tcm
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yep, doable, no, not done it. Needs a decent installation with specail shaped tank made for the hole in question. I wd be surprised if it was wortwhile in money terms for a planing boat tho in disp boat soem do return trips to gibraltar.
Fuel tanks and usability
- Thread starter PCUK
- Start date
tcm
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plumb new tanks to "refill" existing tanks via pump. New tanks low as poss and as near engines (=cg as poss just ahead or just behind) custome made to fit hole. Plenty do return trips to/ from gibraltar, the tightwads. Didn't talk to them much cos obv they were saving money on buying drinks as well, so having no mates is also a saving it seems.
hlb
RIP
No, do I hell!!. I keep it down the cellar. Room for a couple more, but not much else!!
thefatlady
Well-Known Member
Some interesting points. Thanks, all.
Don't fancy the oil drums in a sports cruiser. Good practical solution, though.
Anyone thought about a flexible tank? I'm sure I've seen something about them somewhere. It would conform to an irregular hole and presumably collapse as it empties. Questions - slop, take-off, debris. I guess punctures are unlikely with heavy-duty tear-resistant laminated film.
I was not thinking about special trips to re-fuel, but planning journeys to take advantage of cheap fuel. Last time I was there, diesel in Malta (tax-free for foreigners) was one third the price it was in Sicily and they are 60nm apart. Tunisia was even cheaper.
There is also the advantage of not having to take fuel where it is inconvenient and possibly contaminated. Example: Pantelleria where it was delivered to the quay by small trailer and hand-pumped. Fortunately, I didn't have to take any there.
I also find that the 200-250 mile range of most sports cruisers is inadequate. I have considered crossing from Minorca to Sardinia, but that is that bit too far.
Don't fancy the oil drums in a sports cruiser. Good practical solution, though.
Anyone thought about a flexible tank? I'm sure I've seen something about them somewhere. It would conform to an irregular hole and presumably collapse as it empties. Questions - slop, take-off, debris. I guess punctures are unlikely with heavy-duty tear-resistant laminated film.
I was not thinking about special trips to re-fuel, but planning journeys to take advantage of cheap fuel. Last time I was there, diesel in Malta (tax-free for foreigners) was one third the price it was in Sicily and they are 60nm apart. Tunisia was even cheaper.
There is also the advantage of not having to take fuel where it is inconvenient and possibly contaminated. Example: Pantelleria where it was delivered to the quay by small trailer and hand-pumped. Fortunately, I didn't have to take any there.
I also find that the 200-250 mile range of most sports cruisers is inadequate. I have considered crossing from Minorca to Sardinia, but that is that bit too far.
tcm
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um, do please be supercareful. Some weather would easily be too much for tanks strapped to decks and i wd never entertain the idea. You need a proper tank making, and there at least a few who will make them. Best would be a tanks with plenty of baffles/compartments to avoid surging but they'll offer ideas themselves. It will take a while to save back the loot.
hlb
RIP
Oi! My oil drum looks very sporty, it's a sort of, british racing green. I mixed all my bits of different coloured hamerite together, including some gold, which has given it a posh metalic finnish. The contrasting red straps adding a subtle ambiance to the atmosphire of the lazerette.
However, I did look at second hand truck tanks, some are stainless. But trying to find the right size and shape, not easy. Also the pipe fittings are all wrong, so would have meant welding new outlet lugs on and loads of messing for some thing I only intended to use for an odd trip.
For what youre intending. Like TCM, I'd get some special tanks made to fit. Does not cost much. Less of course you go to a marine man!!
However, I did look at second hand truck tanks, some are stainless. But trying to find the right size and shape, not easy. Also the pipe fittings are all wrong, so would have meant welding new outlet lugs on and loads of messing for some thing I only intended to use for an odd trip.
For what youre intending. Like TCM, I'd get some special tanks made to fit. Does not cost much. Less of course you go to a marine man!!
thefatlady
Well-Known Member
Sorry! I didn't mean to cast nasturtiums on the appearance of your aesthetically enhanced combustion fluid replenishment apparatus. I just wouldn't know where to put it. (No suggestions please).
Have found a company Tek Tanks (www.tek-tanks.com) who make HDPE tanks and are not far from me. Web site has lots of info.
Also Avon and Dunlop make flexible tanks, as do some RIB sponson manufacturers, but I do have reservations.
Have found a company Tek Tanks (www.tek-tanks.com) who make HDPE tanks and are not far from me. Web site has lots of info.
Also Avon and Dunlop make flexible tanks, as do some RIB sponson manufacturers, but I do have reservations.
tcm
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yep, tek-tanks know what they are doing imho.
Range-wise i reckon i could technically get 525 miles before spluttering stop. So i wd not plan an offshore no-stop passage with more 450 miles with (planeable) decent weather. But of course further is reasonable provided that you are coastal at later point and can uh-oh replan and go get fuel.
Like car driving, however, it's not a load of fun with scrimping on range -you end up worrying and misering. Long trip, get loads of fuel, bash out, then later in the day come in get some more, then go out for night run, come in first light and so on. Unlikely to find places at intervals and fuel opening times plus aforementioned miser-effect mean running longdistance to full extent of range is just rubbish, really, imho. But no prob running on stingy fuel load inshore.
Range-wise i reckon i could technically get 525 miles before spluttering stop. So i wd not plan an offshore no-stop passage with more 450 miles with (planeable) decent weather. But of course further is reasonable provided that you are coastal at later point and can uh-oh replan and go get fuel.
Like car driving, however, it's not a load of fun with scrimping on range -you end up worrying and misering. Long trip, get loads of fuel, bash out, then later in the day come in get some more, then go out for night run, come in first light and so on. Unlikely to find places at intervals and fuel opening times plus aforementioned miser-effect mean running longdistance to full extent of range is just rubbish, really, imho. But no prob running on stingy fuel load inshore.
PCUK
Well-Known Member
Moving on again slightly, the derogation thing is going to encourage some owners to run about with lower fuel levels with the inevitable result that more lifeboat call-outs will be made to berks to have run out.
