Floor tank in 1973 cuddy

[axespino]

Anyone ever put in a floor tank in a V that had the saddle tanks? I want more than 40 gallons of gas and was wondering if this had been done. I seen some 24 gallon saddle tanks but they are little pricey. I don't really want to lose the storage compartments either since I carry alot of junk. Thanks Mando

[tsubaki]

If you didn't have them custom made, I want to know where you found them from.
Best I could find was either an 18 or 19 gallon.
I refused to do away with one of the floor/fish boxes.
I'm considering toting gas jugs to dump into the saddle tanks IF I go past my 30 mile limits from the house.

[axespino]

Its a moeller tank here is the model number since I don't know how to put pics on here. The only thing is the filler hole is not in the same place. Its a Moeller 24 Gal Below Deck Fuel Tank MOE-032624. It goes for $210.00 dollars do a search with the model number and the moeller name. There is a website called "the find" that has the tanks from different places with all of the prices.

[tsubaki]

I ended up replacing my port saddle tank.
It was a Moeller tank. From what I remember there was only one choice for replacement, going down to the 18 gallon ones. Reason being the sides of the boat flaring
and the gunwale dimensions would not allow to go with the 24 gallon without major changes to the gunwale.
Well, here's the link.
http://www.wellcraftv20.com/community/showthread.php?t=10134

Oh, I did end up putting a piece of 1/4" Starboard on the outside of the tank to reduce the possibility of damage.
Got the tank from Jamestown Distributors.

[tsubaki]

I can't remember the dimensions but it seemed like I could add a 12 gallon tank in the location between the bilge and adjacent fishbox. For all that trouble and minimal benefit, I just decided if I need more fuel, I'll just tote a couple of gas cans.

[tsubaki]

Still toying with a belly tank idea?
Look around inside the Cuddy, you'll get a good idea where the stringers are. Basically the center ones are on either side of the fishboxes. You can get dimensions and depths based on that.
Next best thing would be to do what reel did on his "74.
Want any more input , just holler.

[Blue_Runner]

Next best thing would be to do what reel did on his "74.

2nd that.....two 40 gallon tanks = 80 gallons. And they double as a seat box and/or rod holders......

[axespino]

Two tanks under seat boxes is a route I was thinking about but I did not want to spend the money to make the boxes and buy two tanks. The two 24 gallon saddle tanks are not much different in height just a little wider if I remember right. I will check into it latter and get the dimensions.

[axespino]

18 Gallon 39.00L x 8.25 W(T) x 5.25 W(B) x 17.75H

24 Gallon Permanent 51.00L x 8.75W(T) x 5.25W(B) x 17.88H

[macojoe]

my 74 was a i/o when i got it, after converting it to outboard i dropped a 25 gal tank were the motor use to be. but i really never used much over 20 gal a trip, but what it did do was balance the boat buy being in the center of the boat

[tsubaki]

Go through and double check the 24 gallon dimensions to the locations on the boat.
From what I remember the extra 1/2" width on the top of the 24 gallon was the deciding factor for me to go with the 18 gallon so I wouldn't have to cut the gunwale and rebuild that area to make it fit. It was so close, I even made a template out of plywood of those dimensions.
Also seems like cutting the gunwale to make it fit was gonna run into the curb for the backsplash, further adding to more work.

[axespino]

Holding off on getting tanks just got the report from boat mechanic 70 psi on 4 cylinders and 90 on the other two. So its rebuild time.

[captpete13]

Holding off on getting tanks just got the report from boat mechanic 70 psi on 4 cylinders and 90 on the other two. So its rebuild time.
thats not too bad. What kind of engine do you have? I had worked on an engine (merc verado) that had low compression in cyl #6. I called merc tech for a powerhead authorization because it was still in warranty. He told me to first run a shock treatment of mercury quick kleen fuel additive. So I mixed an entire bottle of quick kleen to a 3 gallon tank of gas and ran the motor on it till it was empty. Guess what. Compression was restored. It was actually better than the motor next to it(twin engine boat). I ended up doing it to the other engine too. It's worth a try. Merc makes quick kleen, Yamaha makes ring free, omc makes carbon guard its all pretty much the same stuff.