Most new sailboat today carry about 20 USGals of diesel fuel on board. Some
even have a 40 - 50 gals tanks on board. The boat I planning on having has
a three cylinders engine and only a 20 gals tank. At time, when a storm or
hurricane is behind you may have to make a mad dash in light wind condition
to reach a safe heaven. Then 20 gals of fuel may not be enough to reach the
safe heaven. What would be the best way to carry extra fuel?

On Wed, 6 Jun 2007 11:42:36 -0300, wrote:

What would be the best way to carry extra fuel?

The best way is find a place on the boat to install a secondary fuel
tank. That said, many cruisers carry jerry jugs on deck, sometimes
near the stern, sometimes lashed to a board between lifeline
stanchions.

My advice? Buy a boat with more fuel capacity. 20 gallons is totally
inadequate for extended cruising.

"Wayne.B" wrote in message
...
On Wed, 6 Jun 2007 11:42:36 -0300, wrote:

What would be the best way to carry extra fuel?

The best way is find a place on the boat to install a secondary fuel
tank. That said, many cruisers carry jerry jugs on deck, sometimes
near the stern, sometimes lashed to a board between lifeline
stanchions.

My advice? Buy a boat with more fuel capacity. 20 gallons is totally
inadequate for extended cruising.


Good advise, but I am stuck with 20 gallons tank.
I'll look into a secondary tank.

wrote in message
...

"Wayne.B" wrote in message
...
On Wed, 6 Jun 2007 11:42:36 -0300, wrote:

What would be the best way to carry extra fuel?

The best way is find a place on the boat to install a secondary fuel
tank. That said, many cruisers carry jerry jugs on deck, sometimes
near the stern, sometimes lashed to a board between lifeline
stanchions.

My advice? Buy a boat with more fuel capacity. 20 gallons is totally
inadequate for extended cruising.


Good advise, but I am stuck with 20 gallons tank.
I'll look into a secondary tank.


One thing to remember is that if you cannot reach a safe harbor before wind
and seas become "challenging," your better decision will probably be to GAIN
searoom, not reduce it.

Wayne.B wrote:
On Wed, 6 Jun 2007 11:42:36 -0300, wrote:

What would be the best way to carry extra fuel?

The best way is find a place on the boat to install a secondary fuel
tank. That said, many cruisers carry jerry jugs on deck, sometimes
near the stern, sometimes lashed to a board between lifeline
stanchions.

My advice? Buy a boat with more fuel capacity. 20 gallons is totally
inadequate for extended cruising.


Jerry cans have their pluses and minus. Having gotten stranded with a
clogged fuel pick up line ONCE I now carry some extra fuel in a jerry
can along with some hose. The idea being that if something happens to
my primary fuel supply I'll have enough for maneuvering into harbour if
nothing else.

Also, where I sail jerry cans are mandatory as there is infrequently
dockside fuel so you have to hitch a ride to a station and fill up.

If I must have jerry cans then why not full cans?

But I would be interested in others opinions.

Howard

On Jun 6, 5:05 am, Wayne.B wrote:
....
My advice? Buy a boat with more fuel capacity. 20 gallons is totally
inadequate for extended cruising.

I hate that advise. People can and do cruise extensively without
engines at all and lots of folks cruise with very limited fuel. The
amount of fuel you need for extended cruising on a sail boat is
somewhat dependent on the boat's systems and largely dependent on the
skipper's attitude. 20 gallons is totally adequate for some extended
cruisers...

On my boat I can carry 50 gallons of fuel (but never have) about half
in cans and half in two fixed tanks. I stow my cans in lockers since
I hate having loose stuff on the deck. You may well find that you
need some cans to transport fuel to the boat in many parts of the
world. Cans are easy to inspect and clean and you will cycle through
the fuel in your fixed tanks more regularly if you use cans for your
excess... If you go with cans it is worth thinking about how you will
do transfers in bad weather.

-- Tom.

A fellow suggested to me a technique that I have found works well. I keep on
board a piece of vinyl tubing of about 1 1/4 " ID, and about 5 or 6 ft long.
Set the jug on top of tank or filler neck, with the hose down in the jug and
stuck in the filler neck. Seal around the hose with a rag where it goes in
the jug, and blow into a small gap in this rag "seal".As long as there is
not a big airspace in the jug, i.e., the jug is nearly full, It is not hard
to force the fuel up the hose and down into the tank, starting a siphon.
Very quick and tidy. I stick tapered plugs into the end of the hose to keep
the inside clean, and wipe off the outside before use.
I have a similar hose for transferring water.

wrote in message
ups.com...
On Jun 6, 5:05 am, Wayne.B wrote:
...
My advice? Buy a boat with more fuel capacity. 20 gallons is totally
inadequate for extended cruising.

I hate that advise. People can and do cruise extensively without
engines at all and lots of folks cruise with very limited fuel. The
amount of fuel you need for extended cruising on a sail boat is
somewhat dependent on the boat's systems and largely dependent on the
skipper's attitude. 20 gallons is totally adequate for some extended
cruisers...

On my boat I can carry 50 gallons of fuel (but never have) about half
in cans and half in two fixed tanks. I stow my cans in lockers since
I hate having loose stuff on the deck. You may well find that you
need some cans to transport fuel to the boat in many parts of the
world. Cans are easy to inspect and clean and you will cycle through
the fuel in your fixed tanks more regularly if you use cans for your
excess... If you go with cans it is worth thinking about how you will
do transfers in bad weather.

-- Tom.

On Jun 6, 4:11 pm, "Garland Gray II" wrote:
A fellow suggested to me a technique that I have found works well. I keep on
board a piece of vinyl tubing of about 1 1/4 " ID,...

Sounds way better than the nasty store bought siphon that I use. I
think I'll try it. Thanks!

-- Tom.

It is important that there not be a whole lot of air in the jug when you
start if the tube is as large as I use. It takes a good big puff...
My hose is reinforced with the braiding, but I'm not sure it makes any
difference other than holding its shape perhaps.

wrote in message
oups.com...
On Jun 6, 4:11 pm, "Garland Gray II" wrote:
A fellow suggested to me a technique that I have found works well. I keep
on
board a piece of vinyl tubing of about 1 1/4 " ID,...

Sounds way better than the nasty store bought siphon that I use. I
think I'll try it. Thanks!

-- Tom.

wrote:

The boat I planning on having has
a three cylinders engine and only a 20 gals tank. At time, when a
storm or
hurricane is behind you may have to make a mad dash in light wind
condition
to reach a safe heaven. Then 20 gals of fuel may not be enough to
reach the
safe heaven. What would be the best way to carry extra fuel?

What is the max fuel consumption rate of that 3 cyl engine, about 1.5
quarts/hour maybe?

A 20 gal tank would provide over 50 hours of operation ((20*4)/1.5 = 53+).

If hull speed is 6 MPH, that is 300 statute miles which probably
allows you to get to a lot of safe havens.

OTOH, if you are in the open ocean, no amount of fuel is going to save
your hide.

Lew