smoothmove
Well-known member
- Joined
- Apr 12, 2005
- Messages
- 437
- Status
- OWNER - I own a Hatteras Yacht
- Hatteras Model
- 38' DOUBLE CABIN (1967 - 1971)
In the spirit of full disclosure as proposed by REBrueckner in the "The Agreement" I wanted to conclude my saga of replacing the tanks in our 1968 38DCMY. Of course, this is not as technically challenging as a lot of posts, but it's good news, so what the heck.
The tanks were installed over the Winter as detailed in an earlier pdf file. The old copper fuel lines were replaced with flexible hose. There is certainly a case to be made for using the copper, but after 40 years, it seemed prudent to make the switch. We ran the fuel lines in a PVC chase, which I'm sure will be appreciated by the next guy who has to replace these hoses. I had the boat surveyed last week, for insurance purposes and the surveyor was well pleased with the installation. Frankly, the engine room looks better too with the old copper lines removed, and the new hoses and valves in place.
I filled the tanks, 5 gallons at a time over the weekend with gas from the local Shell station to about 1/4 full. Yesterday we left the storage Marina and put Smooth Move in her Summer slip. The old 427's ran happily enough on the ethanol blend. In fact, I think they like running just a bit leaner, which they will on ethanol. So now I can fill the tanks at the local Marina, rather than running the 50 miles down to Michigan City to gas up with the good old ethanol free stuff. Another advantage is that I don't feel the need to run around with the tanks full. I can buy what I need for the weekend and save having to haul around the 1000 pounds of "insurance" gasoline.
Total costs were 3700 bucks for the project, but that included about 35 hours of my time. It is certainly arguable that the old tanks were a better design and material, but that was in the old world of ethanol free gasoline. Sometimes, the best you can do is a compromise. I am glad to get this excercise behind me. On to some sexier projects like the autopilot.
Eric
The tanks were installed over the Winter as detailed in an earlier pdf file. The old copper fuel lines were replaced with flexible hose. There is certainly a case to be made for using the copper, but after 40 years, it seemed prudent to make the switch. We ran the fuel lines in a PVC chase, which I'm sure will be appreciated by the next guy who has to replace these hoses. I had the boat surveyed last week, for insurance purposes and the surveyor was well pleased with the installation. Frankly, the engine room looks better too with the old copper lines removed, and the new hoses and valves in place.
I filled the tanks, 5 gallons at a time over the weekend with gas from the local Shell station to about 1/4 full. Yesterday we left the storage Marina and put Smooth Move in her Summer slip. The old 427's ran happily enough on the ethanol blend. In fact, I think they like running just a bit leaner, which they will on ethanol. So now I can fill the tanks at the local Marina, rather than running the 50 miles down to Michigan City to gas up with the good old ethanol free stuff. Another advantage is that I don't feel the need to run around with the tanks full. I can buy what I need for the weekend and save having to haul around the 1000 pounds of "insurance" gasoline.
Total costs were 3700 bucks for the project, but that included about 35 hours of my time. It is certainly arguable that the old tanks were a better design and material, but that was in the old world of ethanol free gasoline. Sometimes, the best you can do is a compromise. I am glad to get this excercise behind me. On to some sexier projects like the autopilot.
Eric
I know you wish you didn't have to do any of it but like you said new world. You are much better off keeping only the amount of gas that you will use with in the month anyway.
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