- Jul 24, 2006
- 628
What size fuel tank for a medium sized cruiser. What size diesel tanks do you have and is it enough, too much, not enough, or just right and why. Thanks for any reply. Patrick
Fuel Tank Size
- Thread starter sailormanbigd
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My original tank according to specs was 28 gal. and when I purchased my 32 ODay it had a 18 gal and for a couple of years that it took for me to learn about fuel and dirty tanks it was easier to replace that 18 gal tank than try to clean it out and with a larger tank and I found a 24 that fit nicely in its place and that seems to be a good amount of fuel including a spare 5 gal jerry can I always have on hand just in case
The tank on ouir 420 is 60 gallons. That provides about 60 hours of motoring or about 400 nautical miles. I use Biobor JF biocide and have never had problems with fungus or other microbial life in the tank. We use about 100 to 150 gallons of fuel each year.
RE: Tank Size
My previous H27 had a 12gal tank and a Yanmar 1GM engine. With a consumption rate of 0.3 gal/hr I could theoretically cruise for 30+ hours. I started each season with a full tank and added fuel maybe once or twice a season.
My current boat, H33.5 with a Yanmar 2GM, consumes approximately 0.4 gal/hr when cruising. With a 22 gal tank I can safely cruise about 50 hours. This is more than adequate for cruising here in the Chesapeake Bay. However, I always carry an additional 6 gal jug aboard for emergency situations and to help other boaters if needed.
While cruising (motoring) to FL via the AICW, I carried two 6 gal jugs aboard which allowed me to cruise a week before stopping for fuel. So the best answer really lies in the type of sailing/cruising you do, the area you are cruising, the consumption rate, etc., etc.
On thing to keep in mind is a big tank with little use means lots of stored aging fuel. This situation can lead to more problems than a smaller tank that is regularly emptied by consumption and refreshed with new fuel.
My previous H27 had a 12gal tank and a Yanmar 1GM engine. With a consumption rate of 0.3 gal/hr I could theoretically cruise for 30+ hours. I started each season with a full tank and added fuel maybe once or twice a season.
My current boat, H33.5 with a Yanmar 2GM, consumes approximately 0.4 gal/hr when cruising. With a 22 gal tank I can safely cruise about 50 hours. This is more than adequate for cruising here in the Chesapeake Bay. However, I always carry an additional 6 gal jug aboard for emergency situations and to help other boaters if needed.
While cruising (motoring) to FL via the AICW, I carried two 6 gal jugs aboard which allowed me to cruise a week before stopping for fuel. So the best answer really lies in the type of sailing/cruising you do, the area you are cruising, the consumption rate, etc., etc.
On thing to keep in mind is a big tank with little use means lots of stored aging fuel. This situation can lead to more problems than a smaller tank that is regularly emptied by consumption and refreshed with new fuel.
The 3 GMF in my boat uses about .5 GPH, when motoring sensibly.. The tank is stated to be 25 gallons but is more like 23.. Gives 40+ hours of motoring, or about 240 miles.. Has been sufficient.. I do carry an extra 5 gallons if I know that I’ll be motoring a bunch.. Diesel is fairly readily available on the gulf coast, so this is plenty range for this area..
My Morgan 41 OI has a 160 gallons on the extreme starboard beam. There is an identical tank on the port beam for water. I would be happy with a 50 gallon tank and 2 water tanks equal to the 160 gallon capacity I have now. Some day, if and when I do some serious cruising, it will be nice to make use of my tankage. Now, however, it is a pain to keep my boat on an even keel.
- Jul 24, 2006
- 628
Ah, now this is what I was after! Snotter brought up another fact-balance and ability to carry water. Hmm, whats more important on cruising fuel or water? My M33OI has a 50 gal water in the bow and an old 50 gal diesel on port stern outboard against the hull just forward of the lazerette. Do i need the water tank full when i fill my diesel? Looks like 24 gal fuel is ok, and almost everyone caries an additional 5 gal emergency tank-good stuff guys-thanks.
- Jul 24, 2006
- 628
Another thought- should i mount the new tank on the centerline? I have room below cockpit against bulkhead. Make sense to me to carry fuel (weight) midline and low-why did Morgan mount it outboard Maybe thats shy there is about 5-10 gallons of lead shot enclosed in a locker on starboard hull side midships?
