Gas Tanks - portable vs. perminent?

[Raftco]

I'm trying to research how people deal with their outboard engine and fuel tanks?

I'd prefer to use 6 gallon portable tanks because it is much easier to deal with, but don't know where to store them while in use without taking over the cockpit area. I don't feel comfortable putting them in the lazerette with the batteries; that seems like a fire hazard with fumes and battery sparking and I'm guessing it is not legal either. Any suggestions? Where do most people keep portable tanks when in use? Or do you have a perminent tank?

 

[Joe11688]

I'm trying to research how people deal with their outboard engine and fuel tanks?

I'd prefer to use 6 gallon portable tanks because it is much easier to deal with, but don't know where to store them while in use without taking over the cockpit area. I don't feel comfortable putting them in the lazerette with the batteries; that seems like a fire hazard with fumes and battery sparking and I'm guessing it is not legal either. Any suggestions? Where do most people keep portable tanks when in use? Or do you have a perminent tank?

Someone on this forum built a fuel compartment for his O'Day 25 a couple of years ago. Some of the 25s didn't have fuel compartments and some did. One of the guys in my club has one on his OD 26 in the cockpit on the Starboard side. His fuel compartment is very similar to mine on the 222. They're pretty much open so that they can vent out near the cockpit sole. These compartments including mine, were built for 6 gal. metal tanks. It's hard to find a polyethylene 6 gal tank that will fit these small compartments. I was able to get a 6 gal. OMC Dura-Tank to fit my boat. We tried fitting it in the 26 and it also fit his compartment. Check out the archives on this site and I think you may find something on the guy who built his own compartment. I'm in complete agreement with you on not want a gasoline tank in the lazarett exposed to the bilge. I don't like metal gasoline tanks and I won't use them anymore.

 

[Raftco]

Someone on this forum built a fuel compartment for his O'Day 25 a couple of years ago. Some of the 25s didn't have fuel compartments and some did. One of the guys in my club has one on his OD 26 in the cockpit on the Starboard side. His fuel compartment is very similar to mine on the 222. They're pretty much open so that they can vent out near the cockpit sole. These compartments including mine, were built for 6 gal. metal tanks. It's hard to find a polyethylene 6 gal tank that will fit these small compartments. I was able to get a 6 gal. OMC Dura-Tank to fit my boat. We tried fitting it in the 26 and it also fit his compartment. Check out the archives on this site and I think you may find something on the guy who built his own compartment. I'm in complete agreement with you on not want a gasoline tank in the lazarett exposed to the bilge. I don't like metal gasoline tanks and I won't use them anymore.

My O'Day originally had a perminant tank in it with an inboard engine. So, that would explain why there is not an area in the cockpit for the portable tanks.

I tried searching the forum, but couldn't find anything. If you come across the post, copy it for me.

I also tried searching for a storage locker, thinking that would be the easiest way to do it - but couldn't find anything big enough. Looking like this might have to be a custom job, was trying to avoid that.....

Any suggestions??

 

[LordNelson]

i don't like it, but i do store my 3 gallon plastic honda tank under the starboard seat with the battery as it is the only place i have to store it. i charge the battery in the spring and only use it for running lights which i never had to turn on this season so the chance of sparks are not as great. if i stored it in the cockpit i wouldn't have much room and not sure how much i would gain as fumes could still enter the cabin via the door.

 

[Sunbird22358]

The O'DAY 25 did not have a built-in gas tank locker until the 1979 model year, apparently they made a new mold for the deck starting that year since they also added an ice-box in the cockpit, and an anchor locker in the foredeck at that time. Check out the back issues of GOOD OLD BOAT Magazine, there was an article in the March/April 2008 issue about someone adding a cockpit locker hatch to a 1976 Columbia 8.7 Meter, if you cut and built a lid like he did, and constructed a box under it sealed off from the interior of the boat it should work OK. Maybe an owner of a newer 25 or a 26 could take some photos to give you an idea?

