Hey.....What the......

I think all this is funny!!!! I guess if I had God status and then someone took it away I'd be pissed but then I guess thats when God pisses / rains on us for real.

I've worked for the govt for 33yrs and what I've found out is the more people think youre a big wheel (god) the more they bother you. So I sit in my dimly lit office and let them think I'm a mushroom. Ever since I hit upon this as I was wandering blindly about. I found out I go home in a better mood each day. But then every once in a while there's that SOB who has his mind set he has nothing better to do than piss me off and when he/they do that; I do what every other govt worker does: GO home on SICK LEAVE and FISH for 3 days.

That teaches them every time!!
 
I got into increasing my fuel capacity because the original 60 gallon aluminum tank was leaking. My 84 V20 has a live bait well in the center of the floor aft of the helmseat and to starboard of the split seat. I was not using the in floor live bait well because I have a stand alone bait well that works alot better than the in floor baitwell. IMHO, the floor baitwell was a PITA because of where it was located. The floor baitwell ended up being storage for fenders, and a second smaller Danforth anchor which will now be stowed in the cuddy. The measurements of the baitwell allowed the installation of a permanent Tempo 24 gallon tank without modification to the floor. I did modify the hatch to allow fuel fill and vent hoses to run from the starboard gunnel to the tank above the floor instead of under the deck. (no room below the hatch) The above floor hoses dont really get in the way because they run just behind the helmseat pedestal mount, and into a 2-1/2" and 1" hole into the internal gunnel wall. I am going to build a proper cover for the hoses from starboard or cast one from fiberglass to conceal the hoses.The fuel and vent hoses run to a second vent and filler cap in the starboard gunnel next to the original caps to the 60 gallon tank. I am having a new 60 gallon tank fabricated to replace the leaky Wellcraft tank. I have also bought a manual valve to switch from the 60 to the 24 easily. It will be part of the new 60 gallon tank and will be accessable from the rear 60 gallon access hatch. I have bought 2 new fuel gauges (matched) to replace the original Wellcraft fuel gauge. I had a circulator pump in the original baitwell that ran to a dash switch that I eliminated that I am now using to wire my new fuel gauge. New capacity will be 84 gallons. I don't know what effect all of that fuel will have on performance but I am sure it will. (I know it will really effect the performance of my wallet!!!) I intend re-powering the V in the near future and I am seriously looking at a 225 Etec to replace my 150 Yammie. I have had great service from my old Yamaha, but it looks like an Etec in the future unless Yamaha comes out with a 2-stroke like the Etec. I don't want to start any controversy but IMO 4-strokes are too heavy, with too many moving parts and require too much maintenance and are not more fuel efficient than the Etec.

My V is in my driveway winterized and under canvas and as soon as I open it up for the spring season I will take photo's of what I am doing and post them!!
100_0884-1.jpg
 
Good idea. If you do go Etec, you either won't need the extra fuel or you'll have enough range to go places you've never thought of going in a 20' boat. ;D

Airslot
 
Air, are you kidding me, you have had your V to the washington canyon? :o that is like 60 miles one way :o and you only burned 55 gallons? You gotta be kiddin me :o
 
Hey Geekie. Not trying to question you or anything, but are you sure you got an 84'? Mine is an 84' and the hatches in the floor of yours look different than mine. In mine the big hatch that covers the fuel tank is in the front and the live will is in the back. Mine is an I/O and not sure if that makes any difference or not.

Just a question? Not looking to offend. ;D
 
Cy, it's more like 48 from the tip of the beach at Chincoteague. I'm not pulling your leg, however I wasn't on the boat. The previous owner was somewhat more crazy than I. I can only verify the story cause I was a buddy boat. We were in the Albe at that time. Barry was with us the whole day, had 4 or 5 yellowfins as I recall. He carried an extra 20 gallons with him and refueled at sea. I'm figuring this year that I can fish the Lumpy on the right day w/ no extra fuel. I've done the parking lot on 30 gallons. If at some point I could afford a new tech outboard, fuel capacity wouldn't be an issue any more.

Airslot
 
well even the lumpy is a little farther than i would want to go in my V (i dont trust my motor). how many miles can you get to a tank? you got 60 gallons right?
 
Been out to the Cayons and was surprised to see some of the boaters out there in little 17 ft boats. Dont know where they stored the gas (beer cooler ? ), but they made it out there.
 
When I got my boat, the guy had a 25 gal tank in back and a 35 gal in front. After running for a month on the 35 tank, I took it out and just use the 25 gal now. That still gives me 100 mile range with 20% reserve.

New motors rule. 2 or 4 stroke.
 
Here's my calculation on fuel. Right now I carry 60 gallons. Probably can't get the last 5 out and need a little breathing room so for planning purposed I figure working with 40 gallons. I can avarage 3.3 miles to the gallon in most conditions. I get 2.7 mpg running in sh!t weather. Working with 40 gal @ 2.7 I know I'm good for 108 miles if it's nasty all day, and I ain't going out if it's nasty. I also know in the back of my mind that I've got another 15 gallons to play with.

Airslot
 
Here's another real world fuel calculation. I can run 35 miles offshore in teh morning on a nice day conservatively getting 3.3 mpg.

Burned 10.6 gallons

Troll for 6 hours @3 gph = 18 gallons trolling.

Lets say the weather turned bad and I've got to slog back 40 miles (trolled offshore some?) at worst case 2.5 mpg. That would take 16 gallons to get home.

So, a real world fishing trip, leaving in nice weather & returning in rough seas after tolling all day would burn 10.6+18+16 =44.6 gallons used.

Keep in mind that those numbers are very conservative, as I usually cruise around 3.5 mpg, and trolling doesn't burn but 2.5 gph. For a trolling trip I'm pushing the fuel window. If we ride out and chunk all day, we can cut out 18 gallons and have plenty of fuel left.

Now, give me a new motor (opti, etec, suzi 4 squeeze) and I can add at least .5 mpg running and cut fuel burn by 1.5 gph trolling. Then I'd have plenty of range. One of the reasons I've stayed w/ a small boat is that I don't wan to burn more than 45 gallons for a day's fishing, ever.

How that for some rambling off topic in a thread started with what purpose? ;D

Airslot
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top