Rusty,
I'll be brief as we're just about to leave on a much-needed getaway
(unfortunately by car and not by boat) for a few weeks.
I'm afraid I can't help you with issues regarding the gasoline tanks
under the main saloon table.
Knowing that I would be living aboard KatieKat, one of the custom
modifications I requested from the factory was the relocation of the
fuel tanks from under the main saloon sole. Seawind, albeit
reluctantly, did a beautiful job of installing new tanks into the
cavities under the mast, with external fuel fillers mounted on the
slope just below the mast. This would not have been possible if I had
a power windlass.
My spare gasoline cans are located on the starboard side, sharing
space with the starboard aluminum gasoline tank. One five-gallon (20l)
and three 2-1/2-gallon (10l) cans fitting perfectly in that space. On
the portside, I still have plenty of room for six large fenders (which
I slip into the cavity directly under the mast) and assorted docklines
alongside the built-in port fuel tank. I do leave the starboard seat
cracked open for added ventilation just in case there are any external
fuel drops remaining on those spare petrol tanks.
Hmmm, should add this writeup and photos to my website, but I don't
know if Seawind would do this mod again.
This arrangement has worked out wonderfully over the years. If I were
to do it again, the only change I would make is to install a stainless
or aluminum fuel breather tube instead of the present flexible non-
metal one - this would give me peace-of-mind in a lightning storm :-)
http://www.katiekat.net/Cruise/KatieKat2003T.html#1027203
A side benefit of this fuel tank relocation has been the additional
storage space under the main saloon table; now, as I contemplate
installing an electric outboard (Torqeedo 4.0R), this space is ideal
for mounting batteries.
HTH,
Regards,
Joe Siudzinski
--
http://www.KatieKat.net
On Sep 14, 2010, at 7:48, llsitton@xxxxxxx wrote:
I followed your adventure online as well Joe. I always wanted to ask you....... I saw that you stored gas cans under the aft seats, great idea.... Did you add an extra rail back there for them to sit on in Australia or did Seawind have that on your boat already? I like that location and considered adding to my arch base to accomplish the same. My only concern was if the rail might wear the can bottom excessively, how did that work for you?
That's what's great about a like design forum.... I always wanted to know how that fuel location worked out.
Regarding fuel capacity; I have considered several options. One idea that a friend of mine recently realized is the possibility of locating a tank ahead of the engine in that "pod" area. My port engine is out being serviced and we were looking down in that hole.... Tom said.... "that's a pretty big space" and the idea got legs from there. You would have to make a carboard tank to fit the odd shape and have an aluminum version made from the "take apart pattern" but it looks like I could put around 10 gallons on each side down there. Have you ever looked at that? An extra 20 gallons (that you didn't have to add with a can under the table while sailing) would be awesome.
I always seem to spill a little and you can't get the main tanks full unless conditions are farily calm. I have done several multi day crossings and it seems like the time you need to add fuel is never "convenient". I'm going to look and see if that area would support the weight and move the idea up on my list of priorities for this season. The filler neck could come right up under the seat top so it would be very easy to fill, a short distance to the fuel filter and very "open air". I suspect there is plenty structure to support a tank because the pod sees direct hits from heavy seas.... In fact that IS it's purpose. I can't imagine it would mind the extra weight of a tank and 80 pounds of fuel. I also like the fore to aft location of any added weight. If your going to carry extra fuel, that's probably as close to mid ship as you could get without losing salon storage space. I also like that filling operations would be much more "open air" and user friendly in this location.
If I could get 10+ gallons per side, I imagine I'd use the old salon mounted tanks as my reserves, and the new ones as the mains due to the ease of filling. Just thinking here.... A 1/2" fuel line from the new tank to the existing salon tank with a 12 volt transfer pump that would maintain a decent flow rate could facilitate never having to crawl back under the salon table. As you fill the new tank, you could transfer a portion of the freshly added fuel to the old mains as a way to fill them. ooooooh... to make fueling a "Totally Kneeless" event, just bring clear vent lines from the old mains that would dump back into the new tanks, when you see fuel returning to the new tank, your old mains are full. That arrangement would vent the old mains thru the new ones and create a sealed environment under the table. Hmmmmm.. even better... with a tranfer line that circulates fuel, why not put a racor system in it so you could polish your tanks? In the immortal word of Henry Gibson on Rowan and Martins "Laugh In" veeerrrrrrry interesting..... I know.. I know... simplicity and the lowest number of connections possible usually trumps "ease of operation" everytime... but I might suffer through the complexity of this one....
I'll quit wiping my ideas all over everybody's email here and get back to work.... if I do it and like it then I'll post.
Anyway... good to be part of the group.
Sea Yawl Later !!
Rusty
-----Original Message-----
From: Joe Siudzinski <siudzinski@xxxxxxxxx>
To: scoaa-members@xxxxxxxxx
Sent: Tue, Sep 14, 2010 7:38 am
Subject: Re: [Scoaa-members] New members Rusty and Lisa
Hi Rusty and Linda,
Welcome to the Seawind Owners' group! Delighted to see you using and enjoying your Seawind, and thanks for your blog.
Cheers,
Joe Siudzinski
--
http://www.KatieKat.net
