Fuel tank size 30ft

S

Slycat

Well-Known Member
Joined
15 May 2009
Messages
253
Visit site
Hi, I'm considering replacing my current fuel tank for next season.

Can I get a steer on what is a 'standard' size for a 30ft yacht? Having difficulty googling a convincing answer!

My current tank is around 20L
 
I don't think that there is a "standard" size. My boat is 32ft long and the tank is 47litres.
Your guideline should be (1) how far do you envisage to motor and (2) how much does your engine consume per hour when the going gets tough (e.g., against the current).
Not much sense in having a tank that is unnecessarily too big. Better to have room for a Jerry can of spare fuel to top-up if necessary.
 
The decision has to be based on the size that you CAN fit and size that you NEED.
Have you found that the 20 ltr tank is adequate. It's all a compromise of weight of fuel, cost of filling, availability of filling stations and leaving tank full over winter to avoid condensation.
If you only potter around in your local area and find it easy to top up from a can then a small tank similar to the size of the one you have will be an easy replacement.
If you want range for possible long passages under motor, then fit the biggest the area will allow.
I want range, so my 33 footer with a 38hp engine has twin stainless tanks which hold about 270 ltrs (60 gals), which is sufficient to motor me across Biscay. The down side is that it can cost around €250 to fill if you run low.
 
Thanks all.
I had felt my tank was a little small, while cruising I felt like I needed to top it up after any long day on the motor.
Seems it was most appear to have tanks more than twice as big!
 
My Halmatic 30 has a 60 litre tank which I reckon gives me at least about 35 hours of motoring at around 5 and a bit knots, I also carry 20 litres in 2 x 10 litre jerrycans for topping up. I also keep a 20 litre jerry can on board but only fill it if going anywhere fuel is scarce. All jerrycans are plastic. Also a Yanmar 2GM20.
 
Last edited:
It's a compromise.
A bigger tank is usually nice, the exception is when you find the fuel has gone stale or got dirty.
A small tank is fine for a coastal boat when you mostly sail not motor. I will sail if it's at all reasonable not to motor, but I would still think in terms of a channel crossing under motor, plus a bit of reserve.
 
Our old boat, a Sadler 29, had a 100 L tank, enough for 60+ hrs motoring at 1.5 L/hr. Our new one, a Sadler 290, only has a 65 L tank, and burns a little more diesel, but even this will give over 30 hrs motoring, so we can happily do a weeks cruise cross channel without needing to fill up (always manage a fair bit of sailing). I wouldn't want to go much less than 65 L. Like others, I also carry a couple of cans of spare fuel.
 
I think it depends most of all on the type of voyages you routinely make. If undertaking extended cruises, particularly in wilder areas, it's a pain in the butt to have to think about your next fuel stop as soon as you'll filled up, for windless days are often a fact of life. At the other extreme, if you only venture from your harbour when the forecast promises 'proper' sailing, then even a 50 litre tank, with perhaps a jerry for back-up, will do you fine.

When the NW UK was last my sailing ground, I was in the former category and installed a 150 litre tank in place of the original 70 litre. If I'd been in the latter category, 70 litres would have done me just fine.
 
Lw395 is right. In these days of FAME many people find that they use so little of the tank contents that it might take several years to empty, leading to diesel bug problems. There is much to recommend having a tank whose contents are totally consumed in a season allowing it to remain empty over winter.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Other threads that may be of interest

lustyd
Fuel Gauge Calibration
2 3
Replies
45
Views
696
paulbrown22
P

Share this page

Top