Sailboat with 2 fuel tanks

A heeling sailboat should not run under engine, if there is enough wind to heel the boat, you don't need it anyway they say.

But there are cases when you need that extra push; in tight surroundings, to clear a lee shore or whatever.

Is there any functioning simple solution to prevent the engine from sucking air from the opposite tank apart from shutting it off ?

 

What happened to your tank selector valve? The 2 shutoff valves? A transfer valve. Run 1 tank dry then switch to the other. Then you know it is time to refuel. I feel confused.

 

Bingo Richard, and take your medication . . .

 

Just imagine you don't have an engine to fall back upon, then you don't get yourself into situations where you'd need it in the first place

In my opinion sailors get lazy when they have an auxilliary, not a good habit to get into.

B. Hamm

 

Preacherman,

Is this for new build or a existing ship?

For newbuild:
- keep it low on the centreline of the boat.
- keep it narrow (also good with regard to free surface effect).
- make the cross section close to triangular, pointing down.

Existing is already covered by Richard