Deck Plates

[Mel E.]

Has anyone cut holes above the gas tank filler caps on the Mac26X and installed deck plates, 4 inch or larger? It would be easier to fill, and check levels rather than removing the tanks. I don't want to weaken or cut anything vital in the structure of the seats but they are kind of a pain to remove fill, and replace when full of fuel the way they are. You can't really see the fuel gauges, now and with a hose under the deck I've run them over before I knew it. I have two WM clear screw-in type but will wait for any comments before running out with my hole saw. Thanks for any input, guys and guyettes.

 

[Rich]

Consider "fire ports" for a smaller hole

Mel, I'm not familiar with that specific boat but if you want to cut the smallest possible hole with clear window in it consider installing a "fire port" which is about half the diameter of the smallest standard deck plates. [http://www.westmarine.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/SiteSearch?keyword=fire%20port&advanced=YES&searchDeptId=8]

 

[steve]

deck plates?

mel,are you talking about under the seats?or below in berth? What size tank(s)are you talking about? I have 2 - 12's.one under each seat. i can remove mine withoutmuch hazzle but the port side is easier.when filling... i just pull one out to clear thefiller cap then shove back in.i trimed the outer lip back and took out someglass from under the seats... not much.good luck.steve26x "heard the call"

 

[Mel]

fuel tanks

They are the two 12 gal ones under the seats in cockpit. Mine have 2 stainless straps each with bolts. To loosen the bolts, slide the tanks out, put them back, and bolt them down is the pain, as I use the motor a lot and have to keep the tanks fueled, going, and coming in over a rough ocean to river bar I want plenty of good "new" fuel, with only one engine, it must run flaulessly for the river to ocean transit both ways. Just thought being able to fuel from above would be much easier when you can see the levels.

 

[Timm Miller]

Tanks

Turn the tanks around so that the fill spout is in toward the center line. I use two 15" pieces of marine fuel line to connect the line connection so that the connection is on the outside....makes changing tanks easier. Now when it comes time to fill up...just take the tops off and fill in position. The deck plates will make it worse because the distance between the top of the cockpit seat and the top of the tank will make it hard to fill because the fuel nozzle is curved