BoatBanter.com - gas tanks

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On Tue, 06 Nov 2007 16:04:04 -0600, observer penned the following well
considered thoughts to the readers of rec.boats:

|On Tue, 06 Nov 2007 13:49:51 -0500, Gene Kearns
wrote:
|
|On Tue, 06 Nov 2007 11:56:33 -0600, observer penned the following well
|considered thoughts to the readers of rec.boats:
|
|On Tue, 06 Nov 2007 16:16:54 GMT, "Tom G"
|wrote:
|
|
|observer wrote in message
m...
| I've been outa the boat scene for 30 years but at that time I had a
| 18' outboard. I recall we had 2 metal 6 gal tanks (not built in) and
| I think another metal 12 or 18 gal tank. Nowadays are the tanks
| still metal or heavy plastic? And do they still have 6 gal tanks for
| the outboard motors? Just trying to catch up with the same boats of
| today. thanks.
|
|Looks like the smaller motors come with 6 gallon plastic tanks which I've
|not had good luck with. They expand during the heat of the day, which tends
|to permanently deform the bottom of the tank so it doesn't fit flat to the
|floor of the boat. Then at night, they'll suck in, further deforming. All
|of this expanding and contracting seems to pull in air from outside with
|it's moisture which the alcohol in the fuel then pulls into the gas mixture.
|Also, I've noticed little cracks in the plastic at the edges from the
|movement. Steel tanks are still available to purchase at some of the big
|boating retailers (catalogue and on line). I picked up a couple of used
|ones the other day for $5 each and they're going to replace my plastic ones
|
|Tom G.
|
|
|
|Thanks Tom. I guess I have a lot of catching up to do :( but
|somehow I think I can still handle a similar boat. At that time, our
|last outboard was a Evinrude 125 hp 2cyl, if that matters.
|
|Thanks again!!
|
|ps-- I didn't mean to start a flame over this. Just trying to update
|my knowledge/memory . Sorry about being the cause of the flames.
|
|ROFL..... if you think those are flames, you don't visit here much!
|
|Seriously, though.... as Eisboch suggests, keeping the tank full is
|the best solution.... but short of that, I think there is no real harm
|in leaving the vent open in such a small tank.... unless the boat is
|stored for a longer period of time, in which case if it isn't premix
|I'd put the surplus into the car or lawn mower.
|
|Since my son is not the most responsible in keeping the tank full, I
|just make sure the vent is open. That is easier to deal with than fuel
|dripping out of the garboard drain.
|
|
|You're right I don't visit here a lot but I can take the flames if I
|must.
|
|I'm not so sure I'd like to leave a gas tank vented when the boat is
|docked and I'm not there because of the fumes and some idiot smoking
|nearby.

A full tanks is safer than a half empty one. I wouldn't worry about
flammability just from outgassing in a non-pressure situation.

|But as I recall we never left much gas in the tanks when the
|boat was docked say more than a couple of hours. There was also the
|possibility of theft even at a good marina then. No need to give them
|free gas tho as I recall (some will laugh at this, gas was well under
|a buck a gallon then... I'm thinking it was like 50 to 60 cents/gal).

I can remember when it was $.16 a gallon.

|BTW, what does gas usually run at the marinas, say this past summer?
|Normally we tried to gas up at the gas station because it was cheaper
|but it was harder because you had to lug the gas tank back to the boat
|so the marinas we more convenient of course.

I never fill up at the marinas to much $$$$$$.

|And if it matters (probably doesn't) we had a 18' Wellcraft back when
|Wellcraft was a fairly new company. The boat was a double fiberglass
|v-hull (deep V actually I think) but I guess by today's stds., pretty
|plain but it served us well and we took pretty good care of it. In
|fact many years later we sold it and it was still in good shape so the
|next buyer got a bargain. If I lived closer to water, there is no
|doubt I'd have a boat again and probably an outboard even tho I recall
|they always seem to break down. I have A LOT of good memories with
|our boat. I remember once doing a good deed for a Donzi owner towing
|him into shore (his motor stopped) and he told me he'd give me a ride
|when it worked again and he did. Boy that boat was fast. I remember
|seeing the Cigarettes in the ocean when I was at the beach and always
|wishing I had one of them. Ok, left me stop mumbling :( .
|Forgive me... just too many memories of boating.

The only cure is getting a boat. You're hooked!

--

Grady-White Gulfstream, out of Oak Island, NC.

Homepage
http://pamandgene.idleplay.net/

Rec.boats at Lee Yeaton's Bayguide
http://www.thebayguide.com/rec.boats
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On Tue, 06 Nov 2007 16:11:04 -0600, observer penned the following well
considered thoughts to the readers of rec.boats:

|
|Just to continue a sec....
|Not to brag but 99 % of my memories were on a small runabout but I was
|also fortunate enough to also have some on a 53' Hatteras several
|times and to be honest, I'd rather have the small boat but I'm glad to
|have had the large boat memories because I can speak from experience
|(without the cost g) .

