Fuel management question

[dar636]

Hi - I've a 58' Yachtfisherman with the three fuel tank arrangement and was wondering if there is a suggested or preferred fuel burn sequence to follow with all three full? Such as: engines fed from separate tanks at all times, -or- burn the Forward/Mid/Aft tank first, -or- etc, etc...

Info appreciated.

 

[rsmith]

I never run both engines off the same tank. Just incase theirs a fuel problem. Always return to the same tank as the feed. Also you want the aft tank heavy if your in following sea conditions.

 

[Cricket]

I never run both engines off the same tank. Just incase theirs a fuel problem. Always return to the same tank as the feed. Also you want the aft tank heavy if your in following sea conditions.

Also not both on the same tank just in case you forget to switch over before the tank runs out.

 

[SEVEN]

Gauges may not read correctly. This happened to me. The gauges read 3/4 full and yet I ran out of fuel. I will never run both motors off one tank because of that. PS I installed new gauges.

 

[crosswind]

I also have a 58 yachtfish and run each engine from separate tanks but consider the generator may only be able to pull from the forward tank and for fuel management you must consider that as well, would be bad to have generator run out of fuel

 

[saltshaker]

I also have a 58 yachtfish and run each engine from separate tanks but consider the generator may only be able to pull from the forward tank and for fuel management you must consider that as well, would be bad to have generator run out of fuel

Better than running an engine out of fuel. The pick up for the generator is higher than that for the engines. This is done so if you aren't monitoring your fuel well, the generator will shut down before the engine.

 

[dar636]

Thanks for the info so far - are there any other trim issues besides the comment about keeping the AFT tank heavy for following seas?

I'm asking because I've just finished having the tanks cleaned and the fuel onboard polished, so it's time to fill them up and start running from the top.

 

[saltshaker]

I can't speak to your boat but nearly every boat I've owned ran better with the aft tanks full. I run the forward tank first then the aft. On my boat I alternate as I Cary a lot of fuel in the aft tank and don't want to leave the forward tanks empty or let the cockpit fuel get stale. I tend to let the tanks get low before refueling. I hold nearly 1700 gls which will last a while if I'm just running locally.