Re: fuel tank
 

DON'T downsize your tank, Fillet....if you don't wanna carry so much, just don't fill 'er up ;)....never know when a bigger motor might come along... :)...believe me, bro...keep same capacity... ;D

Re: fuel tank
 

What size you go to is your call, I had to maintain capacity as I was moving up in HP. Gasoline odor in the bilge, while it may not be a tank problem, definitely needs to be addressed. I would begin by checking all my connections and eliminate them as the source.
50 gallons is a lot of gas! I supposed you could ask your favorite local boat shop if they have a 55 gal drum (clean) that you could siphon the fuel into, or get into your boat this weekend and take a trip! 8)
The tank isn't secured other than by the foam, and I mean it is SECURED by the foam! Getting the foam out is the worst part of the job, tedious and time consuming. Which was another reason for me to get the plastic tank -- don't want to have to repeat that job.
But check your fuel lines before you get into all that.

Re: fuel tank
 

F1 - OTHER INFO IN THIS THREAD TO CHECK OUT

Re: fuel tank
 

Here's a couple of links with slightly different views, from reputable sources. I've seen some the work from Capt Patrick from B31 and it's good stuff.

http://www.yachtsurvey.com/fueltank.htm

http://www.bertram31.com/proj/tips/fuel_tank.htm

hope this helps some.
John

Re: fuel tank
 

Interesting links, John.

The first one is about alum tanks, and is good if you have to use an alum tank, though I don't know why you would want to.

The second one has some good tips for installing tanks of different materials, including alum and plastic. I don't see why you would want to use plastic sheeting to prevent the tank from adhering to the foam, if you are using a plastic tank. The tank should outlast the boat and should not need to be removed. I would rather have my plastic tank locked in place by the foam, rather than bouncing around when it is only partly full while traveling home in rough seas.

Re: fuel tank
 

Has anybody ever had problems with the plastic tank fittings and flanges? Last year a friends boat had a rotted flange on the top of a plastic tank. The manufacture installed a Galvanized fitting as the pickup tube flange, we never did find one. Ended up having a local alluminum guy make one to fit we drilled our own holes. It still took some JB weld to get it to stop leaking. Happened in the Keys in June talk about hot! wheew.

Re: fuel tank
 

Don't go *****in' about bein' in the Keys and how hot it was...Yada, yada, yada... :)

Re: fuel tank
 

Honestly, I think it's a female dog that's already given birth...thanks for keepin' me from goin' astray ;D...

Re: fuel tank
 

just thought Id get it in there. But thats no place to be soppin up fuel from a bilge in the summer. But the V20 was runnin fine we slayed the dolphin daily at bahia honda. Should have brought a freezer. He has a sea swirl and it had that bad flange. He had the tank so full that it was leaking out the top of the flange.

Re: fuel tank
 

Fillet, I just remembered last year I was smelling gas through the access control panel at the helm. Had to replace the fuel filler hose because it runs down the starboard side under the floor over the stringer to the top of the tank. Fuel would stand in the bottom of the curve and slowly drip out. It was fun wrestlin that thing through there. Hope it helps.