Auxiliary fuel tanks

[Capt B]

Mac,

Have you ever installed auxiliary tanks in a 28 with twin diesels and a generator and if so - where?

[Guest]

aux fuel can be added to the 28 when it is being constructed with little effort, however after the fact, it begins to get a little difficult. The water and waste would move back into the front of the engines and the fuel would be added to the outboard of the engne room. We have built a couple of boats this way that went up into the New England area.

Best advice after the fact, use a bladder on the way out and store when you get to the canyon. This seems to work for a couple of owners that I know of.

[backman]

Bladders

I'm one of the NE canyon guys with a bladder.

I make a 90-100 nmile run from Falmouth on the south side of Cape Cod to the closer northeast canyons. I have been doing this for 5 years with a 37 gallon Nauta bladder and a Jabsco vane pump powered off a 2 wire pin connection below the toggle switch to raise and lower the hatch.

The last thing before I leave for the canyons is a stop at the fuel dock; we get about 32-33 gallons into the bladder and lash it on the cockpit deck on the helm side. 1 rope around the base of the helm seat; 1 to the tower leg to keep it secure.

At 3 hours out everyone is ready for a pit stop; I drop the boat back to idle, they go off the port side while I start the fuel transfer from the bladder to the main tank fuel fill.

At 5-6 GPM its a less than 10 minute process, with perhaps a couple drops; worse case a couple teaspooons of diesel drip. Once the bladder is sucked dry I roll it up; and place it and the attached pump in the bottom of one fishbox which also contains other engine fluids.

I also have access to a 100 gallon bladder should I want to be so silly as to plan a 400 mile trip.

Once you get the hang of it; its really simple; the 33 gallons is just under 2 hr's reserve fuel and increases my conservative range from 210 nmiles to 240 nmiles.

I considered adding a belly tank in the front of the engine room as part of my repower but decided that the access to the front of the engines was more important than having a tank in there for my half dozen canyon trips/year.

[Capt B]

looks like the bladder tank is the way to go - I was actually thinking of having one made the same size as one of the in deck boxes - and then emptying that - either way - that seems to be the best option.

Thanks,

[Guest]

Capt. B,
Good idea on the bladder fitting in the fish box. Let me know it you go that route-I'd like to try it.

[Wolakrab]

Capt. B,
Good idea on the bladder fitting in the fish box. Let me know it you go that route-I'd like to try it.

That was me...
I forgot to log in...

[Mac]

We have installed extra tanks but honestly, I believe if it were me I would use the bladder. That way if I am not going to need the extra fuel I don't have to haul it around (or worry about an empty fuel tank getting moisture in it).

Mac