topping off fuel tanks?

J

Jeanie P

New member
I just read an article in Motor Boating that promoted filling your fuel tanks only enough to compleat your trip plus 10-15 % additional for safety.

This is for fuel economy by reducing weight.

Doesn't this go against the theory of topping off tanks to reduce condensation and possible ethanol problems?

Allan
 
Jeanie P":1qzj0p31 said:
I just read an article in Motor Boating that promoted filling your fuel tanks only enough to compleat your trip plus 10-15 % additional for safety.

This is for fuel economy by reducing weight.

Doesn't this go against the theory of topping off tanks to reduce condensation and possible ethanol problems?

Allan
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Goes against common sense & safety in my book. I NEVER leave the harbor without extra fuel :mrgreen: :beer You never know what will happen!! :wink:
 
tsturm":dltv4m6m said:
Jeanie P":dltv4m6m said:
I just read an article in Motor Boating that promoted filling your fuel tanks only enough to compleat your trip plus 10-15 % additional for safety.

This is for fuel economy by reducing weight.

Doesn't this go against the theory of topping off tanks to reduce condensation and possible ethanol problems?

Allan
Click to expand...

Goes against common sense & safety in my book. I NEVER leave the harbor without extra fuel :mrgreen: :beer You never know what will happen!! :wink:
Click to expand...

That would be because both you and I live in Alaska where you have better be ready to survive on your own for a good amount of time before help arrives. I will carry the gas as my life may depending on it.
 
I follow the 1/3 rule: use 1/3 of the fuel you need to reach your destination, use 1/3 to get back, and always have 1/3 in reserve. When conditions are perfect -- traveling downwind on calm seas, you'll get your maximum miles per gallon, but on your return leg, you could get 50 percent less mpg and run out of gas if you don't have an adequate reserve.
 
Well, it depends. As with many boating situations, there are compromises and decisions. When we are cruising, we always fill the tan. We've found that you can't always count on the marina up ahead to have fuel. We plan our travels based on fuel availability. But when doing local day-tripping (which is what the greatest majority of boaters are doing), it doesn't make sense to carry an extra 400 pounds of fuel... I rarely fill the tank over half. Less weight = better fuel economy. It's also the same reason you don't need to carry all your cruising gear (generator, extra water, a couple week's worth of food, etc) if you're just going out for the afternoon.

Judgement call based on your immediate use of the boat.

Best wishes,
Jim B.
 
I typically always keep my tanks topped off. With my boat in a lift normally I fill at a Marina 12 miles from my dock. When I have the boat on the trailer I in the past have tried to take advantage of the cheaper fuel at gas stations by topping off. Now with Florida recently adding ethanol I'm not so sure I want to fill up with it. It's pretty hard to find a station that doesn't use it in the event the boat sits for any time. From what I've read the seperation issue with ethanol fuel is a real problem if it sits to long.
 
Jim wrote:
When we are cruising, we always fill the tan.
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What a great idea Jim! Just leave the clothes at home, save even more weight and gas!!! :lol: Hey, but people going by taking pictures might not be focusing on just the boat... :moon
 
There are some, (including David Pascoe, marine surveyor) who feel that the full tanks to prevent condensation are un-necessary. I do not keep my Tom Cat or the CD 25 tanks full. I have not had any fuel water problems with these boats. I certainly have enough for what ever voyage I make--with reserve, but don't keep the tanks full for a number of reasons--including wanting fresh gas, concerns about weight etc.
 
Not being able to use the boat as much this year, having fresh fuel seems more important than worrying about any potential condensation.
Thanks to all that have responded.

Allan
 
The HIGH TIDE never...NEVER...EVER leaves the beach with out both 12 gal. tanks full to the top. I have never seen a gas pump out in the Cook Inlet so I need to take care of myself.

In all of my boating I have not needed to tap into the 2nd tank so I have more than twice what is needed. I do alternate tanks every trip out to keep the fuel fresh.

Economy be damned...it is safety of my passengers and
myself that is No.1 priority.

That is just my humble opinion.
 
