Gas Tank Size

[Dilligaf]

about ready to upgrade the gas tank in my sceptre and was wondering how big of a gas tank have u guys installed in a 23ft ? right now i believe i have an 80gallon and would like to have a 120 gallon. think it would be a good idea cutting out some of the floor fishbox/storage out and moveing the gas tank forward some to keep more weight forward or just cut out enough to get tank in? thanks

[77SceptreOB]

I just put this 95 gallon (90 usable) tank in. In the picture, it shown a little back (about 6"). I moved it up to within 1" of the back of the floor locker. It gave me some working area back by the bilge pumps, etc.

[Dilligaf]

aluminum or stainless? where u order it from tryin to get the ball rolling. just ordered a new trailer 2day tryin to get boat done b4 next summer...

[77SceptreOB]

Aluminum. Ordered it from West Marine. $865 delivered to SC.

The mfgs in FLA wanted about the same $$. Very pleased with the quality and construction of the tank. Built exactly to my specs & design. My friend, on 23' Sceptre bought a custom SST 140 gallon tank and regrets it. Feels now that SST was a waste of money, and 140 gallons is too much for his 250 4-stroke Yami. Generally overkill and he admits it. I was going to go back w/ an exact copy of my old 100 gal tank but decided to down size. Because I always hated the cramped access to the bilge area at the rear of the tank. So I shorten it 6" and love the access / space by the batteries and bilge pumps. Don't think I'm gonna miss the 5 gallons, as I use my boat on a interior lake and intercoastal waterways. Lots of places to get gas, unlike 75 miles out in the ocean LOL.

[gss036]

With the fuel economy of the new four stroke engines, I think it is safe to go smaller. My new 225 Honda uses about 1/2 the gas as the old Merc 2 stroke, but then again I am learning to slow down some. I went from a 115 gal, down to a 75 gal aluminum tank this spring on my Seacraft 23WA. Mounted the tank all the way forward, so all kinds of room in the rear if I ever needed it. I think the weight forward helped with the ride and compensates for the extra weight of the Honda engine. The shop had front and rear flanges on the bottom of the tank, glassed in a slotted piece of wood and the screwed both ends to the deck instead of the side brackets. 3 out of the 4 side brackets in the old tank were loose when I pulled the old tank. I had neoprene strips put under the tank and then foamed in the sides so there won't be any movement. I store my boat inside when not in use so I don't have to worry about water intrusion below deck.

[Dilligaf]

i wanna be able to run 40 or 50 miles out troll all day and make it home not stareing at the gas gauge. 120gallons should be good id think...??? 350mpi is the engine

[77SceptreOB]

I would think 120 gallons would be MORE than enough. You probably average 2 mpg overall, maybe slightly better due to MPI and I/O configuration. So 120 x 2 = 240 mi x .90 (safety ratio) = 216 mi range. Easy money. I've used the 1/3 rule.---Dont go out more than 1/3 of your safe range.
So 216 x .33 = 7o miles out or so max. Using the same math:

120 gal tank = 70 mi. out
100 gal tank = 60 mi out
90 gal tank = 55 mi out
80 gal tank = 50 mi out

etc, etc, etc.

[stumpie2]

dilligaf, i have a 25 seafari with a volvo 350 and 100 gals. of fuel and i can run to the norfolk canyon and troll the edge or deep drop and have 1/4-1/3 left when i return to rudee. can leave rudee and run to the south tower fish all day and return to rudee with 1/3-1/2 left. can leave hampton and stop at rudee to top off and proceed to oregon inlet with 1/2-1/3 left. hope this helps as far as distance goes, as this refers to the area that you are familiar with. once i get mine refreshed hopefully we can get together and have a mini seacraft gathering. get the seacraft tourny going again.

[riptide]

I went with a 120gal tank in my Sceptre.I cut out some of the storage area and added a new bulkhead.I had to replace the floor under the tank because of rot.
I also moved the batts forward.
Here are a few pics.

[Dilligaf]

dilligaf, i have a 25 seafari with a volvo 350 and 100 gals. of fuel and i can run to the norfolk canyon and troll the edge or deep drop and have 1/4-1/3 left when i return to rudee. can leave rudee and run to the south tower fish all day and return to rudee with 1/3-1/2 left. can leave hampton and stop at rudee to top off and proceed to oregon inlet with 1/2-1/3 left. hope this helps as far as distance goes, as this refers to the area that you are familiar with. once i get mine refreshed hopefully we can get together and have a mini seacraft gathering. get the seacraft tourny going again.

thanks for the info basically exactly what im tryin to start doing. i think i just wanna have the feeling that if it gets rough i have plenty of gas to get back. i know im gonna burn more fuel when it get sloppy. been out there b4 and was nice and calm then hit the CLT and hell broke loose for some reason