Thread subject: Whaler Central - Boston Whaler Boat Information and Photos :: Pics of your aluminum fuel tanks on a Classic Montauk 17?
Posted by Captain Morgan on 02/14/12 - 11:28 AM
#1
I've recently purchased a 1979 Classic Montauk 17 and will be having an aluminum fuel tank/tanks made to put under the RPS. I'm still undecided on one or two tanks.
I plan on having the tanks made by a local aluminum welder. For those of you with an aluminum tank/tanks below your RPS, can you please share pictures of your tank/tanks and how you have them set up. I would like to share these with my welder, so he has an idea of what to make.
Thanks for all your help.
Posted by bmw90w on 02/14/12 - 12:23 PM
#3
You can check out mine on my personal page. I had them line xed to stave off corrosion. I had them made by mirax who I would highly recommend. They are each 12 gallon.
My vote is go with two tanks, that way if something happens to one, you have the other. Plus you always know you have enough gas to get home (assuming the other one is filled!!).
Posted by Captain Morgan on 02/14/12 - 6:01 PM
#4
Joe...Thanks for sharing, looks like somebody put a really nice paint job on those tanks.
Terry...Those mirax tanks look really nice. How much did it cost to line x them? Do you think that is superior to powder coating? This might sound like a stupid question, but what is that other line next to the fuel like that is hooked up to your tank?
Posted by todd12 on 02/14/12 - 6:14 PM
#6
Take a look at the second picture in my personal pages. Its not a good view, but you may get the idea . There is enough room to put the fuel tank and a 48qt ice chest under the seat. Both fuel tank and icechest extend past the seat by a couple of inches front and back. That tank was custom built ( back when I owned that whaler )The tank was about 22 gallons. The approximate measurement were 26"L X 13.5"W X 15.25"H. My seat is raised about 2.5". That allows the 48qt cooler to slide underneath.
Edited by todd12 on 02/14/12 - 6:16 PM
Posted by Joe Kriz on 02/14/12 - 6:24 PM
#7
todd12,
I do not see much of anything in that 2nd photo.....
Edited by Joe Kriz on 02/14/12 - 6:26 PM
Posted by todd12 on 02/14/12 - 6:41 PM
#8
Sorry about that. That is what I have available now. I will update my personal page to reflect my current Montauk . Give me a couple of days.
Posted by Joe Kriz on 02/14/12 - 6:44 PM
#9
OK...
Would like to see your installation....
Also, the 5th photo is a broken link.
You must have deleted the photo from your folder but not on your page.
Posted by bmw90w on 02/14/12 - 8:49 PM
#10
The other line is for the fuel gauge. You can order them with a manual or electric fuel sending unit. Line x is superior to powdercoating no doubt. I would recommend a darker color though because gas can stain it. Even if you get black, line x, it doesn't absorb heat so the tanks still stay regular temperature. I think I paid 40-50 per tank to get it done. You can tell them what color you want.
Posted by Captain Morgan on 02/15/12 - 7:30 AM
#11
Joe...Thanks for the link on the mats.
Terry...If you had to do it all over again, would you order the electric fuel sending unit? In doing some research, I've read guys suggesting a manual one because the electric ones can go bad. Not sure if that is the case with these mirax tanks.
Posted by bmw90w on 02/15/12 - 9:39 PM
#12
If they do go bad they are replaceable and cheap. I have had no problems, but anything can go bad. I also haven't heard of guys having problems with it. I like mine being electric because I can check my fuel on my gauge. I don't want to have to life up the tank to check it, but it is up to you.
Mine didn't fit great on the original mats, so I took those up and installed dri-dek. That is another option for you.
You can't go wrong with mirax tanks, they are great quality and they used to make the original oem tanks. Plastic tanks work too so it is up to you. I just wanted the original look with the flexibility of two tanks. Let me know if you have any other questions.
Posted by Captain Morgan on 02/16/12 - 1:04 PM
#14
Terry...Thanks again for all the info. The flexibility of two tanks is definitely the way to go.
Stevebaz.....Thanks for sharing all those pictures. I noticed your tanks have what looks like two fuel connections. Is this so you can switch back and forth between the tanks or is one of those a vent. Are these tanks required to have vents? Sorry for all the questions, I just want to make sure I get it right. Can you explain how you set everything up?
Posted by stevebaz on 02/16/12 - 2:24 PM
#15
On my tanks I put connections so I can swap tanks. When disconnected they dont leak. I also used quick connects and shut offs on the vents so when I remove the tanks I can close them I tee'd the vents together and ran a line down the rigging tunnel and up over the transom. I also used spade connectors for quick connects and ran a ground through the rigging tummel ultimately to battery ground. I also have a spare fuel line run to a portable kicker motor that I can hang anytime. I covered all bases and most of it was over kill. But you cant be faulted for running too much stuff. In a manner of minutes I can pull or connect both tanks and be off and running. I stabilize all the fuel I put in the tanks. I dont use alot of fuel when I am out so I run one tank down and then swap tanks and fill the other one, that way I use up the old fuel first. When I bought my tanks from Mirax I had them mirror the the fittings instead of making the 2 tanks the same. this keeps all the connections close to each other and you dont need extra long lines. The decals I had them made by Magic Brush.
Posted by bmw90w on 02/16/12 - 3:44 PM
#16
I did the same thing stevebaz did. In fact if not for you, I would have not known to get them mirrored Steve thanks!! Do what he and I did and it is easy. As soon as I run out I reconnect the other fuel line to the other tank. The quick connect on the gauge wires work the same way. Perfect system in my book. Mirax will also put on the shutoffs, so all you need is the connectors for the fuel gauge. Tell them what you want, and they will explain it all as well.
Posted by todd12 on 02/16/12 - 7:12 PM
#17
Check the last couple of photos in my personal page. This is a brand new tank I just had built . It is approximately 21.5 gallons.
Posted by Captain Morgan on 02/17/12 - 2:58 PM
#18
stevebaz & bmw90w....Thanks for sharing all the pics and for the detailed explanations on everything. This is has made it much easier for me to understand. Sounds like Mirax is really good at customizing to an individuals needs.
tood....Thats cool that you were able to get a single 21.5 gallon tank under the RPS and still leave room for a cooler. Does this impact the weight distribution in the boat at all? Something like this could potentially eliminate some of my space issues, although i don't know if I could get a 50lb seabass in that cooler. =)
I've noticed a lot of guys have raised up their RPS. I'm assuming this is more for visibility then space under the RPS.
Posted by Finnegan on 02/17/12 - 3:10 PM
#19
I have raised the RPS seats on all of my Whalers, mainly for seating comfort. Raised consoles round out the installation for superior comfort and ease of standing operation. On boats that have internal fuel tanks, the raised RPS allows for placement of a 72Qt cushioned Igloo under the seat.
http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v42...G_0917.jpg
Posted by todd12 on 02/17/12 - 5:35 PM
#20
The weight distribution is not an issue.I may have to shift where I drive from slightly. By the way the ice chest is a 48qt igloo cooler , and yes you better filet that seabass first :)
Edited by todd12 on 02/17/12 - 5:48 PM