fuel capacity on 18?

[Tom Bare]

I think I read here somewhere that the fuel tank on the old 18's was in the neighborhood of 36 gallons.

ALthough I have not checked it in years I had always thought I had 48 gallons. I have bought a Navman fuel gauge and would like to know how many galloons I really have at full.

Was there an option for a larger tank on the 18's? It's a 79 model.

Thanks,
Tom Bare

[Trayder]

In 1978 the 18 came with a 30 gal useable alum tank, I have not found any options for a larger tank, Considering all I found was useable gallons I do not know the true capacity of the tank. [img]images/icons/confused.gif[/img]

[Mark]

I had a 1977 18' and the "useable" gallons amounted to about 27! Needless to say, that was removed and a new 50 gallon tank was installed.

I'm not sure how far they expected those inefficient 70's engines to go on 27 gallons, but I would have run out of gas on a daily basis. When I bought the boat it had a 140 V4 Evinrude on it (1986 model) and I would routinely burn through 25-30 gallons a day chasing albies off Cape Lookout in North Carolina.

[bmaj319]

I couldn't find a label on my tank, so I calculated the cubic inches, and used a formula I found on the internet to determine gallons. The tank in my 18 worked out to just about 50 gallons.

[Tom Bare]

BMAJ-

Do/did have your tank out of the boat? What are the dimensions?

Thanks everyone!

Tom.

[Scott]

Tom...If you can measure the tank plug the numbers into this for a real close estimate of gallons

Length(in) x Width(in) x Height(in) /231

[bmaj319]

Tom,

When I first got my boat I yanked the console and tank access cover off so I could inspect the tank itself. At that point it was quite easy to get the measurements. I also pulled the fuel gauge sensor, stuck a mirror and snake light in and looked around. Everything looked pretty good, so I didn't replace it. One note for guys going from 2 stroke to 4 stroke motors is to drain and rinse the fuel tank to get the oil out! Good luck,

Brian

[toadfish]

Tom, my 18' holds 48 gallons....Toadfish

[Tom Bare]

Toadfish-

Thanks!!!! I'm sure mine is 48 also, I was worried I couldn't verify it. The boat was in FL for years [I'm in NC] and I hadn't put fuel in her in quite a while.

Thanks to everyone-what a site!

[SUMO]

By the good old measurement of draining thew tank and filling it up completelly I have almost 50gal on my 1983 18'. My cousing has a 70's 18' and he has 36gal with a 175hp!!!!! He is at the fuel pump very often.

Tight Lines