fuel capacity

ccurt · Posted: Sun May 20, 2012 10:29 pm Post subject: fuel capacity

I am new at this so please forgive my ignorance. I have a newly purchased 1999 C-Dory 22 ft cruiser. Was curious about converting the water tank to fuel. I understand that the lines and such need to be changed. Am interested to find out if the tank itself is sufficient grade material to hold gasoline without degradation. thank you all cal

Captains Cat · Posted: Mon May 21, 2012 7:29 am Post subject:

Cal, the tank MIGHT be but why do it? Jay and Jolee are tooling around AK all summer carrying about 50 gal in portable containers and still have their 20 gal of water too...they carry them in boxes used for seats. Just plug 'em in and go. No plumbing no problema. Think about it, unless youve got some other reason to make that conversion...

Welcome to the Brats too, glad to have you, keep the questions coming!!

Charlie

thataway · Posted: Mon May 21, 2012 8:41 pm Post subject:

I would not do it. The water tank does not have a vent. It is located in the cabin, It has a outlet on the bottom--not the top as required by ABYC!

If you want more fuel, then go with saddle tanks under the gunnel of the cockpit.

tomherrick · Guest

My boat originally had fuel storage under the V-berth. The aluminum tank leaked and we woke up one morning to the aroma of gas fumes. My two-cents is to keep the fuel out of the cabin. As Charlie mentioned, Jay and Jolie add portable fuel containers for those long special trips.

c-ness · Posted: Mon May 21, 2012 9:06 pm Post subject:

I agree. Keep the fuel in the cockpit. And welcome to c-bats!!

ccurt · Posted: Tue May 22, 2012 11:18 am Post subject:

thank you all for your insightful opinions of my sanity and/or intelligence, however what I was looking for was more technical info on the tank. I get plenty of the former here at the house.

potter water · Posted: Tue May 22, 2012 12:30 pm Post subject:

The water tank seems to me to be identical except for size to the main fuel tanks on my 22. But it is plumbed improperly for fuel. You'd have to contact C-dory if you expect to get the chemical make up of the polypropylene if that is what you want when you ask for the "technical aspects."

The wisdom being handed out above is simply, don't put fuel into the cabin area. If you want to remove the water tank and turn it into a cockpit fuel tank, I suppose you could. But, the space between the main tanks is adequate to carry another 5 gallons at least in certified portable tank.

You WILL affect the resale value of your boat if you mess with the water tank as you are considering. I'd deduct major bucks from a boat I was buying if there was or ever had been fuel in the cabin. Specially if I had to get rid of the "once water, now fuel" tank and clean up the smells and put in a new water tank.

Matt Gurnsey · Posted: Tue May 22, 2012 12:41 pm Post subject:

Tuel tanks in the boat are exposed, and therefor require no bilge blower or other ventilation. The tank in the cabin would require sealing the compartment and ventilating it.

The tank is not designed for fuel, so I would not put fuel into it. The risk of injury or death, while relatively small, is not worth it.

thataway · Posted: Tue May 22, 2012 7:51 pm Post subject:

No one was questioning your sanity. But you may have missed the most important point I made. That is the outlet of the water tank is at the bottom. This is against both ABYC rules and Coast guard regulations for a gasoline tank (OK for diesel). You should use a fuel draw tube which enters from the top of the tank. Altough you might put a plug in the bottom of the tank, I would still be concerned.