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Big arse fuel tank

Posted: Fri Feb 02, 2018 8:05 pm
by theodosius
I've been mulling over getting a tank like this one for my 5m top ender. Current tank at the back holds 77L, thinking of something like 180L in a step to the cast deck. It'll cost around 1700.

One day I'll want to sell the boat, would 250L fuel capacity be a drawcard or scare people off?

Re: Big arse fuel tank

Posted: Fri Feb 02, 2018 8:34 pm
by craig.g
Bring it on I would say, probably not a resale bonus down south, but can trawl to bali woohoo!!

cheers Craig

Re: Big arse fuel tank

Posted: Sat Feb 03, 2018 7:04 am
by fish4me123
If you don't keep tank full, condensation can form inside tank. Also remember fuel is cr.p up here and strange black blobs appear in your tanks.
If your using regularly big tanks are ok. Remember the weight of fuel on boat speed etc.

Re: Big arse fuel tank

Posted: Sat Feb 03, 2018 7:33 am
by jeffish
It would appeal to the fisho that likes to do the big trips like a couple of days at shady or the daly .

But the thought of $$$$$ to fill 250lt might scare a few off. Have you thought about the extra weight up front (180kg plus tank )
how will the boat handle .

Looks and sounds like a good idea Jack but thats a hell of a lot of fuel to put in a 5mt boat , may be do a few runs out in the Harbour
with 9 jerry cans up front to see how she handles . Its not like putting extra jerrys in for a big trip ,you can move them around if
you need to adjust the load .

What about a smaller tank ? Is the ladder still gonna fit ? :idea:

Cheers
Jeff

Re: Big arse fuel tank

Posted: Sat Feb 03, 2018 10:04 am
by theodosius
Yeah ladder would struggle! Have done trips with 8 jerries filled to 24L and lined up the front and handles fine. Food for thought about keeping it full- ideally it would be bone dry except for 2-3 trips a year. Does this work or will water condense im there anyway? Would keep the 77L tank and use that most of the time

Re: Big arse fuel tank

Posted: Sat Feb 03, 2018 11:37 am
by Lats
What I do with my front tank is put 20-40L in it and use it first. Then churn up the rear tank. Then you are always burning fresh fuel. I've never had water in the fuel/water separator

Re: Big arse fuel tank

Posted: Sat Feb 03, 2018 12:33 pm
by deepblack
For two to three trips a year just get bladders, once they suck dry you just roll them up. Spend the lazy grand you save on couple more trips. :mrgreen:

Re: Big arse fuel tank

Posted: Sat Feb 03, 2018 4:37 pm
by fishhunter81
Just get a bigger boat Jack! I concur with deepblack though, bladders are the way to go.

Re: Big arse fuel tank

Posted: Sat Feb 03, 2018 7:52 pm
by mickkk
Is there anyone make me them up here?

Re: Big arse fuel tank

Posted: Sun Feb 04, 2018 9:48 pm
by FITZY
I had another 90 litre tank put under floor in my 5.30 topender and i run it like lats said . It gives me nearly 180ltrs in totL which is handy for those big trips . The reason i went underfloor was to maximise floor space as i had stuff on the deck

Re: Big arse fuel tank

Posted: Mon Feb 05, 2018 6:57 am
by john d
I run 300 ltrs in 3 tanks in a 5m GS hydrocraft.
All under floor so keeps the deck free.
The boat came with two mid mounted tanks 100 and 120 ltrs.
The original owner added the other 80ltr at the rear under the drivers seat.
I usualy run one of the mid tanks tanks at a time changing everytime I fill up and keep the 80ltr as reserve.
When all are full there is not to much difference except a bit slow getting on the plane sometines but I will always use the forward tank first to keep the weight down.
I also have a 140lt esky 40lt water tank and 80lb leccy and batteries up frount so a little weight management helps.
Great for trips down the daly and south and overnighters on the blue, ive taken this boat around Bathurst and out to maria shoal so extra fuel out there is reassuring if it blows up.
Havent had any problems with water in them.
I also run the 80 ltr down regularly to prevent the fuel getting stale.
Changed all the fuel lines and fittings last year, took a bit of work getting the tanks out and had to recarpet the floor but should be good for the next 5 years or so.
With all that fuel on board it is unlikely to run out on the water but I did one trip last year.
20m from the east arm boat ramp, reason, took it for granted that "she,l be right we got plenty" wide of north gutter on a glassy day going WOT all the way home.
NO excuse for that :banghead:
:cheers:

Re: Big arse fuel tank

Posted: Mon Feb 05, 2018 7:04 am
by theodosius
Cheers guys. With the bladders, 100L looks like it takes up 100x70cm, which is a loot of floor space not to tread on/scrape/have hooks near. Anyone use these on small boats? Still leaning to the dedicated fuel tank option though.

Re: Big arse fuel tank

Posted: Mon Feb 05, 2018 7:23 am
by dannett
theodosius wrote:Cheers guys. With the bladders, 100L looks like it takes up 100x70cm, which is a loot of floor space not to tread on/scrape/have hooks near. Anyone use these on small boats? Still leaning to the dedicated fuel tank option though.
You could always make up a removable tank or put a bladder in purpose built removable box to deal with the stepping around issue.

Re: Big arse fuel tank

Posted: Mon Feb 05, 2018 8:15 am
by FITZY
Go and see Barry from Marine Weld NT . He made my mate a 140ltr removable tank with handles for the ease of carrying and also tie down points . He does a really good job and at a great price . When we do the big big trips to Coburg etc we drop the tank off in the scrub so we have more deck space and collect it on the way back and fill the boat

Re: Big arse fuel tank

Posted: Mon Feb 05, 2018 5:40 pm
by NinjaFish
One reason I bought my boat is because it holds 200ltr under the floor -mid ship, but doesn't quite weigh the front down in the sloppy stuff so 2 big eskies at the front and a few jerrycans if going a long way to help keep the nose down and get back me back home too if I push too far.

I occasionally let the fuel run down to get rid of the older stuff - occasionally 1-2 months old from full, on short trips when it hasn't been out for a while and sometimes fill it back up with fresh on top to mix on longer ones but have never had water in the seperator or had performance issues from being half empty or old.- so far.

Only ever use the premium (98) though and it probably does lose its octane over time just sitting but probably only reverts back to a standard (91) octane before I use it all or mix it with fresh and I presume a standard fuel that ages loses its octane to a lesser value and goes off quicker.

More fuel capacity is definitely a selling point but not so much a re-coupable benefit on that alone for your investment when you sell but will add a bit to the boats actual value if that makes sense... but it's absolutely a lot cheaper to fill a big tank right up in town before you go than pay twice as much when you're there because you need to get more fuel anyway and possibly end up buying fuel contaminated with water when everywhere opens back up after the wet. - especially if you're amongst the first there before the fuel trucks.

Just saying that having more fuel capacity outweighs all other issues, including cost, and makes the longer trips a lot more stress free and relaxing. :D