twin fuel tanks

[RDB]

Anyone know much about installing twin tanks, specifically equalizing? Do you have to, or since its for twins, can you just pickup and return independently. Generator and diesel heaters of course may throw things out of balance a bit. Anyways, any tips would be greatly appreciated. Thanks

[PowerTech]

yea man you got a port and a starbord tank or for and aft. You will have selectors for feul suply and return on diesels I don't know if the gas guys have a return or not you can buy a one piece selector valve that switches the return and suply at the same time those are nice.you can put together ball valves to do the samething.It is good to beable to run both motors off of one tank if you want to.As for equilizing them you use a feul transfer pump jabsco makes them when using a eletric pump hide or protect the switch well or you can make a hell of a mess.You can also have nipples on the botom rear sides of the tanks and conect them with good hose and a ballvalve in the hose someware you can reach.You can run with the valve open on port and starbord tanks like alot of dudes do.

[ABoatGuy]

One way (assuming a twin diesel installation):

- Run gen-set, heater etc. directly to one of the tanks.
- Run the propulsion engines to six port valves (Parker makes small ones), and the valves (intake and returns) to each of the tanks.

When the valve handle is changed from one position to the other, both supply and return lines are switch from one tank to the other.

Another way:

Plumb everything to one tank and transfer fuel from the second tank to the first as necessary. You may want to put a float switch in the main tank to shut down the transfer pump when the tank is full. There have been some nasty incidents of tanks overflowing through the vents with transfer pumps left on. In this day and age that could be REALLY expensive. Also keep trim in mind. If you have a pair of wing tanks, this doesn't work too well.

Some boats equalize tanks with valves and hoses linking them at the bottom of the tanks. It works, but I'm not gung-ho about openings below the top of a tank (although I don't believe ABYC has any problem with it as long as the fuel is not gasoline). Full tanks in a boat that has much trim change during operation can also lead to overflow. Not the best solution in my mind.

In all cases remember you may experience trim changes if the installation isn't planned carefully. Diesel weighs about 7lb/gal and a little goes a long way in rolling boats around.

good luck

[mackid068]

Hmm. Is this for power or sail? Power, I would think. It seems like a good idea, but what if you run low on fuel? Then you have a problem. Solve it, perhaps, by being able to transfer all fuel to one tank and pump in seawater to the other to equalize.

[RDB]

thanks for the insight everyone

[PowerTech]

{Solve it, perhaps, by being able to transfer all fuel to one tank and pump in seawater to the other to equalize.}No No No No!!!!Help me out folks is this the most ridiculus thing you ever heard of.You should be glad you poasted that on the internet before you actualy said that out loud someware.(Wafies)

[mackid068]

I dunno...geez.