fuel tank question

[macojoe]

In short NO!! You can try and fail if you want.

[Destroyer]

This is a subject that's come up many a time here.. Like everyone else has said already, the short answer is no, it will not feed evenly.

Now, the long question is... why would you want them to?... It's safer (from a not running out of fuel position) to use one tank going out, and the other tank coming in.. That way you never run out of gas and you keep Seatow looking for other customers. Just somethig to think about.

[lathehand]

I was just curious mainly becuase the weight would be more evenly distrubited .As far as running out of fuel the boat don't go offshore.The lake I'm on is only 14 miles long and if I were to run out I always have my kicker motor with three and a half gals.to get me to a fuel dock.
Thanks for your replies. I'm not looking for more work so I'll leave things as they are.

[bradford]

Originally Posted by macojoe

In short NO!! You can try and fail if you want.

Hours of labor, money, blood , sweat, and tears averted.

WellcraftV20.com....priceless!

[reelapeelin]

when I first set my 74 up w/two 40 gal tanks, I tried and tried to make it work...never did, so I put individual shut-offs on each line and controlled them manually...run off one tank goin out, the other comin' back...

I got a buddy w/aSkeeter bass boat...has twin tanks and draws them down evenly from a single line...how it does it, I ain't figured out yet...

[Destroyer]

Originally Posted by reelapeelin

when I first set my 74 up w/two 40 gal tanks, I tried and tried to make it work...never did, so I put individual shut-offs on each line and controlled them manually...run off one tank goin out, the other comin' back...

I got a buddy w/aSkeeter bass boat...has twin tanks and draws them down evenly from a single line...how it does it, I ain't figured out yet...

You know... actually, there IS a way to make it work.. It's one of those simple things that stare you in the face and it's so easy you don't see it...

The answer is simply to cross connect them... plumb the bottom of tank one over to the bottom of tank two. Then, on a second line, plumb tank two to the engine. Do not connect the line running from tank one to tank two with the line running to the engine.

Gas, like water, will always seek it's own level. So, since both tanks are connected together at the bottom, and as long as both tanks are vented so atmospheric pressure is the same inside each tank, and both tanks are sitting at about the same height inside the hull, what will happen is that as tank two is drawn down tank one will replenish it in an effort to stay level with it. The result will be both tanks will be drawn down at the same time!!!

[macojoe]

Makes seance!

I solved the problem with buying a boat with a 110 gal tank down the middle!

[fishmagnet]

the best way to pull from both tanks is to have a 1gallon or so "sump" tank that both saddle fill.. However this only works if your pickups are on the bottom of the tank

[Destroyer]

Originally Posted by fishmagnet

the best way to pull from both tanks is to have a 1gallon or so "sump" tank that both saddle fill.. However this only works if your pickups are on the bottom of the tank

Respectfully, wouldn't that be just adding another layer of something to break onto the system? What's the benefit of it?

[reelapeelin]

Originally Posted by Destroyer

You know... actually, there IS a way to make it work.. It's one of those simple things that stare you in the face and it's so easy you don't see it...

The answer is simply to cross connect them... plumb the bottom of tank one over to the bottom of tank two. Then, on a second line, plumb tank two to the engine. Do not connect the line running from tank one to tank two with the line running to the engine.

Gas, like water, will always seek it's own level. So, since both tanks are connected together at the bottom, and as long as both tanks are vented so atmospheric pressure is the same inside each tank, and both tanks are sitting at about the same height inside the hull, what will happen is that as tank two is drawn down tank one will replenish it in an effort to stay level with it. The result will be both tanks will be drawn down at the same time!!!

That'll certainly work as far as draining each at the same rate...sounds like a good idea, as long as you can deal w/all the crud that sinks to the bottom of the tank(including water)...aren't conventional fuel pick-ups mounted just above the tank bottom?