Gas tank on 16 cruiser

C

Capt. Jim

New member
I have found that a standard 6 gal. portable gas tank will fit under the berth towards the bow. This puts weight forward and frees cockpit space.
Seems to me there should be no safety concren as this is pretty much an open hull with on bilges or compartments. Any of you doing the same?
 
Capt. Jim - I never carried gas under my V-berth, not because I considered it unsafe, but because I always had other items under there which helped balance my load. I also moved my batteries under the port seat and that seemed to help a lot.

You should be OK with a gas tank under the berth as long as you are careful and use a little common sense about it.
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Dave dlt.gif
 
Dave when you located your batteries under the port seat how did you route your cables? Under the v-berth and down the starboard conduit? As far as the gas tank under the v-berth I've used a gas tank under my center console in my Carolina Skiff for years with no problems.
 
Dave, I also have stowed under the v berth a bait bucket with 2 cast nets, two shrimp baskets with various gear inside and a 24 quart igloo ice chest for drinks & ice.
Today I installed the hawse pipe and rope bucket. Seems very secure.
 
marvin4239":3tp6ehw4 said:
Dave when you located your batteries under the port seat how did you route your cables? Under the v-berth and down the starboard conduit? As far as the gas tank under the v-berth I've used a gas tank under my center console in my Carolina Skiff for years with no problems.
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Marvin - in the front of the lower left side of the port seat frame is enough room to bring the wires out, then up to the tube on the port side to the stern. I then made hangers under and in back of the engine well shelf which I ran the wires to the starboard side, then back to the engine and forward to the controls and accessories.

Capt. Jim":3tp6ehw4 said:
Dave, I also have stowed under the v berth a bait bucket with 2 cast nets, two shrimp baskets with various gear inside and a 24 quart igloo ice chest for drinks & ice.
Today I installed the hawse pipe and rope bucket. Seems very secure.
Click to expand...
Capt. Jim - it should work well for you. Did you put a drain in it so the water can drain? You either need a through hull drain (good) or will have to drain it under the V-berth (bad).

When I was figuring out the best load balance for my boat, I divided it into thirds.
1. The front/bow area (everything under and on the v-berth plus anything on top of the bow). I carried 15 to 20 percent of my total weight here.
2. The middle/cabin area (which I included the crew weight in this area because most of the time we are there when under way especially in rougher conditions). I carried 40 to 50 percent of my total weight here.
3. The rear/stern (everything behind the cabin) I carried 35 to 40 percent of my total weight here.

With these percentages the boat seemed to handle the best. Also it set fairly level in the water and when we got in the v-berth, the boat would set very slightly bow down so our heads were up for sleeping.

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I would not put the fuel tank under the v-berth since venting may occur. This is especially important if you smoke of course. I've needed to put the tank outside the the boat at night for sleeping even stored in the back transome area due to venting and temp changes.
 
I did install a thru hull drain. Also a rather large bungee cord to hold the anchor in place.
Remember the original Boston Whaler Montauk? It had the load( console, passengers and fuel ) located in the center. this made for a very seaworthy boat. Almost impossible to take a wave over the bow or stern.
 
Fumes would be my main concern on having a tank under the v-berth. Sooner or later a minute amount of fuel will find its' way out, either through the vent, the fill cap, or the hose fitting. Last week I carried an extra six gallon tank in the motor well and it worked out okay. I don't use much of that space anyway. But I am going to reroute the battery cables and move the battery to the port seat.
 
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