Permanent vs portable fuel tanks

[Mark42]

I currently use two 6 gal gas tanks. I have been thinking about installing a permanent tank because the portable tanks stick out from under the splashwell taking up precious space in my little boat.<br /><br />I am thinking about the Tempo 18 gallon tank and install kit. That setup will fit below my splashwell and still have space for the battery and VRO tank. This will allow me to add a removable "skirt" to the front of the splashwell that will hide all this hardware giving a cleaner look and more useable floor space. Plus I will have an additional 6 gallons capacity over the two 6 gallon tanks.<br /><br />Besides the expense of a permanent tank ($134 for tank and $47 for kit and $30 for guage) is there any drawbacks to this setup? Boaters at my office tell me that converting to permanent tanks was major improvement. <br /><br />I do worry about the additional weight (about 42lbs) over using two 6 gallon tanks being added right to the rear of the boat.<br /><br />Any other alternatives?

 

[JB]

Re: Permanent vs portable fuel tanks

Sounds like a good plan to me, Mark.<br /><br />Should the need arise, the Tempo is quick to remove for cleaning, for example.<br /><br />Be sure to check the Mega Mall for better prices before you buy anything, though. I think you can do better than the prices you quote.<br /><br />Good luck.

 

[18rabbit]

Re: Permanent vs portable fuel tanks

Ditto JB. You might want to be sure the extra weight isn’t going to cause any issues. Going from 12 to 18gals you’ll be adding about 50lbs...or 42lbs. Water is about 8-1/3 lbs/gal. Fill up a 5gal bucket with water, set it in your boat to see. If your tanks are half empty, use two buckets.

 

[sangerwaker]

Re: Permanent vs portable fuel tanks

I converted from partables to a built in on my old boat and never regretted it. It's nice not to have to switch tanks, and the extra range is nice. Only drawback being if you leave your boat in the water or on a lift versus trailering. Kind of a pain to carry gas cans to the boat and fill your tank.

 

[agrazela]

Re: Permanent vs portable fuel tanks

Mark42,<br /><br />I considered something similar to what you propose. Ultimately, I decided to stay with portables because of the weight issue of too much extra fuel, and because I can just throw the little tanks in the back of the pickup and go gas them up anytime, rather than have to stop at the station while trailering to the launch.<br /><br />I'm also afraid that if I greatly increased my range with extra fuel capacity, I'd be tempted to take my boat to places it ought not go...

 

[swist]

Re: Permanent vs portable fuel tanks

Are you sure about the weight increment math...<br /><br />The increment is the extra empty weight of the 18 gal tank over the two 6's + the weight of 6 gallons of gas. As I recall gas is pretty light - around 6.5 lb per gallon. So the increase would be 39 lb for just the gas. I'm not clear from the above discussion what the disfference in weight of the empty tanks alone is. An 18 could even be lighter than two smaller tanks (fewer walls).

 

[Mark42]

Re: Permanent vs portable fuel tanks

Swist, <br /><br />The weight of the empty 6 gallon plastic tanks is probably only a pound or so. And you are right; the new tank weight would probably be offset by the old tanks weights. Plus there is the addition of the gunnel fuel fill and hoses involved. <br /><br />The only real obstacle as I see it is the price of those tanks. I could go with an 14gal portable for less than half the price of a permanent, but that would require filling it in the boat because I am not about to muscle a full 18 gal portable off the floor over the gunnel and into position in the boat while it is on a trailer!<br /><br />I’m still looking for a less expensive tank than this 18 gal at $134 plus accessories!<br /><br />

 

[Winger Ed.]

Re: Permanent vs portable fuel tanks

Something I've seen done to fit a gas tank in under a rear splash well is to use the 16 or 26 gallon saddle tank from a older Chevy pick up truck. <br /><br />You have to have a older one that doesn't have the fuel pump in the tank. It's long, narrow and not very tall. With a curtain covering it like open run-abouts have, you can keep a eye on it if your connections try to leak. <br /><br />In the sending unit deal there are 3 outlets. Vent, fuel to engine, and vapor recovery. Plug one vent, run the other out like any other permant tanks has, run a fuel filler hose to where you'd put the gas filler anyway, strap it down and you're there.