[JiffJingle]

I need to expand my fuel capacity on offshore trips (diesel). Rather than invest in a bladder system, I got a hold of a pair of 55 gallon drums. I have heard of others using drums, but I need some ideas. I wanted to know what other people do to carry extra fuel offshore, and how to transfer the fuel from the barrels into the tank. Thanks!!

 

[MakoMike]

The transfer part is easy, use a fuel pump. The hard part is what do you do with empties? They are big and bulky but light in weight, so they'll fly around your deck in a seaway unless they are tied down and most boats don't have enough room to tie down two drums on deck and still be able to work comfortably in the ****pit. If they are metal you could just sink them, but that would get expensive fast and would also be a huge PITA to clean them before they went overboard.

 

[JiffJingle]

They're plastic, and I was going to strap them to the bow rail while we fished, then put them in the ****pit for the run home. What kind of fuel pump would I use? Manual or electric? I'm kinda lost. Thanks.

 

[JESSIELEE]

This is the pump I used when transferring diesel from a plastic drum. It worked perfectly and never spilled a drop. About $25 at West Marine.

This post edited by JESSIELEE 08:08 AM 08/08/2008

 

[TonySMJC]

spend the money

A small bladder ststem is around 1000.00 with the pumps and tie downs

Its small and neater during transfer and folds up th the size of a very large pillow when not in use .

I have used mine for 3 seasons and Its the way to go

barrels are cumbersome and need to be stored between trips as well as on the boat

unless you add a spigot tranfering through the top of the barrel can in a sea be a messy proposition even if its just through the 3 inch hole.

The bladder has a fill vent and discharge nozel with ball valve

and even better if your fuel fills are on the deck then a pump is not needed as it will gravity feed with just a good push to get the flow started

goodluck

 

[encaa5]

fuel transfer

We carry (2) plastic 30 gallons containers I bought from Hamilton Marine to carry diesel. You need either a 110 volt or manual drump pump to transfer the fuel. We transfer before trolling and then lash them to the bow rail. They go back in ****pit when returning home. Electric pumps are made by Flux, Lutz, Standard. You can find manual pump at industrial supply house. Be careful of cheap stuff from China

Are you transferring gas or diesel? I would probably use a manual pump for gas.

 

[BLUEFISH9]

much more simple...

Keep your drum up front in the bow.
Before mounting and filling, take the time to do a little custom fabrication...drill a hole in the bottom of the drum affix and seal a hose bib to the drilled hole. Then, simply thread on a garden hose and run the other end well inside your fuel fill. Open the hose bib and watch the fuel flow right into your tank(s). Usually, the bow is higher on most boats in relation to the fuel fills which are traditionally mounted astern. Gravity should do all the work for you.
Hope that helps.

 

[tunaorlater]

BLUEFISH9 wrote:
Keep your drum up front in the bow.
Before mounting and filling, take the time to do a little custom fabrication...drill a hole in the bottom of the drum affix and seal a hose bib to the drilled hole. Then, simply thread on a garden hose and run the other end well inside your fuel fill. Open the hose bib and watch the fuel flow right into your tank(s). Usually, the bow is higher on most boats in relation to the fuel fills which are traditionally mounted astern. Gravity should do all the work for you.
Hope that helps.


HUH?? You put a 55 gallon drum up on the bow? How do you secure it down? Sounds like alot of wieght looking to come at you on a big wave.

 

[Squeri Boy]

We have been taking extra fuel for 2 decades now. Real simple - just a lil time. And weve also tried the bladders.

We carry either 20 or 30 gallon jugs. There is a guy on Sunrise Highway in AMityville that sells them. We tried the 55 gallon drums - too much weight in one place and in teh stern. With the smaller ones we can lash them a bit more forward in teh ****pit as well as placing 1 or 2 in the forward compartment (wrapped in tuff garbage bags).

