Gas Tanks Redo

[NiceAft]

Whatever you do, don't get the Scepter 12 gallon. It is definitely about an inch too tall for the 26M fuel tank space. I just made this mistake, and am trying to justify raising the lid by moving the hinges to the seat back where they can be mounted higher. But, that creates a bump in the cockpit seats I'll have to deal with somehow. Also, the full tank was pretty freaking heavy to lift onto the trailered boat. Gotta figure that situation out, too, as there are no dockside gas stations here. The only good thing is I bought on Amazon as "Used-Like New", at $65.

Note: For those of you ready to comment t on the hold down strap running the wrong way....I will be adding a 2nd strap and putting them the other way across the tank where the grooves are molded.

Try a different approach.

Screw a 1/2 inch slab onto the seats on either side of the lid, or whatever is needed for the proper height to compensate for the rise in the tank. You can then attach the lid to one of the new
surfaces. All three surfaces will be level.

How much higher would the seats be? What ever the distance increase for clearance. There should be enough distance for decent back support.

If you can’t lower the tank, raise the seats.

What slabs for the seat surfaces are made of, is up to you.

[OverEasy]

FYI: Here’s what the Moeller 12 gallon tanks and hatches look like on Over Easy our Mac26X (before clean-up):

[NiceAft]

FYI: Here’s what the Moeller 12 gallon tanks and hatches look like on Over Easy our Mac26X (before clean-up):

Not being familiar with the X; It looks like the X has a totally different set up for a gas tank compartment. Was the mid section of the seat also a lid for access to a tank before your reconstruction?

[Russ]

Also, the full tank was pretty freaking heavy to lift onto the trailered boat.

WOW, that's about 77 lbs. Virtually impossible to lift.

What about filling it while on the trailer? That's what I do. On the way to the ramp, I stop and fill up.

Or maybe something like this.

[NiceAft]

Skim61 wrote:

Also, the full tank was pretty freaking heavy to lift onto the trailered boat.

I agree with Russ. Once you solve the lid problem, just fill up at a filling station near the ramp, while the boat is still on the trailer.

[Russ]

Whatever you do, don't get the Scepter 12 gallon. It is definitely about an inch too tall for the 26M fuel tank space. I just made this mistake, and am trying to justify raising the lid by moving the hinges to the seat back where they can be mounted higher. But, that creates a bump in the cockpit seats I'll have to deal with somehow. Also, the full tank was pretty freaking heavy to lift onto the trailered boat. Gotta figure that situation out, too, as there are no dockside gas stations here. The only good thing is I bought on Amazon as "Used-Like New", at $65.

Note: For those of you ready to comment t on the hold down strap running the wrong way....I will be adding a 2nd strap and putting them the other way across the tank where the grooves are molded.

I would write this up as a loss and bad purchase and try and find a tank that fits. Sell the Scepter tank locally at a loss.
Maybe a smaller 6 gal tank if the Moeller tanks are not available.
I would not want to move the hinge. That would make the seat so awkward.

The BWY upgrade is a bit pricey but would last forever.

https://shop.bwyachts.com/product-p/4011-1m0.htm

[dlandersson]

I agree. I find the 6 gallon scepter tanks work pretty nicely. And then I use my 2 gallon lawnmower gas can to top them off once a summer.

WOW, that's about 77 lbs. Virtually impossible to lift.

[NiceAft]

I agree. I find the 6 gallon scepter tanks work pretty nicely. And then I use my 2 gallon lawnmower gas can to top them off once a summer.

WOW, that's about 77 lbs. Virtually impossible to lift.

If you are going to be doing any cruising now, or in the future, 6 gallon tanks just won't do. If not, then the smaller tanks are a solution.

We took a 380 mile cruise to the Chesapeake and back last summer. The distances between marinas dictated motoring instead of sailing. I also had on board two military (NATO) 5 gallon Gerry cans just in case. Going down the Delaware against the tide for 50 miles was consuming a lot of fuel, even at hull speed.

[OverEasy]

Hi Nice Aft!

