? I've got a better idea: talk to people who've done the Baja HaHa. They'll tell you that half the boats make the trip with jerry jugs on the rail. It's just not that big a problem.
alternative to fuel pump
Hey Rick, an low-tech alternative to the electric fuel pump idea is to take a five-foot length of garden hose and clamp it to one of the jerry-can nozzles. Makes it real easy to transfer fuel while underway. Won't work with the new no-spill types of nozzles, unfortunately.
Hey Rick, an low-tech alternative to the electric fuel pump idea is to take a five-foot length of garden hose and clamp it to one of the jerry-can nozzles. Makes it real easy to transfer fuel while underway. Won't work with the new no-spill types of nozzles, unfortunately.
Picture
we would love to see your picture, Mike of Texas, but neither of us can on our computers. could you send it to me at janetsilver@socal.rr.com?
we would love to see your picture, Mike of Texas, but neither of us can on our computers. could you send it to me at janetsilver@socal.rr.com?
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