New Fuel Tank Time

[Signed Out]

Don't know if it's any help, maybe someone can enlighten, but today I was enquiring about a new tank, and as I was considering putting it in the after end of my engine compartment, I was told it should be SS in there. Which is a PITA, but makes sense.

 

[Tranona]

Don't know if it's any help, maybe someone can enlighten, but today I was enquiring about a new tank, and as I was considering putting it in the after end of my engine compartment, I was told it should be SS in there. Which is a PITA, but makes sense.

Think you will find that a plastic tank meets all safety rquirements. Personally I would not use a SS tank as you can never be sure of the integrity of the welds.

 

[CaptainBob]

Have found a tank off the shelf that might fit.

Here is the tank:

As seen on this website:

http://www.marinedna.com/power-tank-54l-horizontal-p-39376.html

The accessory plate looks like this:

Questions:

1. Which of those connectors on the accessory plate is where the fuel goes in? They all look a bit small to me. My inlet hose is ~50mm across so would need to be adapted I think. Or is the inlet that red screw cap? And if so, how would I connect my inlet hose to that?

2. The tank has no baffles in it. It's 54 litres. Would that be a problem with sloshing? Old tank had 3 baffles in it.

3. The accessory plate position would mean that I'd have to extend my existing fuel lines to and from the engine. Is there some limit to how long they can be without over stressing the fuel pump. The tank is mounted almost exactly level with the engine.

4. Any other drawbacks to this tank you can think of? Capacity will be absolutely fine. Strap kits are available. Too good to be true - a £150 solution instead of a £500+ one?

Thank you!!

 

[Tranona]

Lack of baffles could be a problem - that is one of the reasons it is so cheap as baffles are difficult to fit in a moulded tank. My tanks get round that by having hollow sections moulded into the outer skins.

54 litres is a miserable capacity for a cruising boat. Mine is 150 litres. You will only get about 24 hours running time on 54 litres, so if you are doing any serious cruising you will need spare fuel cans.

When you start to think this through you realise why you have to pay for a "proper job" as the compromises to save money on purchase price can be very restrictive. However if minimum cost is paramount and you accept the restrictions, go ahead!

 

[CaptainBob]

I'm like a pricked balloon

I want to do a proper job, but at the lowest possible price, in the shortest timescale.

Back to the drawing board...

Incidentally, we did some "serious" cruising (I guess that's relative) from Plymouth to Whitby last year with our old tank which has not much more capacity than 54 litres. Never even got it below 3/4 full at any point on the trip. It did take us 5 months though

 

[Strathglass]

Have found a tank off the shelf that might fit.

Here is the tank:

As seen on this website:

http://www.marinedna.com/power-tank-54l-horizontal-p-39376.html

The accessory plate looks like this:

Questions:

1. Which of those connectors on the accessory plate is where the fuel goes in? They all look a bit small to me. My inlet hose is ~50mm across so would need to be adapted I think. Or is the inlet that red screw cap? And if so, how would I connect my inlet hose to that?

2. The tank has no baffles in it. It's 54 litres. Would that be a problem with sloshing? Old tank had 3 baffles in it.

3. The accessory plate position would mean that I'd have to extend my existing fuel lines to and from the engine. Is there some limit to how long they can be without over stressing the fuel pump. The tank is mounted almost exactly level with the engine.

4. Any other drawbacks to this tank you can think of? Capacity will be absolutely fine. Strap kits are available. Too good to be true - a £150 solution instead of a £500+ one?

Thank you!!

The top is just like the standard Tek tank (TT-5636 70 litres) I fitted. It has sort of baffles built into the moulding.

They supplied a 90 degree pipe bend (38mm/50mm) (TT-5521) to go on in place of the filler cap.

The metal plate with the five screws is for the level sensor. Very handy having a fuel gauge.

I got my sensor (float switch on lever adjustable for range and height) and gauge from ASAP to match the other instruments

No problem with extending the fuel feed length.

I see that 'your' tank has a fuel return inlet beside the vent outlet, very handy.

Last week I put a T piece in the vent pipe for the fuel return.
I had it going to the fuel filter but was having severe problems with air in fuel after running for extended periods last season.

Would definately go for plastic. I have also fitted Vetus tanks (they also have sort of built in baffles) on a couple of boats without any problems.

Iain