We added a gastank locker to our CAL 21 by partitioning off a section at tha aft end of the footwell between the seats. I would have built it into the aft end of the cockpit (seats wrapped around the stern like a Mariner) but Dad didn't want to cut into the boat. Several O'Day owners have built lockers this way, but it does reduce the footwell somewhat. I've included photos of our tank locker, the lid was actually screwed down and the tank slid in and out through the forward removeable panel. The power jack at the aft end of the footwell was originally for charging the battery below, but was removed after we installed the tank locker.
www.goodoldboat.com

 

[OdayDave]

As Joe indicated, the 222's have a compartment on the port side to store the fuel tank. It vents to the cockpit and fumes (which are heavier than air) flow out the cockpit drain and don't accumulate. I would STRONGLY recommend against putting any fuel tanks in the cockpit locker. Any buildup of fumes resulting from spilled fuel or just tank venting could result in an explosion. While a tank in the cockpit does take up space, it won't result in fumes getting in the cabin. Just my 2 cents.

Dave
O'Day 222

 

[LordNelson]

my oday 20's cockpit drain goes through the hull underwater so i don't see how my cockpit drain could vent fumes.

 

[OdayDave]

On the 222, it's above the waterline although with a couple of people in cockpit, it can sink below the water line. Nonetheless, with the air movement in the cockpit combined with the drain being above the waterline when the boat heals, there is no serious buildup of fumes. I still think the risks are greater with the tank in a cockpit locker.

Dave
O'Day 222

 

[Shoaldrafter]

On my 26 the gas locker is on Port side and I had a cheap wall mart 6 gal gas tank from another boat that fits.

Sounds like a lot of glass work to add a cockpit tank holder. What about a shelf in the area under the cockpit with a thru hull at the motor level? I have been in under the cockpit of 25's and think that would be easiest. In fact that is where the gas tank was in the last 25 I was in. I had to move it to get down.

Ed K
26

 

[Raftco]

What about a shelf in the area under the cockpit with a thru hull at the motor level? I have been in under the cockpit of 25's and think that would be easiest. In fact that is where the gas tank was in the last 25 I was in. I had to move it to get down.

Ed K
26

Yeah, this is my thought. However, to be safe it really needs to be a vented locker so that the fumes don't sink down below to the electrical.

I guess my question is: would it be better to have a perminant plastic tank or build an area and use portable tanks?

I'm thinking a perminant tank may create issues with flushing, cleaning out at end of the season, and keeping fresh gas in it. However, with portable tanks I'll need to build a locker. Space isn't really an issue for either, I've got space under the starboard hatch to build a locker and I certainly have space down below to install a perminant tank, it's just trying to figure out the appropriate method for the portable tanks if I go that route. I'm very afraid of gas fumes & electrical, so the only logical area to keep the fumes away would be in the cockpit seating area.

 

[Shoaldrafter]

Yeah, this is my thought. However, to be safe it really needs to be a vented locker so that the fumes don't sink down below to the electrical.

I guess my question is: would it be better to have a perminant plastic tank or build an area and use portable tanks?

I'm thinking a perminant tank may create issues with flushing, cleaning out at end of the season, and keeping fresh gas in it. However, with portable tanks I'll need to build a locker. Space isn't really an issue for either, I've got space under the starboard hatch to build a locker and I certainly have space down below to install a perminant tank, it's just trying to figure out the appropriate method for the portable tanks if I go that route. I'm very afraid of gas fumes & electrical, so the only logical area to keep the fumes away would be in the cockpit seating area.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
This is an old boat. In the past it had a motor in under cockpit. Where was tank for motor? Somewhere in the past or recent magazine I saw an article how to make your own fuel tank.

But I still think under the cockpit and add some ventilation ports? a Nicro fan? Or just a small DC fan?

Mount the battery higher along the bulkhead?

Ed K
26

 

[Sunbird22358]

US Coast Guard HIGHLY recommends that ALL portable tanks be kept outside of the watertight interior of boats. Yes, you could keep a portable tank below deck (not sure what your insurance company would think... but?) however, if so, it better be strapped down and have at least a 3" diameter vent hose leading from below the tank to a cowl facing aft above decks to exhaust fumes as well as a minimum 3" diameter vent hose leading from about the level of the tank fill cap to a forward facing vent cowl on deck to vent air in. Adding an exhaust blower to exhaust the fumes out the vent would be better (use a USCG Approved model) and that blower should be run at all times when any possiblity of a spark exists inside the boat. Now you would also need to be sure to check for leaks in the tank and fuel hose every time you go out (wouldn't want ANY gas leaks inside the boat!!). Finally, you should replace your fuel line with hose approved for inboard engines, and connect direct to tank fitting with no quick-disconnect.

