My 1978 O'Day 25 has the fuel tanks for the outboard sitting in the locker below the cockpit. They are the standard type steel outboard tanks. I know this is not the ideal situation, but I am curious what other people are doing with their outboard-powered sailboats. I am considering installing a permanent fuel tank in the locker with a deck-mounted fill and a proper vent.
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Steve, I hope that your fuel tank and battery do not share the same space.... that can be dangerous. Why not just put the fuel tank on the cockpit floor??
Same place on my '78
My 78 O'Day 25 has the same set-up. I recently upgraded to a 4-stroke outboard and kept the fuel tank below. Yes, the tank is right next to the battery! There is one other 25 on my dock that placed the tank on the cockpit floor - but it really looks cheezy! - I would like to know more about your plans for a permanent vented set-up. Makes sense!
My 78 O'Day 25 has the same set-up. I recently upgraded to a 4-stroke outboard and kept the fuel tank below. Yes, the tank is right next to the battery! There is one other 25 on my dock that placed the tank on the cockpit floor - but it really looks cheezy! - I would like to know more about your plans for a permanent vented set-up. Makes sense!
Gas Tank Location
I put a tank on the cockpit floor up against the transom like Ken suggests. Raised it up on blocks and strapped it down. The sun got the better of it after a couple of years. Couldn't read the level gauge. Then I had the starboard lazarette fiberglassed into a locker and put the tank in there. Tank is out of the way, isolated, and I don't worry about water getting into the boat. The original design with the lazarette opening into the area below the cockpit was less than wonderful. Great for storing things, but you can't reach loose items that fall way down and I worried about the hull filling with water during a broach. I also moved the manual pump from inside the lazarette to the cockpit floor. A whale titan with a removeable handle. Now I don't have to get up or move guests to access the bilge pump.
I put a tank on the cockpit floor up against the transom like Ken suggests. Raised it up on blocks and strapped it down. The sun got the better of it after a couple of years. Couldn't read the level gauge. Then I had the starboard lazarette fiberglassed into a locker and put the tank in there. Tank is out of the way, isolated, and I don't worry about water getting into the boat. The original design with the lazarette opening into the area below the cockpit was less than wonderful. Great for storing things, but you can't reach loose items that fall way down and I worried about the hull filling with water during a broach. I also moved the manual pump from inside the lazarette to the cockpit floor. A whale titan with a removeable handle. Now I don't have to get up or move guests to access the bilge pump.
No Tank in cockpit
I hate the idea of a tank in the cockpit. I think I'm going to install a permanent, below-deck tank in the locker under the cockpit floor. My engine is a four-stroke, so I don't have to worry about mixing oil. I'll run the filler up to the deck with a real deck plate. Tempo makes a nice plastic tank that should work well. I was just wondering if anybody else has done this.
I hate the idea of a tank in the cockpit. I think I'm going to install a permanent, below-deck tank in the locker under the cockpit floor. My engine is a four-stroke, so I don't have to worry about mixing oil. I'll run the filler up to the deck with a real deck plate. Tempo makes a nice plastic tank that should work well. I was just wondering if anybody else has done this.
Some Warnings
I used to keep my gas tank below the cockpit on my 1976 O'Day 25 as well. Then one time I took the boat down the Texas coast to Port Isabel. I took extra gas cans because there were long runs with no gas. After sailing all day long the first day, I was amazed at how strong the gas fumes were when I went into the cabin. Too an hour to air it out, I can only imagine how bad it was under the cockpit. Keep in mind, gas fumes are heavier than air. If you build a storage area for a gas tank under the cokcpit, I would stronly recomend you make it so it has a drain to let the fumes run off-board.
I used to keep my gas tank below the cockpit on my 1976 O'Day 25 as well. Then one time I took the boat down the Texas coast to Port Isabel. I took extra gas cans because there were long runs with no gas. After sailing all day long the first day, I was amazed at how strong the gas fumes were when I went into the cabin. Too an hour to air it out, I can only imagine how bad it was under the cockpit. Keep in mind, gas fumes are heavier than air. If you build a storage area for a gas tank under the cokcpit, I would stronly recomend you make it so it has a drain to let the fumes run off-board.
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