Fuel tank size

[gim]

Another thread related to a portable size fuel tank got me thinking.

 

What size is the fuel tank in your boat and do you normally fill it up when you buy gasoline?  Some of these larger size tanks are quite large and filling it up adds a significant amount of weight to the boat.  Mine's an 18 gallon tank and I usually put about 15 gallons in at a time (which is about twice a season).

[GaryH]

44 gallons and yes fill it up each time. The station that has non ethanol fuel is 45 minutes away so I fill on the way to lakes or the way home.

[TnRiver46]

I never fill up any gas tanks, it’s a function of being lower middle class! Haha

 

one of my buddies used to say “well what if I crash my truck? Then all that gas will just get towed away “ hahaha

[PourMyOwn]

12 minutes ago, TnRiver46 said:

I never fill up any gas tanks, it’s a function of being lower middle class! Haha

 

one of my buddies used to say “well what if I crash my truck? Then all that gas will just get towed away “ hahaha

Did he not carry a siphon? They pay for themselves the first time you use em.

[Goldstar225]

My tank is rated at 21 gallons (but took 23 when I filled it up the first time after I bought it).  I usually wait until I'm at 1/2 tank then fill.  Depending on where I go that may mean 3-5 trips.

[TnRiver46]

1 hour ago, PourMyOwn said:

Did he not carry a siphon? They pay for themselves the first time you use em.

Aka Tennessee credit card. 

[Shimano_1]

21 gallon and with my 4 stroke I usually don't fill up for several trips at a time. Couple bigger lakes i may run out a half tank if I'm running and gunning for a long day on the water. Most I've ever used was lil over half and I was on pad running for over 2 hrs that day. Love the fuel economy of the 4 stroke. Also the weight is a factor for me. My rig is slow so I try not to make it any slower 

[Log Catcher]

Mine has a 16 gallon tank and I usually fill it up when getting gas. A fellow I worked with bought a Ranger with around a 225HP on it. I asked him how big the gas tank was on it. He said it had two 26 gallon tanks. On to get you there and one to get you back.

[gim]

54 minutes ago, Log Catcher said:

He said it had two 26 gallon tanks. On to get you there and one to get you back.

My uncle used to have a Yamaha V Max 225 on his skeeter and man did that thing eat fuel like a buffet. His boat hauled ass but the fuel consumption of that outboard was outrageous.

[kjfishman]

My gas tank is around 18 gal but I only keep it half full. The 50 Mercury really doesn't use much gas. At the end of the year I take the fuel line off the connector at the motor.  Then pump the gas out to 5 gallon containers. Use that gas in my snow blower or put it in one of our cars.

[WRB]

14 hours ago, gimruis said:

Another thread related to a portable size fuel tank got me thinking.

 

What size is the fuel tank in your boat and do you normally fill it up when you buy gasoline?  Some of these larger size tanks are quite large and filling it up adds a significant amount of weight to the boat.  Mine's an 18 gallon tank and I usually put about 15 gallons in at a time (which is about twice a season).

Use Sta-Bil if you fill every 6 months.

Tom

[gim]

8 hours ago, WRB said:

Use Sta-Bil if you fill every 6 months.

Tom

I actually only use my boat for 6 months because it’s in winter storage so technically I buy fuel every 3-4 months and then there’s a long break. I only use ethanol free premium fuel and the mechanic that winterizes my outboard every October said a fuel stabilizer isn’t necessary. Do you still think I should add some stabilizer to the fuel Tom? I always thought that fuel stabilizer was intended to combat the issues associated with ethanol in the fuel.

[WRB]

They make a ethanol formula fuel stabilizer but the original formula was developed to increase fuel octane life and absorb moisture to extend storage life.

6 months storage you loose fuel strength. 

Tom

[GaryH]

4 hours ago, gimruis said:

I actually only use my boat for 6 months because it’s in winter storage so technically I buy fuel every 3-4 months and then there’s a long break. I only use ethanol free premium fuel and the mechanic that winterizes my outboard every October said a fuel stabilizer isn’t necessary. Do you still think I should add some stabilizer to the fuel Tom? I always thought that fuel stabilizer was intended to combat the issues associated with ethanol in the fuel.

 

I contacted Yamaha about the same issue. I told them all I use is 91 octane non-ethanoI. I was told to definitely use a stabilizer when not in use for extended time. 

[Way2slow]

Which boat? 

My Javelin has a has a 48 gallon tank and no, I rarely ever fill any boat tank.  Been doing this long enough to know about how much I will burn and add a few extra gallons just for a cushion.  If I know I'm going every few weeks, I add some Seafoam.  If I know my boat is going to be sitting or has sat for more than a month or so, I pump it out and put it in a vehicle.  I will never run this junk we get today they call gas, over a couple months old, in any outboard motor. 

I also will only run top tier gas in everything I have.   It's bad enough, and this crud these discount stations have will even screw up a lawn mower engine.

A lot also have to do with how a boat is stored.  If in a garage of good shelter where it's out of the sun, the gas will keep a little longer.  If the boat is out where it's heated by sun most of the day, gas in the tank will loose octane and start breaking down very quickly.  If a portable tank is left out exposed, maybe a week.