A permanent tank is considered safe below decks because; a) tank was designed and built to be below decks, b) tank is vented overboard, c) tank is fastened into it's location to prevent movement d) tank is filled from an above deck filler that is located to direct any spills overboard, e) all hoses are USCG type A-1 that are approved for below deck gasoline without leaks or vapor losses.

If it were my boat, I'd either build a fuel compartment that is vented directly overboard and completely separated from the interior of the boat, or I'd keep the tank chocked in the cockpit footwell (about an inch or so above sole to allow air and water to flow under) and construct a lid to cover it to keep the sun and weather off the tank. On hte 25 I belive that would place the tank right over the scupper allowing any fuel leaks to drain overboard and there should be plenty of airflow to dissipate fumes.

We used to store the 3-gallon gas tank for our CAL 21 under the cockpit, we had vents for the area and the tank was strapped to a platform. One time as I was removing the tank to fill it one of the hose connections came apart and we spilled less than a cup of gas into the bilge...... it took a few hours to fully dissipate the fumes from the bilge, during which time we did not want to move the boat or even remain aboard. The next season (incident happened as we prepared for haulout) we built the gas tank locker shown in my earlier posting.
About 10 years later on haulout day as I turned the outboard to back around the floating dock to get ready for hauout the battery charging wire from motor to battery got caught on something and it grounded on the engine causing a short that melted all the insulation off the below decks part of the wires....... we were able to unhook the wires before the fire spread beyond the insulation of the wires.... but imagine if the gas tank was still stored under the cockpit (about 18" from that burning wire)!

 

[LordNelson]

i don't see how i could retro fit 3 inch vents into the seat compartment of the oday 20. about the only place would be out the side hull, but then i'd probably end up with water entering into the vents. i quess i will try storing it in the cockpit next summer.

 

[mhindin]

US Coast Guard HIGHLY recommends that ALL portable tanks be kept outside of the watertight interior of boats. Yes, you could keep a portable tank below deck (not sure what your insurance company would think... but?) however, if so, it better be strapped down and have at least a 3" diameter vent hose leading from below the tank to a cowl facing aft above decks to exhaust fumes as well as a minimum 3" diameter vent hose leading from about the level of the tank fill cap to a forward facing vent cowl on deck to vent air in. Adding an exhaust blower to exhaust the fumes out the vent would be better (use a USCG Approved model) and that blower should be run at all times when any possiblity of a spark exists inside the boat. Now you would also need to be sure to check for leaks in the tank and fuel hose every time you go out (wouldn't want ANY gas leaks inside the boat!!). Finally, you should replace your fuel line with hose approved for inboard engines, and connect direct to tank fitting with no quick-disconnect.

A permanent tank is considered safe below decks because; a) tank was designed and built to be below decks, b) tank is vented overboard, c) tank is fastened into it's location to prevent movement d) tank is filled from an above deck filler that is located to direct any spills overboard, e) all hoses are USCG type A-1 that are approved for below deck gasoline without leaks or vapor losses.

If it were my boat, I'd either build a fuel compartment that is vented directly overboard and completely separated from the interior of the boat, or I'd keep the tank chocked in the cockpit footwell (about an inch or so above sole to allow air and water to flow under) and construct a lid to cover it to keep the sun and weather off the tank. On hte 25 I belive that would place the tank right over the scupper allowing any fuel leaks to drain overboard and there should be plenty of airflow to dissipate fumes.

We used to store the 3-gallon gas tank for our CAL 21 under the cockpit, we had vents for the area and the tank was strapped to a platform. One time as I was removing the tank to fill it one of the hose connections came apart and we spilled less than a cup of gas into the bilge...... it took a few hours to fully dissipate the fumes from the bilge, during which time we did not want to move the boat or even remain aboard. The next season (incident happened as we prepared for haulout) we built the gas tank locker shown in my earlier posting.
About 10 years later on haulout day as I turned the outboard to back around the floating dock to get ready for hauout the battery charging wire from motor to battery got caught on something and it grounded on the engine causing a short that melted all the insulation off the below decks part of the wires....... we were able to unhook the wires before the fire spread beyond the insulation of the wires.... but imagine if the gas tank was still stored under the cockpit (about 18" from that burning wire)!

Gasoline Vapors are highly explosive. The vapor from a cup of gasoline is equal to sticks of dynamite!
Ventilation after filling tanks is critical. Portable tanks have the advantage of letting you drain them completely, i.e. into the car, lawn mower, etc and start with fresh gas.