AMEN Jack! :thup In the military we used to refer to any fuel you carried over what was required for the mission as "Granny Gas". :teeth I believe the saying came from the idea that always having enough fuel to make it home meant that you would live long enough to make "Granny" happy. :wink
:smiled Another Jack
 
Jack in Alaska":2uyvuhz2 said:
The HIGH TIDE never...NEVER...EVER leaves the beach with out both 12 gal. tanks full to the top. I have never seen a gas pump out in the Cook Inlet so I need to take care of myself.

In all of my boating I have not needed to tap into the 2nd tank so I have more than twice what is needed. I do alternate tanks every trip out to keep the fuel fresh.

Economy be damned...it is safety of my passengers and
myself that is No.1 priority.

That is just my humble opinion.
Click to expand...

Hey Jack, I have 2 18gal tanks (W/new senders) I took out of the JMR II looking for a new (free) home!! :wink:
 
Hello all,

I agree with Bob Austin and Pasco. Just after the big scare about ethanhol I read an article about Star Tron. The writer said that this stuff would prevent separation. He also stated that if you had a water problem a little bit in the tank would be simpler to deal with than full tanks. It made sense to me and I have been storing at about 1/8 in each tank for two years.

This week iI put 5 gallons in each side and we just got back from a short shake down cruise (about 3 hours). Checked the Racor and not a drop of water from either tank. I try to always trailer empty to save towing strain and fuel.

We are going to NY and the Erie Canal in a few weeks and I will fill up at a service plaza before launching. I expect that high test on the canal will be over $4.50 per gallon.
 
tsturm...........

Thanks for the offer on the tanks but i have just recently replaced mine as the old ones started to "craze". Looked like they would break into pieces anytime. What are you using for tanks now???
 
Teflonmom,

What engine do you have that needs high test gas? I've never had an engine that was built for it. I know the BMW cars need it. And I hear the higher performance versions of the newer cars the kids are buying need it. Not sure what else.

It isn't 'better' gas, it just has a higher anti-knock rating so it won't hurt high compression engines. It doesn't have any more energy content and when you burn it in a lower compression engine it doesn't help anything except the profit margin of the gas company. AAA and Consumer Reports have both written about this topic many times.

I believe they've also found more or less no difference between brands. I'm 52 and I've always bought the cheapest gas I can find and I've never had a fuel problem in any vehicle.

Maybe there are outboards I don't know about that are high compression and need this stuff.

I try to empty one tank pretty far before switching to the other so I get most of the old gas replaced at a fillup. If I'm going offshore, or on a big lake like Powell, I top both tanks for sure.

Jeff
 
Jack in Alaska":srcprfbe said:
tsturm...........

Thanks for the offer on the tanks but i have just recently replaced mine as the old ones started to "craze". Looked like they would break into pieces anytime. What are you using for tanks now???
Click to expand...

The 25gal see through tanks I picked up from C-Dory in 06. :mrgreen: :beer
 
Regarding octane ratings, I used to have a motor bike which ran on regular gas. I thought I'd up the performance by switching to high octane, and all I did was overheat the air cooled engine to the point that it would seize up until I stopped and let it cool down. Stop, start, stop, start, all the way home. The moral of the story is that higher octane gas really does burn hotter, which is not always that great a deal for the motor.

Years later, someone recommended that I go to a higher octane gas to solve some hesitation/stall problems I was having on my Honda 90(solved another way, but that's another story). I expect this motor also ran hotter until I could burn out the higher octane gas, but I know for sure that it not only continued to hesitate and stall, but now was also very difficult to get started. Which makes sense, since gas formulated for higher compression engines is designed to combust at higher pressures and temperatures, which means that all other things being equal, it will be harder to start in a low compression engine.

So, I'm back to where I was years ago pushing the motor scooter - burning good old regular gas in low compression engines, and concluding that not only are you wasting money burning high test, you're also increasing the likelihood of messing up the motor.
 
FWIW - I use 100LL avgas.
This is my third season with no
problems with the Honda 90.
There's NO ethynol in avgas but it is
pricey, $5.65 gallon. Fortunately I buy
it wholesale but it still is close to $5.00.
 
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