Fuel/Gas Bladders

[Jackman]

I was wondering how you guys felt about fuel/gas bladders? I was reading up on them...a place up here in NJ makes them for all applications. There safe? Does the coast guard give issues with this?

 

[REBrueckner]

I'm no expert, but the one thing I have heard from owners who have used them is that friction and sharp edges sometimes make them difficult. Before installation you have to carefully inspect especially in a bilge area where glass tabs edges may cut thru. Users tend to recommend "blankets" for padding but right now I don't remember what material has been suggested. If I were to use them, I think I'd use the bladder fuel first if weather was calm so when it got nasty I'd have my regular fuel delivery systems in operation. And a fuel vapor alarm detector in the compartment with a gasoline bladder can't hurt!!

 

[Jackman]

I was planning on omly using it for canyon trips, which are not done on a ergular basis because of the price of fuel. I was also planning on anchoring it in the cockpit with their optional harness.

 

[Bob Bradley]

I've been considering one for my 43c, as the 490 gal that it holds is marginal for an overniter from Montauk to the Dip or Tails area. And, once I'm out there, I really want to stay 2 nights. I've been planning on installing it up forward on the bow, and letting it gravity-feed into my tanks at night while I'm tied up on a ball, thus eliminating the need for a pump and related wiring.

Which manufacturer are you looking at?
Bob

 

[REBrueckner]

When bladder tanks are installed on a flat surface, like a cockpit floor, rather than a curved (or "vee") section of the bilge which forces fuel to accumulate in a limited area, air in a fuel supply line is an increased risk. Plywood with supports at outer edges, say a 4" x4" laid horizontal, to form a slight "vee" can help accumulate fuel...even if the plywood gets crushed nearly flat with a full bladder, as the bladder tank empties and the load lightens, the plywood will do the job...

 

[Jackman]

Click on the following link and then on the picture of the bladder. That will load a pdf file to your computer that contains the add and prices ect. I'm considering the 150gallon bladder in my cockpit. Drain that bladder on the way out abd then just roll it up and stow it.

Anybody use one of these?

http://www.atlinc.com/marine.htm

 

[UNIQUE_NAME]

i would be interested in the following while you're looking:
1- how would they be with the ethanol we are dealing with?
2- are they rated for e85?
3- how come they are safe without baffles yet regular tanks over a certain size require them?

thanks
jim

 

[Geoff58yf]

From personal experience I would NOT recommend usuing a bladder in the cockpit. We were running our Ocean 55 from Key West to Cozumel and on to the West Coast, with a 200gal, soap bar shaped bladder secured in the cockpit. 2 things happened (of course at 10 at night, 90deg F and about 99% humidity, 12ft swell directly on the beam). It was time to pump from the bladder directly into the main tanks and we had previously set up a system with hose fittings and and electric pump. As we started pumping, keep in mind were now down to idle, the boat (full tower) is rolling what felt like about 40degrees, with no baffles in the bladder and less fuel, it starts slosing and the shape of the bag changes dramatically. So much so the ENTIRE FILL PIPE AND BIB pull completely out of the bladder. Now weve got no connection at all, just a rubber hole in the bladder, fuel all over the cockpit, 300miles from nowhere and essentially, in deep doo.
Without taking up more space here, we made it and got rid of the bladder in Belieze and switched to plastic barrels, chained in the cockpit.
Moral of the story is that with a badder on deck when its full you can secure it well, but as it drains, its size and shape change dramatically. If the boats moving or youre at sea, the fuel sloshes, again changing the shape of the bladder every few seconds. Below decks, protected from chafe etc, possibly, on deck never.
geoff
hatt 58yf

 

[Capten]

Back in 1981 we ran our 30' Scarab Sport Center Console out of OC, MD for the first season with a 50-gallon rectangular bladder tank in the cockpit. The boat had twin 225 Mercury outboards and ran close to 60 MPH with a full tower.

We had hoses with Mercury outboard quick connect fuel ends on them. We simply unplugged the regular fuel lines and plugged the bladder lines in for the run offshore. We could suck practically all of the fuel out of that thing. We used ropes to tie it off.

On the first run using it, we found out that you really have to strap it DOWN. As soon as we hit the long swells in the inlet at 40 knots, the boat went down a swell or get airborne and the bladder would try to keep up. Within seconds we had a 350+ pound basketball bouncing around in the cockpit! We noticed it pretty quickly because the motors stalled out when the fuel lines were ripped from the bladder tank.

The ropes were a bad idea. We installed tie downs and used adjustable webbed cargo straps to hold it DOWN. These made it easier to keep cinching up as fuel was used up and the bladder changed shape.

The bladder tank idea only lasted 1 season as we decided to take out the forward fish box and have 2 custom aluminum tanks installed - safer and more fuel too.

All that said we would probably use a bladder tank again. As Bob had suggested earlier, I would probably strap it down on the bow and gravity feed the diesel right into my fuel fill once the mains had gone down.

 

[Jackman]

So what I'm gathering from you guys is that its best to burn out of the main boat tanks on the way out so the bladder isn't flying all over the place because its shape changes if its being drained and then at some point, when we're near the day's spot transfer into the main tank from the bladder?

I need to get more fuel onboard somehow. Just trying to find the best way to do it.

 

[Capten]

So what I'm gathering from you guys is that its best to burn out of the main boat tanks on the way out so the bladder isn't flying all over the place because its shape changes if its being drained and then at some point, when we're near the day's spot transfer into the main tank from the bladder?

I need to get more fuel onboard somehow. Just trying to find the best way to do it.

Jack,

We needed more fuel on our 32 also. Decided to forego the in deck cockpit fishbox (and optional genny) and install an auxilary fuel tank. I don't recall how much it held but I think it was around 75 gallons.