Second fuel tank

zubol · 21 June 2010, 16:11

I am going to add a second fuel tank to my RIB and just wandering how to resolve it.

1. How you usually connect a second tank?
2. How you switch between them?
3. Is any kind of switcher which can take care of it?

I will be grateful for any tips&tricks....

Thank you,
M.

matt h · 21 June 2010, 16:43

my set up on a both my old 5.4 seariders. hopefully they are self explanatory.

9D280 · 21 June 2010, 16:47

Same as Matt.

zubol · 21 June 2010, 16:51

So, does it mean you have to control your fuel level for all the time and if necessary, manually swap tanks?
What if you delay and stop "in the middle of the sea"?

matt h · 21 June 2010, 17:01

its only 5 sec to swap, keep it simple!!

9D280 · 22 June 2010, 09:57

Yep. Also means you have a "time to turn back" warning, because you know when you have emptired the first tank you have gone half the distance that 2 tanks of fuel will take you.

(remembering to take tide, wind etc into the equation!)

willk · 22 June 2010, 12:37

I have a neat brass fuel switch mounted on the transom - it's three way so ideal for that application. It means you will have two fuel hoses and clips, so a burst or break won't spoil your day.

Downhilldai · 22 June 2010, 17:07

I rigged a similar set up to willk, with 2 x feed hoses from tanks running separately into a pair of filters with the filter outlet pipes connecting into a changeover valve. When one tank empties, just flip the lever on the changeover valve and it switches to the second tank & filter.

Ribtecer · 22 June 2010, 18:36

When I bought my boat I had just two 25ltr tanks, one in the console and one on deck in front of the console and I wanted greater capacity for longer distance and reassurance.

I bought a Moeller 50 ltr tank and strapped it to the deck leaving the 25 ltr tank in the console full of fuel, this way all the weight is up front where I want it. I had a tight cover made for the tank on the deck with an opening for filling etc with a flap, I had the flap made big, and plumbed both tanks into a "Y" connecter on the fuel line with the fuel coming up from the bottom of the "Y".

Both tanks have a tap on, the deck based tank has the tap at the end of the line and the console based tank has the tap half way between the "Y" and the tank allowing it the wrap around the filling area on the deck based tank under the flap with both taps next to one another.

At sea you when I want to swap tanks I turn the full one on first then the empty one off and the engine knows nothing of the change.

It’s all so simple and I can carry far more fuel than I need for messing around in the Solent which is what I wanted to achieve. Hope the photos help the explanation.

Happy Ribbing

Ribtecer · 22 June 2010, 18:40

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ribtecer

When I bought my boat I had just two 25ltr tanks, one in the console and one on deck in front of the console and I wanted greater capacity for longer distance and reassurance.

I bought a Moeller 50 ltr tank and strapped it to the deck leaving the 25 ltr tank in the console full of fuel, this way all the weight is up front where I want it. I had a tight cover made for the tank on the deck with an opening for filling etc with a flap, I had the flap made big, and plumbed both tanks into a "Y" connecter on the fuel line with the fuel coming up from the bottom of the "Y".

Both tanks have a tap on, the deck based tank has the tap at the end of the line and the console based tank has the tap half way between the "Y" and the tank allowing it the wrap around the filling area on the deck based tank under the flap with both taps next to one another.

At sea you when I want to swap tanks I turn the full one on first then the empty one off and the engine knows nothing of the change.

It’s all so simple and I can carry far more fuel than I need for messing around in the Solent which is what I wanted to achieve. Hope the photos help the explanation.

Happy Ribbing

Opps - Photos are here now I hope