How important is it

lanerboy

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Well last year I brimmed my fuel tanks ready for winter and am considering doing the same again BUT I have the boat up for sale and there is around half a tank in each so thought that was a fair amount to sell the boat with so my question is do I really need to brim my tanks over winter to avoid any problems it causes or will it be ok with half tanks

What do you all do ??????
 
if you seal both the inlet (likely to be sealed already) and airbreather, no more air (and therefore no more humid air) can enter the tank and precipitate into water.

Particularly with the tanks already half full, panting will be reduced (inward or outward movement of tank sides due to changes in atmospheric pressure).


I'd bung in some Grotmar or similar as a precaution, anyway.
 
I like to keep our tanks brimmed over the winter, like you rightly say to keep condensation to a minimum. If you decide not to bother this winter, i would very much doubt this will cause problems, and if you chuck in a dose of Marine 16 or Grotomar as suggested you won't go far wrong. I know where i moor, there are very few owners who seem to bother, and i'm not aware of any issues suffered.

The only thing i would say, i know for myself when i was looking at boats for sale, the ones which had brimmed tanks gave the impression of fastidious ownership (i'm certainly not saying you don't :) ), just something to consider to potential buyers.

PS I've seen your for sale advert previously, and i wish you well with the sale, she looks immaculate Shawn.
 
key question Shawn is what would you prefer when looking at your next boat? If looking at a £150-200k boat, at this time of year, what would you think if the tanks weren't full? Would the risk of the bug pug you off the boat?
 
key question Shawn is what would you prefer when looking at your next boat? If looking at a £150-200k boat, at this time of year, what would you think if the tanks weren't full? Would the risk of the bug pug you off the boat?

this is my 3rd boat now and all 3 have come with less than 1/4 of a tank of fuel when I purchased them and I never thought twice about it but then again I didn't know then what I know now

for the sake of £500 I think I will just brim them anyway because if the boat don't sell I will just carry on using her as I have all year
 
this is my 3rd boat now and all 3 have come with less than 1/4 of a tank of fuel when I purchased them and I never thought twice about it but then again I didn't know then what I know now

for the sake of £500 I think I will just brim them anyway because if the boat don't sell I will just carry on using her as I have all year

Spot on move. Like you say it might make no difference whatsoever but it won't hurt and you have peace of mind if she is still yours next season.
 
We always tried to keep ours brimmed but last winter with it being out of the water for a long while the heater consumed a fair bit and we didn't bother topping it back up as it was a pain to lug cans of fuel up the ladders. There were no ill effects from leaving it with down to 1/4 tank of fuel.

This year will be much the same. It had 3/4 tank when it was lifted, by the time it is relaunched we expect it will have about 1/3 tank left. We are not worried about it at all. After all the largest surface to condense is the large top (and bottom) surface so unless you keep it properly brimmed that surface is always exposed.
 
If you decide not to bother this winter, i would very much doubt this will cause problems, and if you chuck in a dose of Marine 16 or Grotomar as suggested you won't go far wrong.


PS I've seen your for sale advert previously, and i wish you well with the sale, she looks immaculate Shawn.

If I decide not to brim the tanks do I put the additive in now or when I refill in the spring :o

ps thanks for the kind words regards my boat
 
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this is my 3rd boat now and all 3 have come with less than 1/4 of a tank of fuel when I purchased them and I never thought twice about it but then again I didn't know then what I know now

for the sake of £500 I think I will just brim them anyway because if the boat don't sell I will just carry on using her as I have all year
Good call Shawn :)
 
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