The Mac26X bench as from the factory is a solid surface.

We cut through it to add the hatches for each fuel cubby so we could top access the tanks with as little fuss as possible.

Best Regards,
Over Easy

[NiceAft]

Hi Nice Aft!

The Mac26X bench as from the factory is a solid surface.

We cut through it to add the hatches for each fuel cubby so we could top access the tanks with as little fuss as possible.

Best Regards,
Over Easy

Thanks.

I thought that comparing X configurations to M configurations might be like and . The flip open top is quite different.

I mentioned about raising the seat levels because that’s what I would do. Level seating and still plenty of back support.

[OverEasy]

Hi Skim61 & Nice Aft!

Actually having sat in a Mac26M I think your raised hinge idea might be more comfortable than the stock bench height!!!

It would give a more comfortable leg room arrangement for taller individuals without having one’s knees banging into the pedestal corners.

It would also give a slightly higher perch for anyone seated there looking forward without having to climb up into the upper corner seats.
“Celebrating” the height difference for the hatch is a good way to make a nice custom comfort feature.
The forward portion of the benches would now have a “pocket” feature that would comfortably keep an individual in place.
(Not many individuals [except but a child] are short enough to actually lie down on on a Mac26M bench anyway.)

Could be a Win-Win situation allowing you to keep your great bargain on the tanks and make for more comfortable seating!

Your Boat/Your Rules

Best Regards,
Over Easy

[OverEasy]

Hi Russ!

I like your portable rolling gas’s tank idea!!!

Marinas tend to charge a premium for dock fueling.
Sometimes as much as $1.50 a gallon over the same non-ethanol fuel available inland.
I’m not against the convenience of a fueling doc or acknowledgment that there are additional facility cost burdens for on dock refueling.
It’s just hard paying that much more when I grew up making the eagle scream before letting go of it….

If we were to be able to get a seasonal slip it would be something we’d consider, if we could place a large enough locker at the slip to hold the roll-about tank after refueling the boat tanks.

We’d also have to make some sort of a ramp to get the roll-about tank into/out-of our van.
(It is a very very very bad idea to refuel a portable tank in/on a motor vehicle as it will develop a serious static charge during refueling!)
(Seen it happen…..not pleasant……)

Some similar roll-about tanks I’ve seen are gravity feed discharge, some have liquid hand pumps and others have a small 12VDC electric fuel pump. (Given the summer sun down here one could also just close the vent allowing the tank vapor pressure to increase…)

Great suggestion!

Best Regards,
Over Easy

[Be Free]

Nice Aft. If you do get the wet slip don't forget to check that they will allow you to refill your tanks from a portable tank. Some marinas frown on the practice.

[NiceAft]

Nice Aft. If you do get the wet slip don't forget to check that they will allow you to refill your tanks from a portable tank. Some marinas frown on the practice.

I have not kept Nice Aft in a slip for several years now.

We used to have a slip at a marina on the Delaware River about eight miles north of Philadelphia. The river is narrow there, and the wind mostly came from the direction of the city. We got tired of always tacking, and needing to motor to get into the city, so we decided to stop being at the slip.

Now Nice Aft sits in our driveway except for two to three weeks a year. It’s a toy we purchased after my wife recovered from Breast Cancer (2003). It does not dictate our lives. We still use our 1979 Phantom


And our 2005 Achilles 9’ inflatable



Life is

[Skim61]

Also, the full tank was pretty freaking heavy to lift onto the trailered boat.

WOW, that's about 77 lbs. Virtually impossible to lift.

What about filling it while on the trailer? That's what I do. On the way to the ramp, I stop and fill up.

Or maybe something like this.

Yeah, it was heavy. Considering the portable tank idea. I'm also thinking of simply removing the hinges and putting a piece of pipe insulation on both sides to raise the lid. If the height difference is less than an inch, I don't think it'll be too bad with the cockpit Cushion on top. If more than an inch...different tanks. But, I need more than 12 gallons total.

Does anyone have a pic of the new Moeller 12 gallon tank on their 26M? And is it the low profile tank?