On Fuel Tanks

Rick,

This is the winter project for Gray Eagle. I have been researching this
subject for some time and will face the same issues you mentioned.
Whatever you do, don't think about going north for any work. I'm looking
to go south to find competent skills and better prices. Here is the web
address for a fuel tank builder in NJ with a good reputation:
> http://www.speedytanks.com/
Check the web site especially the page on installation.
This is most likely who I will use to build my tank"s". N.J. is close
enough for me to go there and pick the tanks up myself.

Alan has the right idea about first cleaning out the old tank and
freshen up the space. Once you make up a cardboard model make sure it
will fit down the companionway and into the opening in the cabin sole.
The old TaShing tank does not use the space all the way to the hull. We
may be able to install wider tanks then original. On the Tashiba 40 I
will have to cut the floor in front of the main salon table. This new,
bigger opening will become a large floorboard instead of the existing
small one. I'll secure it with the PYI floorboard fasteners, (check
their web site). The maximum length of tank for me is about 40 inches.
Keep in mind for every tank you install there are a few gallons of fuel
that must be left unusable in each tank. You can't pull out every drop.
In the original single tank we had only a few gallons in one tank that
was unusable. If you end up with three tanks you have a few unusable
gallons in each tank.

One system I'm considering is to have a large 40" long day tank made of
aluminum and other tanks as storage for fuel and a pump to transfer fuel
to the day tank. The storage tanks can have the pick-up tube go all the
way to the bottom so most all the fuel can be sucked up and transferred
to the day tank. The day tank is where the engine gets it's fuel and
would have a conventional pickup and return.

Filling the tanks is something I have not decided on yet either. The
considerations are a cascade system via a manifold allowing fuel to fill
one tank and then overflow to the next all being feed from a single deck
fill. The second consideration is to have one deck fill and 1 1/2"
valves to control which tank gets filled. this will allow me to keep
forward tanks empty and a lighter boat for local cruising. When I decide
to go offshore and need all the fuel I can get I can fill them all.

Decide on fuel polishing as part of the plumbing in the new tanks
project. Also, decide on the I.D. of the fuel pick-up and hose to the
first filter. I'm going with 3/8" I.D. hose to reduce friction and ease
the strain on the engines fuel pump up to the first filter and than
reduce to the conventional 1/4" I.D. hose that leads to the engine
mounted filter.

I'll send you some pdf files off line.

If any Baba list members have pictures of fuel tank replacement they can
post to the Baba ftp web site that would be very helpful. The pictures
Dave has sent have been very helpful to my planning. I'm sure others
have traveled this road and can offer advice and pictures. this is a
major project that all of us will have to do at sometime or other so the
more information we have the better it will be. I will be taking lots of
pictures during each phase of the project.

Rich Cassano
S/V Gray Eagle, Tashiba 40
Oyster Bay, NY USA

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Received on Mon Oct 30 10:36:28 2006