Fuel tank dilemma, help please

kulas44 said:

I have a 250 gallon aluminum tank on the bed of my F550. No baffles. The rear axle is rated to carry 17,500 lbs but I can feel the diesel sloshing around in there if its half full. I would not want a tank of any decent size on a boat that was not baffled. Free surface affect and all

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The welds on aluminum tanks are prone to leak when the tanks are filled with diesel fuel.

I know of a few boats where the tank let go. I think the modern plastic tanks are the way to go.

Very Best Robin

Have not seen that. 5000 series aluminum (tank material) usually stress cracks in a bend, but I specify all welded corners. NEVER had a problem. Cant get plastic tanks big enough for me. No baffles, chaffe, etc. But if lots of little tanks can work for you, great.

"But if lots of little tanks can work for you, great."

The few passagemakers that actually transit oceans might need huge tanks to get range, but 99% of cruisers are bothered by watered fuel more than fuel,volume.

Multiple tanks allow only one or two tanks to be operational, with the rest clean & ready for the big cruise..

The exception is winter live aboards where 2 -6 gallons per day . for ay least 100 -120 days may be desired for easiest living.

Dragging 5 gal jugs of diesel down the dock a few times a week is a PIA!

FF said:

"But if lots of little tanks can work for you, great."

The few passagemakers that actually transit oceans might need huge tanks to get range, but 99% of cruisers are bothered by watered fuel more than fuel,volume.

Multiple tanks allow only one or two tanks to be operational, with the rest clean & ready for the big cruise..

The exception is winter live aboards where 2 -6 gallons per day . for ay least 100 -120 days may be desired for easiest living.

Dragging 5 gal jugs of diesel down the dock a few times a week is a PIA!

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That’s one reason they make:

Roughneck Poly Gas Caddy — 25-Gal. Capacity

http://www.northerntool.com/shop/tools/product_200623784_200623784?cm_mmc=Google-pla&utm_source=Google_PLA&utm_medium=Fuel%20Transfer%20%2B%20Lubrication%20%3E%20Fuel%20Caddies&utm_campaign=Roughneck&utm_content=40549&ci_src=17588969&ci_sku=40549&gclid=CKK8h6zBxsYCFY17fgodLg8N4g

And/Or


Flo n' Go Duramax Fuel Caddy —14-Gallon Capacity, Model# 06792



http://www.northerntool.com/shop/tools/product_200325161_200325161?cm_mmc=Google-pla&utm_source=Google_PLA&utm_medium=Fuel%20Transfer%20%2B%20Lubrication%20%3E%20Fuel%20Caddies&utm_campaign=Flo%20n%2C%20go&utm_content=33631&ci_src=17588969&ci_sku=33631&gclid=CJbp0a_CxsYCFQqDfgoduGwBWg

"Sturdy Roughneck® Poly Gas Caddy is a gravity-fed fuel tank"

Lifting a 25 gal tank aboard to fill my gravity fuel tank would be far more effort than I usually prefer to spend.

I hated staggering thru the ice & snow with just 2 - 5 gal tanks.

FF said:

"Sturdy Roughneck® Poly Gas Caddy is a gravity-fed fuel tank"

Lifting a 25 gal tank aboard to fill my gravity fuel tank would be far more effort than I usually prefer to spend.

I hated staggering thru the ice & snow with just 2 - 5 gal tanks.

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Couldn't the hose to nozzle be extended? Also, the second listed in my post #124 is only 14 gals. Wheeling down dock should be fairly easy. Deep snow would be a no-go!

I've never used them... this is just a suggestion.

Here in Aus, and in all marinas as far as I am aware, refuelling on the dock is strictly verboten. Mainly a concern re spillage rather than fire risk I suspect. Knowing how fussy the US generally is re pollution from fuel spills etc, I'm surprised it is not similarly banned.

Peter B said:

Here in Aus, and in all marinas as far as I am aware, refuelling on the dock is strictly verboten. Mainly a concern re spillage rather than fire risk I suspect. Knowing how fussy the US generally is re pollution from fuel spills etc, I'm surprised it is not similarly banned.

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Basically it is. Some docks are relatively loose on the restriction... especially small docks as well as those with too many vacant slips. Well after dark or just before dawn can work-out pretty easily!

Art said:

Basically it is. Some docks are relatively loose on the restriction... especially small docks as well as those with too many vacant slips. Well after dark or just before dawn can work-out pretty easily!

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I think that might depend where you are. I have never seen that in any marina rules I have read and it is done everyday. California or northeast coast have a lot more regulations than the rest of the country. I bet 9 out of 10 boats in this harbor have fuel cans sitting on deck and most all of them came down the dock. Lots of marinas that I have been to do not have fuel docks, so carring jugs is the way most people do it.

READY2GO said:

I think that might depend where you are. I have never seen that in any marina rules I have read and it is done everyday. California or northeast coast have a lot more regulations than the rest of the country. I bet 9 out of 10 boats in this harbor have fuel cans sitting on deck and most all of them came down the dock. Lots of marinas that I have been to do not have fuel docks, so carring jugs is the way most people do it.

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Every marina I know in Nor Cal has a NO resident-dock-side fueling regulation in the agreements and spoken word. Again, as I mentioned, some are strict... others not so much. Having it in writing plays into law suit crap should the dock-side fueling create an issue.

"Couldn't the hose to nozzle be extended?"

Sure but a pump and power source would be required to get the fuel on board.

Living aboard for almost 23 years in NYC area , ALL the marinas had no owner fueling rules ,,, all spring summer & fall..

When the hard winter comes , the very few boats occupied had no problems.

The work of breaking enough nice to get to a fuel pump and rousing the marina to activate the system was never done.