12 Gallon Tanks

[Dogginit]

Are there any brands of portable 12 gallon fuel tanks out there that will fit in the Mac 26M? I tried the Scepter brand but its a little to high for the seat to sit flush. I'm considering a pair of the 17 gallon from BWY but with shipping and exchange (and straps and connectors and grounding wire kit), its a thousand dollar price tag.

[Bobglas]

I have a Moeller 12 gal. tank. Fits on my 26M.

[Inquisitor]

I have a Moeller 12 gal. tank. Fits on my 26M.

Ditto here. Moeller 12 gal.
But you might want to search the forum. It seems like I read a thread recently that newer models of the Moeller 12 doesn't fit anymore... or does fit again.

[OverEasy]

Hi!
If anyone still interested West Marine and PontoonSupply amount other supplier currently offer the:

MOELLER–12 Gallon Low Permeation Above Deck Fuel Tank
24 long x 18 wide x 11 tall
Fuel fill and draw porting in center top section
Model # 11882578 | Mfg # 630013LP

This is a tight fit on the 24 long dimension for our Mac26X fuel cubbys but there is space to trim the lip flanges on either side of either cubby as well as top and bottom if necessary as we are doing. We are trimming with a carbide bit Ryobi battery laminate trim router and then sealing the exposed edge with epoxy and white touch-up gel coat.

We are also carefully adding a hatch through the seats over the cubbys access, refuel and check gauges.
We are putting in a flange on the underside and will reuse the seat sections with a stainless hinge and turn latch to keep them in place.
Again sealing the edges with epoxy and white gel coat.

We are replacing the 9 gallon Moeller tanks that currently fit there.

Hope this helps.

[beechkingd]

Hi!
If anyone still interested West Marine and PontoonSupply amount other supplier currently offer the:

MOELLER–12 Gallon Low Permeation Above Deck Fuel Tank
24 long x 18 wide x 11 tall
Fuel fill and draw porting in center top section
Model # 11882578 | Mfg # 630013LP

This is a tight fit on the 24 long dimension for our Mac26X fuel cubbys but there is space to trim the lip flanges on either side of either cubby as well as top and bottom if necessary as we are doing. We are trimming with a carbide bit Ryobi battery laminate trim router and then sealing the exposed edge with epoxy and white touch-up gel coat.

We are also carefully adding a hatch through the seats over the cubbys access, refuel and check gauges.
We are putting in a flange on the underside and will reuse the seat sections with a stainless hinge and turn latch to keep them in place.
Again sealing the edges with epoxy and white gel coat.

We are replacing the 9 gallon Moeller tanks that currently fit there.

Hope this helps.

Do you have any pictures of the install? Do the tanks stick out into the cockpit at all when installed in your X?

[Starscream]

I'd love to see a photo of those 12 gal tanks on the 26X too.

I did some research with the Scepter / Moeller tanks on Amazon: they have them for $100 cdn but...

http://www.moellermarine.com/wp-content ... 13LP16.pdf

I measured the tank locker vs. those drawings and my measuring tape says they don't fit. At least, not cleanly.

https://www.amazon.ca/Scepter-Marine-Pr ... 280&sr=8-2

[OverEasy]

Hi All!

Here are some "dirty" in-process and "cleaner" installed photos of our 12 Gallon Fuel Tank Modification / Upgrade.

Please pardon the winter scrud ..... working on projects is the current priority in getting ready to get on the water for the 2021 SPRING SEASON !!!
Once the projects are secured WE WILL WASH the boat with the new (Christmas Present) Ryobi Electric Pressure Washer. Honest!!!
Sorry there are no "Before" pictures with the previous tanks and the fuel tank cubbies in their original configuration.

Anyway here are the photos:
1) Layout to make the Seat Tank Cubby Aceess Hatch cutouts. (Same for each side)


2)_ Dry fit of Seat Tank Access Hatch.


3) Installed Seat Access Hatch screwed and glued. (Note: We took time while things were exposed to fill in the intra-seat hollow voids with water-proof foam as well as the cubby interior top surface perimeter to eliminate any place for future wasps to take up residence in the future. those interested might want to take a look-see in their fuel cubbies as there is about a 1/2" to 3/4" wide gap between the interior cubby ceiling edge to the cubby walls ALL the way around. ) )


4) Installed Access Hatched Open showing the new 12 gallon fuel tanks fill port and quantity gauge. There is more than enough room to get a fuel fill nozzle and/or the spout of a portable 5 gallon transfer canister in. The fuel gauges are plainly visible when seated at the helm.


5) Here is a picture of the fuel cubby lip AFTER routing it out (on both fwd and aft) edges. We left the existing upper and lower lips inlace as they were.


6) Here is the newly widened fuel cubby opening.


7) TADA!!!! The NEW 12 GALLON TANKS FIT!!!! (Just a 1/2" per side room to spare. Note: In the "Final" installation we will be placing a nitrile rubber spacer sheet on both the fwd and aft sides of the tank so they don't rattle about. Ditto for under each of the new tanks.


View from Aft looking Forward showing the maximum 'protrusion of the NEW tank into the cockpit. It is the same for both sides and is the same as the protrusion of the prior tanks.


