Got a sailboat. Don't know what I'm doing. Where are my fuel tanks?
Posted by ___xXx__xXx__xXx__@reddit | sailing | View on Reddit | 43 comments
Bought a Kingfisher 26. Webpage I found says the diesel is kept in the keels. It's a very old boat, so when I saw that metal tank under the bench in the cockpit, I assumed someone had changed that location to the fuel tank. But if it is a fuel tank, I can't figure out where you'd fill it up.
What is that tank?
Then there's that yellow plastic container - I'm guessing that's water, but maybe it's diesel?
So if the diesel is in the keels, there are two fuel caps (one pictured) and they both have these two holes. There's no key or anything on the boat to open up those caps that I can see. How would I get in to them? And can I test how much fuel is in there by just dipping them with a dip stick?
Thanks.
NSAscanner@reddit
Yellow is your fuel tank. Don’t drink from the diesel can.
BlackStumpFarm@reddit
Rule 1 going forward: Yellow tanks for diesel only - never water or gas!
OldBowDude@reddit
OP FYI: Common Plastic Jerry Can Color Codes Red: Gasoline (Petrol) Yellow: Diesel Blue: Kerosene Green: Oil or 2-Stroke fuel mixture White/Clear/Light Blue: Water
Also, just because a certain color is supposed to indicate certain contents does not mean they were correctly used. Always verify before using.
pedal-force@reddit
I always assumed 2 stroke mixture was red with "50:1" scrawled all over it in faded sharpie.
futurebigconcept@reddit
The fuel tank is commonly after of the engine.
Gravitas__Free@reddit
unless it isn't. A lot of boat have them mid ships :)
ReeferSkipper@reddit
Mate I reckon you need to seek local, expert consultation. Pic 1 may be your current diesel tank. Those hoses are NOT fuel line so they are very likely to crack and leak imminently if they already havent.
Also, yellow jerry cans are for diesel, and that particular yellow jerry can is secured with a line and is sealed with a cork with a hose through it.
This thing is a floating fuel leak and a hazard. You need to get all this sorted out with appropriate fuel line, fuel tankage, and ventilation immediately. I hope you didnt pay more than a few hundred dollars for this thing.
___xXx__xXx__xXx__@reddit (OP)
The thing is there's absolutely nowhere to fill up if that's the tank, other than the original fuel cap.
LameBMX@reddit
pop the cork n pour it in
Lunarfuckingorbit@reddit
He's referring to the metal tank
Raneynickelfire@reddit
Oh no...
You need a local marine mechanic to come to your boat and sort whatever total fuckery is happening in those pictures.
keyspc@reddit
I did the same thing with the fuel jug. Diesel that sits for a bit with just a tiny bit of water gets the diesel bug! Pull a bit from the tank in the first pic and I'll bet it's pretty dark, problem is it settles in the bottom and gets stirred up when you go out killing the engine when you need it the most. Tanks are going to need cleaned.
CardinalPuff-Skipper@reddit
Jerry built that Jury Rig.
SubjectAd9940@reddit
Go in reverse, from your engine ( inboard?) follow the fuel line to the tank itself. You might want to change the fuel filter looking at the age and condition of the boat
ExactAlmost@reddit
Be careful reusing that fuel tank (the metal one) without having it tested, there is definitely a reason why someone started using the yellow Jerry can (a leak or a failed vent line are the obvious ones).
Correct-Brother1776@reddit
Looks like a monel fuel tank.
MissingGravitas@reddit
Trace the fuel lines back from the engine so you know for sure. As others mentioned, it's possible the yellow tank was a "temporary" replacement for the other tank.
What you don't want to do is start adding fuel to something that isn't actually the tank, or was a tank but is sludged up, has a hole, etc. Similarly you'll want to trace the lines attached to the other tank to see what they're connected to, if anything.
Other items on your list as a new owner would be to go over the entire boat and start noting down where things are and what connects to what.
One thing to check is the thru-hulls; you want to make sure they are in good condition, operate smoothly, and before sailing have an appropriately-sized wooden bung tethered to each with a bit of twine. Similarly hoses attached to them should be in good condition and firmly attached with a pair (not just one) of stainless-steel hose clamps.
Another thing high on the list would be electricals; you hopefully don't have too much, but the wiring should be in good condition and easy to follow. You'll need to do a bit of brushing up to know what's proper, but one useful source of info is https://marinehowto.com/ and of course Nigel Calder's books are worth having.
