External fuel tank for motor

[Tom]

I currently have an old 3.5HP Sears air-cooled engine that has died several times in and out of the marina. I've been looking at a Nissan 6HP 4-stroke, but the fuel tank is external. My 1979 Cat-22 did not come with a fuel tank, is is supposed to? If so, where is it stowed, and do I need to add additional fuel lines or ventilation for it?

 

[Art]

Tank troubles

Your boat may or may not have come with one. They are not expensive. They are usuly stored in the port lazerette. On my boat there are two cowl vents to this compartment already installed on the boat. I simply run the fuel line out the aft vent and to the motor. It is quite simple to install these vents if you do not have them.Some people don't like the fuel tank being in the compartment and put is on the cockpit floor all the way aft.( if you choose this be sure to secure it) I did not do this for these reasons.1. I like to put my feet there. 2. To secure the tank I was not willing to drill and screw eye straps in my cockpit floor. Some day down the road they would leak. 3. If the tank is in good shape and the compartment is properly ventelated you can not smell it and as long as you are careful to open the compartment and realy vent it before you start your stove (or whatever) it is safe.Finnaly, go to west marine (or their web site) and you can find the tank and hose as a combo unit with a fuel gague on top.Good luck, let me kow how it goesArt <)))><

 

[David]

Motor

I just bought a Yahama 4 hp, 4 cycle motor. I was looking at the Nissan which has the advantage of being able to add a charging head. I cannot add a charging head on my Yahama, but it had the advantage of a fuel tank on the motor and the connections for a remote fuel tank. I haven't purchased a remote tank yet, but plan to before I go cruising. I think that I am going to buy a small generator or solar panels to charge my battery.David

 

[Bayard Gross]

look in the port lazzarette

There should be a flat area near the transom on the floor of the aft port storage area. This supports an external fuel tank. To hold the fuel tank in place you can use battery style hold down straps, which should go around a three gallon tank.And as mentioned, run the fuel line up through the aft facing cowl vent.Get an engine with an alternator to charge your battery and keep the lights bright at night that weights no more than sixty pounds. Beyond this weight limit, you will seriously effect the sailing characteristics of a C-22 that really needs to keep its stern off the water.The alternator wire can run down through the same cowl as the fuel line and then forward to the battery.Further, I am not in the four cycle camp for C-22 outboards. Dispite their quietness and fuel economy, they are expensive in relationship to such a relatively small boat and as an auxillary power source, the outboard should not be used all that much anyway.