Pontoon Boat & Deck Boat Forum

I have a 2010 Tracker Bass Buggy 18 that came with a ridiculously large 42 gallon fuel tank. with a four stroke Mercury 40, it would take me a year to run out a full tank, not to mention the weight and how it must be slowing me down. I'd like to remove it and install a smaller tank but don't see any way to get it out without dropping the engine and tunnel completely off of the boat. Has anyone done anything like this or have any suggestions?

Thanks

I have the same toon but with a 60hp seems to me you could empty the main tank and use some portable tanks , maybe 2 six gallon tanks and mount them on the rear platform or maybe build a platform on the left rear. The other way is to not fill your tank up and use maybe 15/20 gallons of fuel.

I had also thought about emptying the tank and filling it with spray foam to add some buoyancy. My back rides really low in the water with that heavy four stroke on it. I found some smaller molded tanks I think would fit on top of the existing tank. Gonna measure this weekend. Has anyone used spray foam to add buoyancy?

Butch

Unless your fuel tank currently sits in the water, and below the water line, you won't be adding any buoyancy. All you will be doing is adding the weight of foam, to an empty tank or space. I'd suggest just filling the tank with 10-15 gallons, and calling it good. The only problem I see here is that a fuel guage is not as accurate as one would like, but at least you would know that you could go a LONG ways on E.

GXPWeasel wrote:Unless your fuel tank currently sits in the water, and below the water line, you won't be adding any buoyancy. All you will be doing is adding the weight of foam, to an empty tank or space. .

I agree.

Even if your tank is submerged, adding foam to it will not add one single iota of buoyancy. You've already displaced that much water. Adding foam will not displace any more...well other than the fact that you will add weight, and it will ride LOWER in the water.

If you trailer it all of the time, I would just put in enough to enjoy the day. If you leave it on the water, you will want to keep the tank full while it sits at the dock. An air gap will allow condensation to form inside and you don't want water in your gas.

Darin wrote:If you trailer it all of the time, I would just put in enough to enjoy the day. If you leave it on the water, you will want to keep the tank full while it sits at the dock. An air gap will allow condensation to form inside and you don't want water in your gas.

That is my worry because I keep it at a marina. The tank rides at water level in the Suntrackers so I thought it might add some buoyancy. I guess my best option is an empty tank and add a smaller tank on the back deck.

Thanks for all the replies.