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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