Has anyone added a second fuel tank to a Beneteau 361 (or similar boat)? Any ideas how to do it?
Thanks
Thanks
- Status
No, I need a simple solution. There's enough place in any of the two side lazarettes for a tank there (50lt+/- is more than adequate). But then I would need to connect it to the main fuel tank in some way. I was thinking of something simple that would enable me to transfer fuel from the small tank to the main one (but a better solution than jerry cans).
Yes the lockers have a ton of room in them, but be careful you don't end up with too much weight throwing the boat off her lines. Doing so could potentially cause handling problems for you. You could possibly install an additional tank in the locker, as close to center line as possible then when the main tank is low pump from the spare into the main. You'll have to do your homework to ensure the tank is properly vented and you use a transfer pump made for diesel fuel. Good luck
Idea for tank location
Phil,
I also own a 361 (2002 two-cabin). There is a space (let's see if I can describe this) on the port side of the propeller shaft, under the cushion and bunk board. It was empty on my boat until the previous owner installed a third battery there. It's about 12 inches wide, 12 inches deep, and 4 to 6 feet long (I'm guessing from memory
). It is very hard to get to for storage of anything else, so it would be a great place for a long and skinny fuel tank. If you can't find a plastic tank in those dimensions, you could have one made out of stainless steel to fit that exact shape. (Don't forget that a diesel requires a fuel return line to the tank from the engine.)
Good luck. Let me know what you do...I might do the same.
Agaliha
Phil,
I also own a 361 (2002 two-cabin). There is a space (let's see if I can describe this) on the port side of the propeller shaft, under the cushion and bunk board. It was empty on my boat until the previous owner installed a third battery there. It's about 12 inches wide, 12 inches deep, and 4 to 6 feet long (I'm guessing from memory
). It is very hard to get to for storage of anything else, so it would be a great place for a long and skinny fuel tank. If you can't find a plastic tank in those dimensions, you could have one made out of stainless steel to fit that exact shape. (Don't forget that a diesel requires a fuel return line to the tank from the engine.)Good luck. Let me know what you do...I might do the same.
Agaliha
Agaliha (I am a registered user now!),
yes I know exactly what space your are talking about. On starboard size (3 cabins version) there's a large water tank and on the port I have my 3rd battery but still there's a huge place left.
Question is, how do you fill a tank down there? Carrying jerry cans down there?
OK now I am thinking about it, provided you fill that additional tank only before a big trip but not during sailing it's probably possible. Certainly you don't want to carry diesel in the cabin while the boat is moving, even on a calm day.
Then you will need a pump connected for transfering diesel to the main tank (via return line probably???). Hmm, what about tank breathing? A tank under the cushion, completely "isolated" is it a good idea?
Anyway, if I find a solution I will let you know.
PS: What do you think of Beneteau 361 (mine is French probably yours is the US version)? Personally, I ABSOLUTELY LOVE IT.
yes I know exactly what space your are talking about. On starboard size (3 cabins version) there's a large water tank and on the port I have my 3rd battery but still there's a huge place left.
Question is, how do you fill a tank down there? Carrying jerry cans down there?
OK now I am thinking about it, provided you fill that additional tank only before a big trip but not during sailing it's probably possible. Certainly you don't want to carry diesel in the cabin while the boat is moving, even on a calm day.
Then you will need a pump connected for transfering diesel to the main tank (via return line probably???). Hmm, what about tank breathing? A tank under the cushion, completely "isolated" is it a good idea?
Anyway, if I find a solution I will let you know.
PS: What do you think of Beneteau 361 (mine is French probably yours is the US version)? Personally, I ABSOLUTELY LOVE IT.
Build another fuel fill
Phil,
Yes, I LOVE my 361, too. It is very comfortable and yet very nimble to sail.
I don't like the idea of carrying jerry cans below decks to fill up a tank. If you're going to add another, why not just add an additional fuel filler on the transom and connect a hose to the new tank. Of course, you'll need a vent, too. By the way, if you could add 10 gallons of fuel, it would weigh about 50 pounds. That's not enough weight to throw the boat off of her lines (especially that close to the center line of the boat).
Good luck,
Agaliha
Phil,
Yes, I LOVE my 361, too. It is very comfortable and yet very nimble to sail.
I don't like the idea of carrying jerry cans below decks to fill up a tank. If you're going to add another, why not just add an additional fuel filler on the transom and connect a hose to the new tank. Of course, you'll need a vent, too. By the way, if you could add 10 gallons of fuel, it would weigh about 50 pounds. That's not enough weight to throw the boat off of her lines (especially that close to the center line of the boat).
Good luck,
Agaliha
When I did the Baja Bash back to Long Beach from Cabo some years ago, I looked at fuel numbers and figured I had to double the 40 gallon capacity in order to motor the 400 miles from Cabo to the fuel stop at Turtle Bay. (Didn't want to go into that long deep estuary behind Bahia Santa Maria) I had bought a 25 gal. bladder but had to buy jerry jugs in Cabo, too. Used 70 of the 80 gallons I had, against 20-25 knot wind and eight foot swells that were not breaking. I put the bladder on the cabin top, secured with bungee cords and ran a piece of clear plastic tubing thru a home-made valve back to the fuel fill in the transom, and siphoned it. Didn't have to suck fuel, just tipped the flexible tank a bit, fuel filled the tube, and it self-siphoned. I put the three plastic jerry cans in the starboard locker which is very large. I brought them out one at a time, into the cockpit, and used a squeeze bulb siphon to transfer the fuel into the main tank. Worked pretty well.
- Status