I currently have an outboard on the back of a MacGregor 25 and connect it to a portable fuel tank to get out of the harbour. I really want to move the fuel tank to a permanent position under one of the seats. I have a couple of questions regarding this: How long can the hose to the engine be, currently I have a little squeeze thing to prime the engine but it may nt work over a long distance ? If the fuel tank is under the seats I will have to include a vent. Where is a good place to put this as it will mean drilling an exterior hole ? Any advice appreciated. Especially from those who have already done such an operation !! Jon.
Moving fuel tank inside ?
- Thread starter Jon76
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under starboard seat
After reading as many posts in the archives, I moved my portable gas tank under the starboard seat. I glassed a couple of 2x4s to the floor along with some ratchet straps to hold the tank secure. I added acouple of outboard gas quick connects which allows me to remove the tank for filling. I didn't want to accidently dump gas in the cabin. Of course, after sailing all last summer I only used 1/2 a gallon of gas. I was very concerned about fumes, so I drilled out the vent and added some fittings and hose, which attaches to the vent in the stern. It's all passive flow. I pay close attention to any smell of gas in the cabin. I've yet to have any. I would guess I have about 6 ft of gas line. I added a through hull groment in the stern along side the outboard. It all looks very neat and clean. No problem with the outboard getting gas. Hope this helps.
After reading as many posts in the archives, I moved my portable gas tank under the starboard seat. I glassed a couple of 2x4s to the floor along with some ratchet straps to hold the tank secure. I added acouple of outboard gas quick connects which allows me to remove the tank for filling. I didn't want to accidently dump gas in the cabin. Of course, after sailing all last summer I only used 1/2 a gallon of gas. I was very concerned about fumes, so I drilled out the vent and added some fittings and hose, which attaches to the vent in the stern. It's all passive flow. I pay close attention to any smell of gas in the cabin. I've yet to have any. I would guess I have about 6 ft of gas line. I added a through hull groment in the stern along side the outboard. It all looks very neat and clean. No problem with the outboard getting gas. Hope this helps.
Tank location:
On most M25's, the tank is usually left in the rear of the cockpit on the floor. Mine has a cabinet that covers the top and front. The top rests between the seats on an aluminum "L" on the sides. And the front rests on the cockpit floor. There is a 1/2" gap at the floor in the center to allow water to run to the cockpit drain. Made from two pieces of 1/2", seven-ply cabinet grade plywood, covered with epoxy and painted white.
On most M25's, the tank is usually left in the rear of the cockpit on the floor. Mine has a cabinet that covers the top and front. The top rests between the seats on an aluminum "L" on the sides. And the front rests on the cockpit floor. There is a 1/2" gap at the floor in the center to allow water to run to the cockpit drain. Made from two pieces of 1/2", seven-ply cabinet grade plywood, covered with epoxy and painted white.
Danger Will Robinson!!!
Here is a link to the venting regulations for boats. Gas fumes are very dangerous as they will sink to the bottom of the bilge. One of these days, I am going to built the cabinet like Bob describes. Mike
Here is a link to the venting regulations for boats. Gas fumes are very dangerous as they will sink to the bottom of the bilge. One of these days, I am going to built the cabinet like Bob describes. Mike
Mine's in the laz
My gas tank sits in the bottom of the laz, hose goes through the stern and connects to the motor. The little vent on the gas filler lid stays opened all the time. The only time I notice any fumes is right after I mix and fill the tank (about once per year) BUT, by the time I tow her to the lake, fumes are gone. Well, thats the way my M25 is set up, and has been working good for me.
My gas tank sits in the bottom of the laz, hose goes through the stern and connects to the motor. The little vent on the gas filler lid stays opened all the time. The only time I notice any fumes is right after I mix and fill the tank (about once per year) BUT, by the time I tow her to the lake, fumes are gone. Well, thats the way my M25 is set up, and has been working good for me.
Mine's in the Laz, too
But I have some strong bungees holding it secure and take it out to tow and/or fill. I am wondering though if I need to leave the vents (to the outside, of course)open when the boat is idle or does this practice promote more condensation?
But I have some strong bungees holding it secure and take it out to tow and/or fill. I am wondering though if I need to leave the vents (to the outside, of course)open when the boat is idle or does this practice promote more condensation?
laz with vents
I have a 6 Gal, portable plastic tank in the laz of my 26S. The P.O. had added passive vent hoods to the port side of the motor well, one facing forward and one facing aft. The aft vent is attached to a hose running to the floor of the laz. He had also installed a plywood floor. After reading a thread here about venting issues, I made some improvements this spring. I installed strap eyes to the floor so I could secure the tank with a ratchet strap, and installed a brass valve stem made for a truck tire in the tank to use as a vent. I scavanged a hose off of a hand pump that screws on to the valve stem, and I ran the end out to the motor well through a vent hood. In the past, especially on hot days, I had noticed slight leakage around the fill cap as pressure bilt up in the tank when towing the boat(have also replaced the O ring in the cap). It also seemed likley that a full tank could leak into the laz via the open vent in the cap when heeling, so I made these changes copying others mods that I learned about on this site. There has been a lot of discussion on this topic, so you may want to check the archives.
I have a 6 Gal, portable plastic tank in the laz of my 26S. The P.O. had added passive vent hoods to the port side of the motor well, one facing forward and one facing aft. The aft vent is attached to a hose running to the floor of the laz. He had also installed a plywood floor. After reading a thread here about venting issues, I made some improvements this spring. I installed strap eyes to the floor so I could secure the tank with a ratchet strap, and installed a brass valve stem made for a truck tire in the tank to use as a vent. I scavanged a hose off of a hand pump that screws on to the valve stem, and I ran the end out to the motor well through a vent hood. In the past, especially on hot days, I had noticed slight leakage around the fill cap as pressure bilt up in the tank when towing the boat(have also replaced the O ring in the cap). It also seemed likley that a full tank could leak into the laz via the open vent in the cap when heeling, so I made these changes copying others mods that I learned about on this site. There has been a lot of discussion on this topic, so you may want to check the archives.
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