Storing tender fuel

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b_arrington

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I'm thinking about getting an inflatable boat with a small outboard (like 4-5HP). I have the option for an integral or external fuel tank.

One issue is where to store the engine / external fuel tank. My boat is not huge so will need to store the inflatable on the front deck and keep the motor elsewhere. My configuration doesn't allow for storing the motor on the transom. I don't want to leave the tender in the water at the mooring, either.

Currently I'm looking at 2 options: 1) contained storage space with no ventilation, or 2) on a wooden pad in the engine room. I'm favoring the latter due to ventilation, and everything in the ER has to be ignition protected anyway.

Where do folks typically store their small outboards and external fuel tank on a medium-sized boat?
 
Personally, I'd not put a 6 gallon fuel tank for a dinghy motor in the engine room at all- way too risk IMO. I'd store it on the swim platform. That is where I store mine.
 
quote:
Originally posted by b_arrington

I'm thinking about getting an inflatable boat with a small outboard (like 4-5HP). I have the option for an integral or external fuel tank.

One issue is where to store the engine / external fuel tank. My boat is not huge so will need to store the inflatable on the front deck and keep the motor elsewhere. My configuration doesn't allow for storing the motor on the transom. I don't want to leave the tender in the water at the mooring, either.

Currently I'm looking at 2 options: 1) contained storage space with no ventilation, or 2) on a wooden pad in the engine room. I'm favoring the latter due to ventilation, and everything in the ER has to be ignition protected anyway.

Where do folks typically store their small outboards and external fuel tank on a medium-sized boat?

Brad

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Precisely why I went with an integral tank - a royal PITA to store. When I do take the dink and not tow it, I lay the engine down in the cockpit until we arrive.

For 95% of our season the dink and engine stay together. It gets real old, real fast putting a 60-70# motor on the dink from the swim platform.
 
My outboard is up on the flybridge on the back sunpad.
My boat has a large sunpad up there that noone uses, since I have sa bow sunpad too
It has the integral tank and I run it dry before stowing.
Though I seem to have a issue with the oil leaking out, it is a 4 stroke.
Not sure why.
The gas can sits under the dash, there is space there, so it is out of sun and well vented.

I also would not store in engine room.
 
ITK, really it gets old putting that together?? LOL been there done that..lol
 
use an integrated tank, you'll be surprised how long it will run on that little bit of fuel. its probably easier to carry a small hand pump and pull some fuel out of the main tanks in a pinch than carry a extra fuel can. you can mount a bracket just about anywhere to stow the motor when its not on the dink.
 
DO NOT store it in the engine room, you are asking for disaster!!!
 
quote:
Originally posted by HOGAN

DO NOT store it in the engine room, you are asking for disaster!!!
Click to expand...

+1 If ignition protected items fully protected a boat from an explosion, then there would be no need to run blowers for 4 minutes before starting the engine. Those ignition protected devices reduce the risk but certainly do not eliminate the risk. Putting a gas tank in the engine room that does not vent it's vapors outside the engine room is an accident waiting to happen. As the gas tank's temperature increases it will build up pressure and give off fumes. Keep in mind that the temperature will rise almost daily from a cool night to a hot day. The chances of something catastrophic happening by storing it in the engine room may be slim but I would rather lessen it by storing the engine/tank somewhere else.
 
We have a dingy on a 29 ft boat. The dingy stays strapped to the bow all season and the motor and tank go back and forth with us. On trips the engine lays either down bellow on a towel or in the cockpit depending on how many are on board. The 3 galling tank fits nicely under one of our bench seats.

I would love to have a davit system but just can't fit it on our boat. We had the dingy 4 years or so and still love it.
 
I started off strongly considering a Torqueedo to avoid the whole gas issue. I went over to West Marine to start looking at boats / motors. The manager there said she had sold a few, and 2 out of three has serious problems. Customers needed parts, and Torqueedo customer service was very poor in helping those customers get new parts. Given the premium of the electric motor, problems + bad service seriously lessened the appeal. What's your neighbors experience.

It just occurred to me that I might be able to drop the engine into a cooler compartment I have in the transom of my boat. It has no connection to any other compartment, but has a drain on the bottom that would serve as a vent. Each engine model I'm considering has the internal tank anyway, so that might work nicely. Have to go get the tape measure.
 
Where does the drain go? I almost think your better without a drain. If it leads to bilge could be a issue.
Doesn't amberjack have a large back hatch?
You also have some large gunnels on that boat, will it sit into one of those?
I was looking to get a large rubbermaid container to hold mine.
Right now it sits up top out of the way, but I have had it leak oil twice now.
Rubbermaid makes a large container that will hold it.
 
quote:
Originally posted by CurrentSea

Where does the drain go? I almost think your better without a drain. If it leads to bilge could be a issue.
Doesn't amberjack have a large back hatch?
You also have some large gunnels on that boat, will it sit into one of those?
I was looking to get a large rubbermaid container to hold mine.
Right now it sits up top out of the way, but I have had it leak oil twice now.
Rubbermaid makes a large container that will hold it.

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The drain goes directly overboard - no bilge issues. It's a straight shot so presumably any vapor would flow down the drain.

Yes, the 270 AJ has a large back hatch. Currently I keep my fenders, lines, and deck brushes in there. I don't know if an outboard will fit there, but can borrow a 3.5 HP and test fit it. I think a small jerry can (1 gallon) will fit in there even with my fenders.

The gunnels won't work. They are rod holders with no storage capability at all (open thermoplastic insert).
 
I have a Tohatsu 3.5hp.
Kind of far for you though.
It's dimensions are online, as it was something I checked.
You can also build or buy a mount for the back rail if you have one.
 
Running engines ingest tremendous amounts of air, which keeps the engine room cooler while the engines are running.

That engine room gets HOT, especially from the radiant heat coming from the motors/transmissions/coolers AFTER shutdown.

That radiant heat will warm your gasoline, creating fumes exactly when you don't want them.

Potential GO BOOM situation.

RWS
 
quote:
Originally posted by CurrentSea

I have a Tohatsu 3.5hp.
Kind of far for you though.
It's dimensions are online, as it was something I checked.
You can also build or buy a mount for the back rail if you have one.

Click to expand...


How has your 3.5 Tohatsu performed? I'm looking at either a 5 or 6 HP Tohatsu. I saw the dimensions on-line - a rather unique publication of specs from what I've seen.

For some odd reason no one seems to carry the internal tank version of the 5 HP, although it is listed by Tohatsu.

My father-in-law has a small outboard and was suggesting to use an external tank, for longer range, less weight to lift and simpler fueling. But given the storage dilemma, I'm thinking integral tank is better for me. I'm younger (obviously) and can better heft a motor.

If the dimensions work, I think my transom fender hatch is the best route. The shape of my transom really isn't conducive to any type of motor mount: it has the hatch, slopes outward toward the bottom, and has no railing on which an engine can be mounted.
 
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