100 Gallon Fuel tank under V-Berth?

[Cadence]

Originally Posted by Cosmos

I'm currently looking at a boat that has a custom 100 gallon aluminum fuel tank that the owner recently installed under the V-berth. Do you think the weight of a full tank would be of any concern in how the boat handles under sail? Or would it be negligible...

Does anyone have any experience with a tank in this location?

It's a 36ft boat, displacement 16,500 lbs.

Thanks!

I believe it will effect handling and hobby horsing. You will probably have anchor and chain forward also. I believe I would walk or include the tank as a negative in negotiations.Take it for what it may or may not be worth.

[Cosmos]

Hey all,

Thanks for the feedback. I'm not sure why the PO decided to do this. There used to be a a smaller holding tank in this location but he removed that, put in a composting head, and installed this fuel tank (which is Diesel by the way).

I mixed up my numbers last night (it was late) and it's actually a 75gal tank, not 100gal. The 100 number that was in my head is the total fuel capacity on board. Regardless, it's still a lot of weight.

I'm not sure of the exact dimensions, but it does take up a fair amount os space. Though there is still minimal storage under the V-berth, and there is still an anchor locker. I didn't get a look inside the tank, but I would assume there are decent baffles inside. I do not think the PO spared any expense on the boat, and actually put quite a bit of money into it recently. He's an engineer and it looks like he took great care of the vessel. Everything is labeled nice and neat, and there are logs of everything that has been done to the boat, including diagrams and explanations for each system.

I didn't think it was a great idea to have the tank up there, but I wanted to see if anyone had any differing opinions. I feel that the consensus is that it is probably not the best idea. Though I supposed boatman61 nailed it. The best way for me to determine whether it's good or bad is to take it out for a sail myself and decide.

I do appreciate all of the replies.

Cheers,
Cosmos

[Cheechako]

I might not rule out the boat if it still has a GOOD tank in the normal location. But I wouldn't fill that bow tank.

[Steadman Uhlich]

The PO must have liked using the Iron Genny.

[Zach]

I'd be curious where the boat or owner are located...

In the event that they were planning to motor the ICW ditch, then 75 gallons wouldn't be unreasonable, to only have to fuel her once on the way up and once on the way down.

[Cadence]

Originally Posted by Cosmos

Hey all,

Thanks for the feedback. I'm not sure why the PO decided to do this. There used to be a a smaller holding tank in this location but he removed that, put in a composting head, and installed this fuel tank (which is Diesel by the way).

I mixed up my numbers last night (it was late) and it's actually a 75gal tank, not 100gal. The 100 number that was in my head is the total fuel capacity on board. Regardless, it's still a lot of weight.

I'm not sure of the exact dimensions, but it does take up a fair amount os space. Though there is still minimal storage under the V-berth, and there is still an anchor locker. I didn't get a look inside the tank, but I would assume there are decent baffles inside. I do not think the PO spared any expense on the boat, and actually put quite a bit of money into it recently. He's an engineer and it looks like he took great care of the vessel. Everything is labeled nice and neat, and there are logs of everything that has been done to the boat, including diagrams and explanations for each system.

I didn't think it was a great idea to have the tank up there, but I wanted to see if anyone had any differing opinions. I feel that the consensus is that it is probably not the best idea. Though I supposed boatman61 nailed it. The best way for me to determine whether it's good or bad is to take it out for a sail myself and decide.

I do appreciate all of the replies.

Cheers,
Cosmos

Only if you take it out in nasty weather with a full tank. Anything will sail well on a mill pond.

[Stumble]

I don't mindthe extra tank to be honest. A small day tank with the option of storing half a ton of fuel when you need it isn't a bad thing. I probably wouldn't ever use it, but it wouldn't hurt my feelings that it is there.

But then I seriously considered adding a 5 gallon day tank to the Beneteau and drying out our 40 gallon main tank.

[sailorchic34]

The old Tayana 37 in many cases had a 70 gallon tank under the v-berth. That thing would hoppy horse in anything over 15 knots to windward.