1983 85HP: Where do I find the perfect dunk tank for driveway testing?

[Benz Mondi]

I?m still looking for the perfect dunk tank to use while testing the motor instead of using the water muffs. Near as I can tell the ideal set up is a container that is at least 24? deep, 16? wide and 29? long that can handle about 40+ gallons of water. The 45 gallon bin I just used from Wally world is just barely strong enough, but it?s not deep enough to completely bury the snout.

What do you guys use and where did you get it?
What?s the quick way to clean up the oily bathtub ring that results from immersing the exhaust snout?
(Now I see why they don?t allow powerboats in some places?yuk!)

Thanks.

 

[jerryjerry05]

Re: 1983 85HP: Where do I find the perfect dunk tank for driveway testing?

Find someplace that sells the 55gal plastic drums.
Then cut it to size.
Dawn soap cleans the oil.
Also the purple stuff from Auto Zone or wally world.

Most cleaners will work.
Remember the water needs to be OVER the cavitation plate by at least 2-4 inches.
I also use duct tape to seal my muffs.
Needs to be used on a dry lower unit.

 

[Frank Acampora]

Re: 1983 85HP: Where do I find the perfect dunk tank for driveway testing?

I use a garbage pail.

 

[wickware]

Re: 1983 85HP: Where do I find the perfect dunk tank for driveway testing?

Farm Feed Stores, Supply Co that sales or use Hydro or Etc fluids, Flea Markets. I added a male water hose thread to add a hose to drain away or cap to fill (attached).

I did relocate the Tell Tale below the cover, After It Got Pinched By The Cover. LOL!

 

[Benz Mondi]

Re: 1983 85HP: Where do I find the perfect dunk tank for driveway testing?

Find someplace that sells the 55gal plastic drums.
Then cut it to size.
Dawn soap cleans the oil.
Also the purple stuff from Auto Zone or wally world.

Most cleaners will work.
Remember the water needs to be OVER the cavitation plate by at least 2-4 inches.
I also use duct tape to seal my muffs.
Needs to be used on a dry lower unit.

OK, I contacted a source of 55 gal plastic drums that were only used once to contain food syrup. At $15-25 each, it seem like a good buy. When I asked him what the diameter of the barrel was he said that it was under 24 inches. My measurement seemed to indicate that I needed around 29 inches. Is the 55 gal drum you used much wider than 24 inches? thanx.

 

[jerryjerry05]

Re: 1983 85HP: Where do I find the perfect dunk tank for driveway testing?

Yup.
A 55 will handle the plate.
Wicks motor is a lot smaller and can fit in the 35g drum.
Yours needs the 55

 

[pnwboat]

Re: 1983 85HP: Where do I find the perfect dunk tank for driveway testing?

This is what I found on Craigslist. Works great. 2ft wide, 2ft deep, 4ft long. I think it's like 102 gallons. Some kind of agricultural watering trough.

 

[wickware]

Re: 1983 85HP: Where do I find the perfect dunk tank for driveway testing?

My 55 is cut to 30? deep X 22? dia (bottom and top), approx X 24? in the center (my plate is 22.5? front to back). The 55 drum is at least ??+ thick, as I feel most will be or thicker (for rigidness).

 

[Jiggz]

Re: 1983 85HP: Where do I find the perfect dunk tank for driveway testing?

The trough type used by PNW is probably the best although it uses way too much water. But then again, you do not have to dump the water each use instead just cover it for your next engine run.

 

[roscoe]

Re: 1983 85HP: Where do I find the perfect dunk tank for driveway testing?

100 gallon cattle tank works great.

Tilt the motor and back the Starcraft Mariner up to the tank, drop the motor in.

When done, pull that boat away, and back the Starcraft Nassau runabout up to it.

Then the Alumacraft gets its turn.

The tank also doubles as a mini paint spraying booth for other projects.

 

[jerryjerry05]

Re: 1983 85HP: Where do I find the perfect dunk tank for driveway testing?

This is what I found on Craigslist. Works great. 2ft wide, 2ft deep, 4ft long. I think it's like 102 gallons. Some kind of agricultural watering trough.

View attachment 213690

That's a nice one. You can go wake boarding in it when your done.
I wish I had a place to keep that one.

 

[pnwboat]

Re: 1983 85HP: Where do I find the perfect dunk tank for driveway testing?

Wake boarding....good idea! After a day of wake boarding then maybe a hot tub. The 2 stroke oil residue probably does wonders for dry skin. LOL!

Forgot to mention that it has a threaded plug on the side to drain the water. Pretty much impossible for 1 person to move unless it's almost completely empty. Once it's empty it's pretty light for it's size. I just keep it stored outside tuned upside down.

 

[Benz Mondi]

Re: 1983 85HP: Where do I find the perfect dunk tank for driveway testing?

Because I live in a typical tract neighborhood in CA, the noise and exhaust from running the motor is something I want to keep to a minimum as a good neighbor. Having the motor deep in a test tank would go a long way to keeping both down and keep the peace.

So far the 55 gal at 24” in diameter, cut to about 30” tall and stretched to accommodate the 29 inches I need to get past the plate is the leading candidate. The $90 water trough is just too much water and too big to be practical for me in my neighborhood. I even looked to see what they do in the yachting world and found this: Outboard Motor Flushing Bags, but at $125+ can’t seem to justify the expense.

I just might build a wooden box out of what I have in the garage in the exact dimensions I need and use several 40 gal. commercial thickness garbage can liners. In this way I figure, I’ll only need about 35 gallons. When done, I then can use the water for the landscaping, the bags for the trash can and the box for storage. Pic’s to follow.

 

[minuteman62-64]

Re: 1983 85HP: Where do I find the perfect dunk tank for driveway testing?

I have a smaller (30 HP) motor, so the exact capacities won't apply. I use a 30 gallon trash container and set it on a couple of 8x8x16 concrete blocks to get the water level to the necessary height.

I have to drain it to get it out of the way of the boat/trailer for use - but it is easy to siphon the water to a landscape area.

 

[thelmuth]

Re: 1983 85HP: Where do I find the perfect dunk tank for driveway testing?

I have one of the blue plastic 55 gallon barrels that I cut the side out of and use it laying down horizontal. I can even get my whale tail in it.