There are a number of other things to check and learn, so having someone who knows what they're doing help you with a survey is a good idea.
kevincredible22@reddit
Have an old sailboat and the original tank got compromised, water, gunk, etc.
I hooked up to a new portable tank. That could be what's going on here...with that yellow tank.
gremblor@reddit
The cap over the fuel port can be opened by taking a stiff wire coat hanger and, with a pair of tin snips, clipping off a vee with 10" on each side from one of the pre-bent corners of the hanger.
I've got the same kind of cap over the rudder post in my boat.
gremblor@reddit
(if it's frozen shut, you may need something more industrial grade. But an early order of business would then be making sure the cap comes on and off easily because you're going to need it.)
Fire5hark@reddit
Fuel tank is either leaking or is full of gunk, looks like ur engine is running off that Jerry can. No biggie. It’s a sailboat.
The---Bishop@reddit
There’s a Kingfisher owner’s association you might visit and/or join to get more quality information. https://www.kyoa.org.uk/
Also, the upper tank with the sight glass looks like it might be a ‘day tank’ to go along with the tanks in the bilge keels.
Emergency-Doughnut88@reddit
That metal one sure looks like a fuel tank, and that hose that goes in the bottom and out the top is probably meant to be the level indicator. Fuel will sit in that hose at the same level as the tank so you can see how full it is. Can you trace any of the hoses to the full cap? You should be able to find a tank key online or at a boating store for it. The yellow tank is really strange and is definitely something homemade.. Maybe some kind of overflow or expansion tank. Hard to say what they were trying to accomplish there.
texasrigger@reddit
Im hoping by the hoses going to it that the metal one is a water tank. Those clear vinyl hoses are absolutely not meant for fuel.
Emergency-Doughnut88@reddit
Plastic Jerry cans aren't meant to be fixed fuel tanks either. I'm sure someone thought they were being clever while doing this. Or maybe it was an emergency fix type thing that they never got around to replacing.
texasrigger@reddit
There's nothing as permanent as a temporary solution that works.
jonathanrdt@reddit
See: our patchwork of laws.
FredIsAThing@reddit
"Sight glass"
___xXx__xXx__xXx__@reddit (OP)
So it's like a standard thing, and that's what it's called, a "tank key"?
whyrumalwaysgone@reddit
Try "deck key"
nullbyte420@reddit
Yeah those are pretty common. Measure the distance between the holes
OldBowDude@reddit
You need an experienced sailor to go through the boat with you. Do you know anyone? Even if you need to pay a professional for a few hours to walk you through the systems and show you issues that need to be addressed it would be well worth it.
OldBowDude@reddit
Where does that copper tube in the upper right corner go? Trace it back. It might be a feed line.
LocoCoyote@reddit
Blowing around outside
Fastbac@reddit
My dad made a key to unscrew the top of our winches (exactly what you would need open the fuel filler cap)by taking a 12” piece of conduit and pounding one end flat, then putting two bolts through it, with appropriate nuts.
nullbyte420@reddit
Why don't you ask the previous owner how it works?
___xXx__xXx__xXx__@reddit (OP)
He sold due to extremely poor health, via a family member. I bought it off him for very little (not much more than the value of the radio alone). Don't really feel in a position to pester him with questions, given his health situation, and the incentive for selling cheap was largely to get it out of his life.
nullbyte420@reddit
I get that but he might know. He probably cared a lot for that boat once. I mean don't pester him, but you can ask nicely about how the fuel system works?
Sunrise-Surfer@reddit
on the mast….you don’t need any stinking’ fuel
User42wp@reddit
Yes
No-Sail-6510@reddit
You can get a key to open those at west marine. That’s probably your tank. If you have an inboard diesel one of those hoses is a return from the injectors, one feeds the injectors, and the other is probably a vent. It kinda looks like maybe one of the original tanks went bad and they put in a new smaller one? Those fuel fills might go tonan older tank
rajrdajr@reddit
Find the fuel line at the engine and follow it back to the tank. There will come a time when that's necessary anyway for repairs anyway, may as well find out where it runs now.
alex1033@reddit
Ask the previous owner. If they're no longer around, open one hose and sniff - diesel is hard to confuse with water.
No matter if it's fuel or water - replace all hoses ASAP. New hoses are cheap compared to the trouble when they break.