My buddy modified his with quick connect attachements for an easy no spill transfer. We bought a 110 diesel transfer pump from the Northern catalog and added the quick connect attachments. Transfer takes about 5 minutes and then we take the jugs on the bow and tie them off to the bowrail.

Ill try and take pics of the system.

 

[BLUEFISH9]

tunaorlater wrote:
BLUEFISH9 wrote:
Keep your drum up front in the bow.
Before mounting and filling, take the time to do a little custom fabrication...drill a hole in the bottom of the drum affix and seal a hose bib to the drilled hole. Then, simply thread on a garden hose and run the other end well inside your fuel fill. Open the hose bib and watch the fuel flow right into your tank(s). Usually, the bow is higher on most boats in relation to the fuel fills which are traditionally mounted astern. Gravity should do all the work for you.
Hope that helps.


HUH?? You put a 55 gallon drum up on the bow? How do you secure it down? Sounds like alot of wieght looking to come at you on a big wave.

Im sorry...should have clarified. I dont use a 55 gallon drum. I use a 30 gallon drum. As far as securing it down, I should have clarified that too... I have a 29ft walkaround so there is a nice secure area up front in which the barrel sits. I have two eye straps which are through bolted to the boat along with two stainless steel shackles that are secured onto each side of the barrell (the top of the barrell has a 2 1/2" lip that I drilled through) I then use ratchet straps from the shackles on the drum to the eye straps on the deck. Barrel aint' going anywhere.
Now obviously I know everyone has a different style boat...My intent was for the author to grab bits and pieces of ideas. This is what works on my boat.

 

[encaa5]

bladders Tonysmjc

I think the bladders are a lot easier but when I called a supplier he gave me a life span of 5-6 years. The cost and life turned me off.

I never thought of the West bilge pumps but like the idea as it is a lot simpler then the rotary hand pumps I've used.

 

[TonySMJC]

what bladder

I have mine 3 and it gets no special care

looks and works great may need a new ball valve one day but the bladder is still as new

Spend the $$ just because many are taking some pretty big risk cont be one of them

strapping and lashing 200 lb liquid projectiles up .... up anywhere is not IMHO a great idea

transfering oil in any way that is not closed right to the fill is IMHO another not so hot idea

Right tool for the right job
price of
tuna rod 300
gold reel 500
line for reel 200 changed all the time

60 gallons of fuel flying through the air smacking you in the head and then spilling into the ocean

PRICE LESS

If your gonna carry fuel in jugs or drums keep it low in the boat (not below decks) and keep the container weight managable

Oh yea again in my humble opinion
Going off shore in anything thats length starts
with a 2 and needs jugs of anytype to extend its range again

NOT A GREAT IDEA

 

[Boonebird]

I fish on a 38 rampage. I would tie it more a midship. I can tell the diffrence when the livewell is full. I can imagine that and 110 gallons of fuel and ice. Ouch. How far are you planning on running? We put 35 gallon drum on a downeast boat I used to fish on. We lifted it on the gunnle and did a syphen deal with a rubber hose. God I can still taste the diesel to this day. LOL

The rampage I fish has enough fuel for atlantis to 100 square no problem. More than that might be tuff.

 

[Squeri Boy]

jiff,
You will definitely see a difference. Try and get them midship. I sometimes think there is a point where you take too much fuel and you burn more because of teh extra weight and displacement. I would look into the smaller jugs. Worked much better for our boat.

 

[06405]

i have transfered fuel in both drums and fuel bladders. I perfer the bladder because of the easy storage after use just roll it up and put it under storage. When we use the drums we leave them in the ****pit then arival in the canyons we store them up in the tower. We use an electric fuel pump made for transfering fuel.

 

[MakoMike]

JiffJingle wrote:
The boat is a 38' Rampage. I was planning on running with one drum in each corner, back against the transom. I am kinda worried if this will effect how we run. Maybe its better to move them more towards midship, and tie them to the tower legs? Any thoughts?

Get them as close to mid-ship as possible.