Still to Do Items:
New fuel lines to be mounted to the cockpit walls to keep them up off the cockpit floor.
Custom PVC Fuel line floor cross over protective cover in the 'engine foot well' to keep from stepping on and tripping over fuel lines
Addition of fuel tank selector valve (A/B/Both)
Addition of canister fuel filter/water separator
Painting of all exposed fiberglass with fresh white gelcoat


It's gonna be a busy week down here as we are concurrently remodeling the Galley, Adding 3 Bilge pumps, Adding High Bilge water alarm, Converting to a dual selectable battery system, Removal/remodel of old boat electrical distribution system, Fabrication/Installation/Wiring of new code compliant DC Electrical Control panel.

We are gonna have to set the new AC Shore Power and Dual Battery Charger System (and separate battery charge indicators) on hold for the moment until we get into our marina slip before the end of the month....

Gotta get back to it ......
(Code requirements are that one can't have AC and DC in the same enclosure.

[beechkingd]

Addition of fuel tank selector valve (A/B/Both)

Have you found one that will work? The one's I've seen don't look like they belong topside. All your progress looks good. If I go that route I'd come up with some type of cover for the opening once it's done I guess.

[Jimmyt]

Looking good! That's quite the to-do list you've got going. Can't wait to see more!

[OverEasy]

About the Fuel Selector..... I had found one.. .. but right at the moment it appears that I have misplaced the cut sheet for it and I can't recall where I found it ....Fribble....

What we're gonna do is make a bracket for it mounting just alongside where the fuel filter/water separator on the aft face of the starboard bench engines area within reach/sight of the helm seat. We will have to make an extension handle so as to minimize fuel line rises which could result in airlocks. Haven't figured out where to actually mount the hand primer bulb as yet. (We'd like to avoid using an electric fuel pump..... if we do add one it would only be a switch selectable momentary on demand).

[OverEasy]

Thanks JimmyT!

We need all the encouragement we can get.... ... the days are getting warmer, the list get longer, but the progress is sometime painfully slow.

Boat Project Planning 101

1) Concieve of a thing to do
2) Get started getting rid of the old stuff
3) Find out there are other things one should do while things are opened up
4) Discover things aren't what you thought they were/aren't accessible from where you are/can get what you thought you could
5) Adapt what you have and can actually get/drive all over the place to find what should work/expand workscope and timeline and budget
6) Remember that you forgot one or three of the original objectives while battling multiple concurrent metaphorical alligators
7) Plan on getting up earlier each morning only to find that the brain is hardwired to it's own time zone which is much later than the one the alarm clock has been set to
8 ) Shrug shoulders and do the next thing one can

Back at it tomorrow!

[Starscream]

Nice job on the fuel tanks. Thanks for those photos.

I was on the fence about the 12 gal mod, and I think the photos convinced me to not to. As much as I like the 12 gallon idea, I have covers on the fuel lockers and I like not seeing the tanks. Plus, I store stuff beside the 9 gal. (outboard oil, propane canisters, BBQ accessories). I guess I'll continue doing what I'm doing now, which is to bring along an extra 25L can under the captain's seat for those long trips.

I really like seeing progress photos, keep posting!

[OverEasy]

Thanks!

We can fully understand!
It is a bit of work and isn't going to meet the needs of everyone.

For us it is about our getting ready (boat wise and personal skill wise) to do extended trips on the Atlantic ICW in 2022.
There are long narrow channels, tides and river currents (and other traffic) to contend with and stretches with few refueling options.

I did a dry-run self-test of refueling our prior tanks from a hand carry can in cockpit and while it's possible to not make a mess of it, we wouldn't want to be doing it on open water with any kind of wave action without a transfer pump of some sort. After trying to see how to store/secure/use a filled 5 Gallon hand carry can under the helm seat (getting on/off and under adverse sea conditions) we made our choice to go with the 12 gallon tanks.
(That and I'm not nearly as dexterous as I swear I remember myself being! )

We are also considering looking to get one of those newer ultra quiet generators to sling under the helm seat.
When we get to exploring the southern regions of the ICW and down into Florida a small Air Conditioning unit arrangement is going to be required for us to be comfortable when not being at a slip.

We would have gone ahead with the fuel line/filter/water separator/fuel selector modifications anyway had we stayed with our prior tanks.

One option we had considered was to mount a pair of smaller square 2-1/2 gallon "off-roader" center mount hand carry tanks on the rear port & starboard outer corners where they wouldn't be in the way of getting on/off our boat. That could possibly be an option someone might want to explore for extended motor cruising. My concern there was the structural integrity of the corner rails with the addition of tank and fuel weight along with my the enroute handling dexterity (or lack there-of ) to refuel.

[OverEasy]

H All

Found cut sheets for fuel selector valve and fuel fit her/water strainer:




Selection Rationale:
- True 4 way valve allows use of Tank A or Tank B or Tanks A & B or Off.
(—> Note: The Moeller 4 way valve only allows for selection of a separate Tank A or Tank B or Tank C or Off)
- Larger size reduces internal valve restriction
- Flange bracket mountable




Selection Rationale:
- More than sufficient flow rate
- Easy visual inspection/draining of water
- relatively compact size

[Russ]

The external fuel filter water separator has been on my to-do list for years.

My boat came with quick disconnects on both tanks. It's worked well. Switch tanks in seconds, easy peezy.