There is a lot to be said for a smaller boat, if you don't need the
bulk. My son has repoed his 17 footer in anticipation of duck hunting.
I'll miss it on the days I don't really feel like wrestling with my
boat. Oh, well....

--

Grady-White Gulfstream, out of Oak Island, NC.

Homepage
http://pamandgene.idleplay.net/

Rec.boats at Lee Yeaton's Bayguide
http://www.thebayguide.com/rec.boats
-----------------
www.Newsgroup-Binaries.com - *Completion*Retention*Speed*
Access your favorite newsgroups from home or on the road
-----------------

On Tue, 6 Nov 2007 17:41:02 -0500, "Eisboch"
wrote:

observer wrote in message
.. .

On Tue, 06 Nov 2007 13:49:51 -0500, Gene Kearns
wrote:

I'm not so sure I'd like to leave a gas tank vented when the boat is
docked and I'm not there because of the fumes and some idiot smoking
nearby.

Hello observer .....

I apologize if you took my comment about keeping the tank full as being a
smart ass comment.
Didn't intend it that way.

No I didn't take it that way and thanks for the advice/reply.

On Tue, 06 Nov 2007 18:06:28 -0500, Gene Kearns
wrote:

On Tue, 06 Nov 2007 16:11:04 -0600, observer penned the following well
considered thoughts to the readers of rec.boats:

|
|Just to continue a sec....
|Not to brag but 99 % of my memories were on a small runabout but I was
|also fortunate enough to also have some on a 53' Hatteras several
|times and to be honest, I'd rather have the small boat but I'm glad to
|have had the large boat memories because I can speak from experience
|(without the cost g) .

There is a lot to be said for a smaller boat, if you don't need the
bulk. My son has repoed his 17 footer in anticipation of duck hunting.
I'll miss it on the days I don't really feel like wrestling with my
boat. Oh, well....

I couldn't agree more with you about the smaller boat. To me, the big
boat is a hassle because you really need a mate to tie/untie and maybe
for the clean up after an outing. And usually before pulling out of
the slip, the owner (my uncle) would go thru a brief list of things to
check before going on an excursion. To me, the smaller boat is so
much easier to take care of and for local running around (which I
did), much more appealing.... I mean you really don't want to pull out
a 50 or so footer to go around the bay or bays g. If nothing else
it will look funny :) .

Eisboch wrote:

wrote in message
...
On Tue, 06 Nov 2007 11:29:18 -0500, Gene Kearns
wrote:

On Tue, 06 Nov 2007 16:16:54 GMT, Tom G penned the following well
considered thoughts to the readers of rec.boats:

observer wrote in message
...
I've been outa the boat scene for 30 years but at that time I had a
18' outboard. I recall we had 2 metal 6 gal tanks (not built in) and
I think another metal 12 or 18 gal tank. Nowadays are the tanks
still metal or heavy plastic? And do they still have 6 gal tanks for
the outboard motors? Just trying to catch up with the same boats of
today. thanks.

Looks like the smaller motors come with 6 gallon plastic tanks which I've
not had good luck with. They expand during the heat of the day, which
tends
to permanently deform the bottom of the tank so it doesn't fit flat to
the
floor of the boat. Then at night, they'll suck in, further deforming.
All
of this expanding and contracting seems to pull in air from outside with
it's moisture which the alcohol in the fuel then pulls into the gas
mixture.
Also, I've noticed little cracks in the plastic at the edges from the
movement. Steel tanks are still available to purchase at some of the big
boating retailers (catalogue and on line). I picked up a couple of used
ones the other day for $5 each and they're going to replace my plastic
ones

Tom G.

Piece of cake. Leave the vent open!

Yeah, there's no problem leaving the vent open so every night when the
sun goes down you suck in more and more of that nice MOIST evening
air...

Keep it full of gas.

Eisboch

Doesn't the alcohol in gasohol take care of the moisture?

Sherwin

I have kept my 6 gallon metal tank from my 1980's Chrysler, mainly because it
just
fits into my rear locker, whereas my newer 2002 Yamaha 6 gallon plastic tank was

just too big to fit. Seems like at one time the coast guard was not allowing
plastic
gas tanks and cans on boats because they tended to melt in fires. I don't
recall what
changed their policy, but I feel safer with a metal tank.

Sherwin

observer wrote:

I've been outa the boat scene for 30 years but at that time I had a
18' outboard. I recall we had 2 metal 6 gal tanks (not built in) and
I think another metal 12 or 18 gal tank. Nowadays are the tanks
still metal or heavy plastic? And do they still have 6 gal tanks for
the outboard motors? Just trying to catch up with the same boats of
today. thanks.