Want to extend outboard motoring range with bladder tanks. Was looking at the Nauta 18 gallon portable tanks. One each could fit the existing outboard fuel tank wells. But I rather install something elsewhere in unused space in the boat and re-purpose those wells. Prefer not remove any floatation foam. Suggestions?
Want to extend outboard motoring range with bladder tank
- Thread starter TortugasRoyal
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Check that the bladder is rated for gas and ethanol, most are not, just diesel, water, and waste.
Fred Villiard
Fred Villiard
Yea, I'm gonna have $1000 in gas tanks.
So gonna get it right the first time!
Someone tell me how to get it right please.
Probably a nightmare to get installed... How about re-purposing your water ballast tank. Can you get a bladder or two in there? It would still be able to be filled the rest of the way with water... I'm not sure how much lighter fuel is than water but it would be keeping the weight low. Out of the way too.
Dont your MacGregor have water ballast tanks? Couldn't the ballast tank be opened and a sealed area be created to hold a fuel cell/bladder?
Use 6 pounds a gallon for fuel, 8 pounds for water. Its not exact but close enough for Govt. work.
Put in ballast tank is an interesting idea. Sure could fit a huge bladder tank there. May prove difficult to keep the fuel bladder anchored? Might have to drop ballast before fuel refills? If someone used a mac26x for power only, no mast/sail, this would make for one heck of a long range lite cruiser.
If you have a 2 stroke go to 4 stroke. Roughly 1/2. Besides the tanks going to cost you a lot.
Dont consider put it in the balast. If it leak you'll be in big trouble. Even if it doesnt leak, you will have a problem for the engine to suck out the fuel past a certain point. The balast tank is sealed while underway.
My 2 cents
BTW i owned a M26s before. Knew the boat very well
Dont consider put it in the balast. If it leak you'll be in big trouble. Even if it doesnt leak, you will have a problem for the engine to suck out the fuel past a certain point. The balast tank is sealed while underway.
My 2 cents
BTW i owned a M26s before. Knew the boat very well
how much range do you have now, (24gals?)
and what do you need? what is your engine size now?
would you consider going down to a 25-30 hp? or even a 15?
bladders in the WB is a complex install. and a potential EPA nightmare. do you need a vent in a bladder?
and what do you need? what is your engine size now?
would you consider going down to a 25-30 hp? or even a 15?
bladders in the WB is a complex install. and a potential EPA nightmare. do you need a vent in a bladder?
http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=...5xAgH6gCe1IZTdA&bvm=bv.41867550,d.eWU&cad=rja
what is under the Vberth now?
the problem with flexible tanks is containing them when it gets rough. full, that's a lot of force wanting to roll around... secured by those tabs... what happens if that rips and leaks?
what is under the Vberth now?
the problem with flexible tanks is containing them when it gets rough. full, that's a lot of force wanting to roll around... secured by those tabs... what happens if that rips and leaks?
two 6 gallon tanks for a total of 12 and have a 2 cycle nissan 50hp, don't want to go smaller, can make 15mph with 50hp, the prop is correct for boat setup, yea epa nightmare so skip ballast area install, bladder needs no vent
[the problem with flexible tanks is containing them when it gets rough. full, that's a lot of force wanting to roll around... secured by those tabs... what happens if that rips and leaks?[/quote]
Bladder tanks have been used in airplanes for years. My Cessna 182 had one in each wing holding 80 gal total. I have done spins, stalls, and flowen in turbalance with no problems. They were secured with snaps that never riped loose. If the correct bladder is used, and secured properlt, they are not a problem.
Seems light a extreem way to go for a sail boat though.
Chuck
Bladder tanks have been used in airplanes for years. My Cessna 182 had one in each wing holding 80 gal total. I have done spins, stalls, and flowen in turbalance with no problems. They were secured with snaps that never riped loose. If the correct bladder is used, and secured properlt, they are not a problem.
Seems light a extreem way to go for a sail boat though.
