Gas Tank Questions

This topic has 9 replies, 7 voices, and was last updated 14 years, 1 month ago by Deke.

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October 6, 2008 at 3:25 pm #264725

MadDogRandy
Participant

This has been bugging me for awhile now. I run a 05 P4, Opti 200, with the 2 saddle tanks in addition to the under-seat tank. I read where some of you guys (Phil?, Basketman?) run with the saddle tanks mainly with just a few gallons in the main tank for backup, and I understand why. How concerned are you about condensation in the main tank? Or the saddle tanks if you run the main tank full most of the time? Do you use a lot of Sta-bil or some other kind of gas treatment? I tend to keep all tanks full (and the billfold thin), but with fuel mixtures -ethanol- now in the fuel at a lot of stations, is condensation more of a concern? My boat is garaged but not temp controlled.

October 6, 2008 at 3:32 pm #264726

Bass Cat Boats
Keymaster

BCB, while youre on the topic of fuel tanks, has anyone swapped the valve out to one that offers the option of drawing from both saddle tanks at one time.

October 6, 2008 at 4:12 pm #264727

Bass Cat Boats
Keymaster

You can do that with a T fitting Scott. No valve needed. Condensation in the main tank could be an issue, and that tank has a 16 ounce sump in it, that allows moisture to pull there and go to the filter. Though we have not seen more of an issue with either. Some run Mercury Quick Clean in the tanks, and others have run Sta-bil. Though there is alcohol in some products and that is an issue. Not bad if you are drawing that moisture out on a day with low fuel. Though alcohol is not an outboards friend. BCB

October 6, 2008 at 4:24 pm #264728

dbasketman
Participant

Both saddle tanks do draw at the same time ! And ive never had condensation issues on any boat of mine, and i assume it is from buying quality gasoline. I also would use quickleen occasionally, or seafoam, but really never stored a boat long enough for the fuel to “sour”, much less condensate ! Most outboards now have water separators along with thier filters, so i dont worry about it, and the plastic tanks dont condensate near as bad as other materials. Good fishin, D.

October 6, 2008 at 5:03 pm #264729

Scott McGehee
Participant

Sorry, Doug, I wasnt clear. I was talking about my Cougar FTD, so the two tanks dont draw at the same time. What I was really looking for is a valve that will allow you to pull from the left, right or both. Skeeter used to run that and its nice to have the option.

October 6, 2008 at 7:40 pm #264730

greeneboat
Participant

Heres my two cents and what I tell my customers. Gas is more expensive than ever but the quality is not great. With the higher levels of ethanol in fuel, we recommend running Mercury Quikleen (or a similar product) to prevent condensation. Some of my customers have brought boats in with water in the tank. More times than not, they just purchased the gas from a no-name shop-for-price-only gas station. Buy name brand stuff and know that the few extra pennies per gallon is worth it.Andy Greene Greene Boat & Motor 828-286-2290 http://www.greeneboats.com

April 22, 2012 at 1:45 am #264731

Bass Cat Boats
Keymaster

I purchased a 2002 Pantera IV about a month ago. I absolutly love my new CAT. In fact I was fishing on TenKiller today and a Ranger Z520 owner complemented me on my awesome looking CAT. My problem; The previous owner put a T fitting so to draw from both saddle tanks at the same time. it appears. My problem, when I switch the transon dial to Left, I cannot draw from the seat tank? I have pumped the fuel bulb for 20-30 minutes and still nothing. I have also noticed when the dial is on the Left position or Right Position, both saddle tanks empty. I did move the dial to OFF and that position is correct. Could the previous owner possible have made the dial position on the BassCat Logo at the bottom work off the seat tank? This was a repo boat so I do not know the previous owner. Any suggestions

April 22, 2012 at 2:44 am #264732

Bass Cat Boats
Keymaster

The dial only goes on one direction unless forced. Best option is to remove the hoses and check the valve positions with air. You can blow through the fittings with a short hose. Also the P4 was first built in 2003.

April 22, 2012 at 3:17 am #264733

artireman1952
Participant

Thanks, I will give it a try.

April 23, 2012 at 2:17 am #264734

Deke
Participant

I have a 04 PIV with saddles and add quickleen and mercury fuel treatment/stabilizer to every gallon added. The I siphon old gas out of the belly tank for tractor, lawnmower, weedeater, edger, generator, etc. rather than let it set long enough to go stale, condensate, or separate. Now that Mercury has redone their fuel additive lines breaking out into several separate products, upping the price and not providing (that I can find) bottles larger than 12oz, Im thinking seriously about switching instead to Marine Sta-bil and Seafoam, which Ive used in an 82 9.9 Merc and various small engines for many years. Does anyone have any long-term experience with Marine Sta-bil or Seafoam in a high horsepower outboard?ThanksDeke
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