You bring up a good point because I had the same problem with a list to one side and with the water tank full on port side and waste tank empty on port side I always have a list to starboard with a full tank of fuel, now I have tried to move battery's,gear,etc and just can't seem to get it right and have not ruled out some extra weight (but thats another project) so be cautious about where you put tanks
- Jul 24, 2006
- 628
croocked boat
Hey Ron, I have to point out that I am totally rebuilding the Morgan. The inside is completely gutted. I have the opportunity to reposition anything and everything. So, why would'nt I reposition the outboard fuel tank to centerline and then remove the lead shot? Isn't a lighter boat a faster boat? When I provision for the "great excape" I can distribute the weight even more-heavy items like can goods low and midline, etc, etc. Is'nt a lighter boat a faster boat? I am even looking at the lighter plywoods for reconstruction to keep it as light as possible. Another M33OI owner that is refitting it for 5 year cruise actually added weight, something around 5k lbs and say Charlie Morgan told him it would make the boat better??????How can this be??? I have always sailed dinghy class boats and this is my first full keeler, but I was always under the impression that reduced wetted surface equals reduced drag, eguals faster boat????
Hey Ron, I have to point out that I am totally rebuilding the Morgan. The inside is completely gutted. I have the opportunity to reposition anything and everything. So, why would'nt I reposition the outboard fuel tank to centerline and then remove the lead shot? Isn't a lighter boat a faster boat? When I provision for the "great excape" I can distribute the weight even more-heavy items like can goods low and midline, etc, etc. Is'nt a lighter boat a faster boat? I am even looking at the lighter plywoods for reconstruction to keep it as light as possible. Another M33OI owner that is refitting it for 5 year cruise actually added weight, something around 5k lbs and say Charlie Morgan told him it would make the boat better??????How can this be??? I have always sailed dinghy class boats and this is my first full keeler, but I was always under the impression that reduced wetted surface equals reduced drag, eguals faster boat????
- Jul 24, 2006
- 628
hey Rad
Do you mean your water and waste tank are on the same side? And when your waste tank is empty you have a list? The short answer is to fill the waste tank, so drink more beer!
Do you mean your water and waste tank are on the same side? And when your waste tank is empty you have a list? The short answer is to fill the waste tank, so drink more beer!
Aahhhh... If you're doing the full monty, then go for it. Racing is a big deal here in Annapolis, and the skippers like to sail with minimum fuel and no water in the tanks. "Sailing better" (cruising) does not necessarily mean "sailing faster"(racing).
Yes water and waste tank are on the same side but normal conditions have the waste tank pretty much empty and even when full there is still that slight list, how I discovered this list was when I was in the water cleaning the water line and I even installed larger tanks for water and waste hoping it will balance out but its now a low on the list of things to deal with.
How about your water and waste tanks? are they part of the equation seeing your figuring out where to put stuff
How about your water and waste tanks? are they part of the equation seeing your figuring out where to put stuff
Lead should be shot!
Many years ago, writing about that "standard" C34 port list, some guy wrote: "Maybe I should just put some lead on the other side of the boat."
Doh!!! - add some batteries. A much more useful use of lead!
I thought I'd never hear this one ever again!
Many years ago, writing about that "standard" C34 port list, some guy wrote: "Maybe I should just put some lead on the other side of the boat."
Doh!!! - add some batteries. A much more useful use of lead!
- Jul 24, 2006
- 628
Yes Rad water is in the equation but not so much the holding tank. My water tank is 50 gal and positioned all the way forward under the v-birth, i figure since the boat is bow light right now with it empty that when full it will add some 350# to the bow, also, i will stick with the stock layout for the head holding tank to be just aft of the forward bulkhead for the v-birth but will likely be ....say 20 gal, slightly to starboard of center. Hey Stu, already thought of using bats for the ballast. I will remove the lead and replace with 4-6 6volt batts. I chose 6volts cuz I am getting gorrilla arms from hoisting the group 31 deep cells. No charger onboard yet. Thanks for the suggestion. I posted awhile ago if it would be wise to mount them high in the big bilge and got NO for an answer. Thanks, Patrick
Funny Stu mentions battery's for ballast cause that is the solution to my list, I moved my group 31 battery bank and that almost did the trick and when these fail (hopefully after this season)I plan on going with 4 six volt and the extra weight should do it
Weight in the bow
You really don't want a lot of weight in the bow or stern of your boat as noted with almost 400 pounds of water in full tanks in the bow. This increases the pitching of the boat making it less stable when pounding through chop and waves. Weight wants to be concentrated near the center of mass and low (thus the ballast in your keel). While the water has to go somewhere better to have the tanks near midship and near the centerline. If you have a few hundred feet of chain in the bow it sounds like a lot of weight up there.
You really don't want a lot of weight in the bow or stern of your boat as noted with almost 400 pounds of water in full tanks in the bow. This increases the pitching of the boat making it less stable when pounding through chop and waves. Weight wants to be concentrated near the center of mass and low (thus the ballast in your keel). While the water has to go somewhere better to have the tanks near midship and near the centerline. If you have a few hundred feet of chain in the bow it sounds like a lot of weight up there.
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