Chuck
I did not know moeller is making something similar to the original tempo 12 gallon tank our boats were designed for. Moeller part number 630013LP, 24-1/4 in L x 18 in W x 11 in H with cap. I guess this will fit the 26x as well as the original tempo lpt12? Yea the bladder tanks are a bit extreme but perfect fit. Choices, choices, choices.
Ive R&R'ed more than a few bladders from aircraft. The bladder top surface is all that's held up, small SS clips bonded to the top surface attach to hangers inside the upper wing/tank surface. They dont hold up the whole weight of the tank and fuel, just the fabric tank skin. Just to keep it from collapsing.
All tanks need to be vented. If you opened up the ballast tank to install a bladder, the bladder tank area should be a totally isolated compartment, completely sealed off from the ballast tank. If your concerned with not having quite enough ballast with empty fuel tanks (18 gallons fuel x 6 lb per gal =), just epoxy 100 pounds or so of lead shot into the bottom of the ballast.
All outboards have a fuel pump capable of drawing fuel from a tank at a lower level, so that shouldn't be a problem.
However. I am not sure that aviation tank bladders are capable of tolerating ethanol fuels, and they are very expensive. What you might be better to do, is open the ballast tank, and build a compartment to carry a standard metal 18 gallon fuel tank. You could glass in support structure, then seal it off so as to retain your ballast tank, and leave an access panel to the fuel tank. Then you could have fuel gauge, etc.. Plus, it would comply with EPA (as well as your insurance), should something unfortunate occur.
All tanks need to be vented. If you opened up the ballast tank to install a bladder, the bladder tank area should be a totally isolated compartment, completely sealed off from the ballast tank. If your concerned with not having quite enough ballast with empty fuel tanks (18 gallons fuel x 6 lb per gal =), just epoxy 100 pounds or so of lead shot into the bottom of the ballast.
All outboards have a fuel pump capable of drawing fuel from a tank at a lower level, so that shouldn't be a problem.
However. I am not sure that aviation tank bladders are capable of tolerating ethanol fuels, and they are very expensive. What you might be better to do, is open the ballast tank, and build a compartment to carry a standard metal 18 gallon fuel tank. You could glass in support structure, then seal it off so as to retain your ballast tank, and leave an access panel to the fuel tank. Then you could have fuel gauge, etc.. Plus, it would comply with EPA (as well as your insurance), should something unfortunate occur.
The shock loading of a bladder on a plane is nothing like could be seen on a boat.
I would contain the bladder in a box if I chose to go that route (but would not).
-can't you fit 2) 12 gal tanks in the existing hold for the fuel? I'm pretty sure you can.
-have you been on macgregor-sailors.com (where more of the X and M owners hang out).
personally I would either go with portable jerry jugs on deck or relocate some of the floatation in the V berth. (Have you opened it up? how much air (room) is in there ?)
-there was a boat mac X, called zeno's arrow, that went to Alaska and down to Chile. he had 2 ob's one was a 6hp, and the other was a 15 (IIRC)....
-how many hours or mile do you want to go motoring? and what do you have now?
I would contain the bladder in a box if I chose to go that route (but would not).
-can't you fit 2) 12 gal tanks in the existing hold for the fuel? I'm pretty sure you can.
-have you been on macgregor-sailors.com (where more of the X and M owners hang out).
personally I would either go with portable jerry jugs on deck or relocate some of the floatation in the V berth. (Have you opened it up? how much air (room) is in there ?)
-there was a boat mac X, called zeno's arrow, that went to Alaska and down to Chile. he had 2 ob's one was a 6hp, and the other was a 15 (IIRC)....
-how many hours or mile do you want to go motoring? and what do you have now?
fwiw, I had floation under my Vberth and was able to compress the Styrofoam blocks into a smaller area. which opened up room for a cooler.
bladders need to be insulated from rubbing too. some kind of barrier like a shower floor membrane
bladders need to be insulated from rubbing too. some kind of barrier like a shower floor membrane
Don't have to go inside the ballast tank. There's space beside and over the ballast tank and hull; below the floor liner. Flexible tanks conform to the space shape. Considering putting two imtra/nauta tanks under the stern queen bed. Lots of variable height space with no other use there. tanks would not fill to capacity, but would fill to space capacity.........
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