Moving seats around

[Chanchan168]

Hi,

I've bought a 7.2m project rib that has batteries in the console and an under deck tank.

The tank has a damaged crack in the sender unit that apparently stops the tank pressurizing and delivering fuel and the batteries in the console are shot and far Away from the motor.

The plan is to move the batteries aft and scrap the tank, but leave it in situ and put a new plastic 150l in the console.

Whilst I'm at it I was gonna get rid of the two single jockeys and move the two doubles forward leaving me room for a rear bench.

Would all of this drastically effect the balance of the boat or would it be best to rip up the floor and fix the 300l tank??

Thanks in advance

[Pikey Dave]

The tank isn't supposed to pressurise, fuel is sucked from the tank by the fuel pump in the engine. Tanks are vented to stop vacuum/pressure occurring. Somebody's telling you porkies.

[Starovich]

I would say you want the batteries in the console, more protection for one. i am doing the same thing with the seats on a similar boat.

[Chanchan168]

Originally Posted by Pikey Dave

The tank isn't supposed to pressurise, fuel is sucked from the tank by the fuel pump in the engine. Tanks are vented to stop vacuum/pressure occurring. Somebody's telling you porkies.

Thanks dave,

It's just that the report I got back from last service before I bought her said the the boat would only start with a remote feed as there was a crack in the tank fuel sender.

I may of read it wrong but I presume then there wouldn't be a vacuum, not pressure as I said. Would that sound right. The hole through the deck to the sender is small so rather than cut the floor out to repair, I was just gonna leave it in site and put a new tank in the console once the batteries had moved

[Chanchan168]

Originally Posted by Starovich

I would say you want the batteries in the console, more protection for one. i am doing the same thing with the seats on a similar boat.

Cheers starovich.

The mechanic just said that the shorter the run for cabling the better, therefore batteries in the aft, rather than up front. I suppose I'm just worried about balance, that's all

[Starovich]

i would say that rubbish, the right size cables and its no problem. I've got the 7.8 and no issues, ballance in a 7m boat is not going to be an issue unless you are racing or heavily loaded, you can trim with the engine as well. If it was a 4 m, maybe.

[Pikey Dave]

Originally Posted by Chanchan168

Thanks dave,

It's just that the report I got back from last service before I bought her said the the boat would only start with a remote feed as there was a crack in the tank fuel sender.

I may of read it wrong but I presume then there wouldn't be a vacuum, not pressure as I said. Would that sound right. The hole through the deck to the sender is small so rather than cut the floor out to repair, I was just gonna leave it in site and put a new tank in the console once the batteries had moved

It might be a crack in the fuel pickup that's allowing air to be drawn into the fuel line, that would make sense. Re. The batteries, you can put them wherever you like as long as you use the appropriate size cables. I prefer batteries up front to counter the weight of the engine, remember; if you move 40kg of batteries from bow to stern, you've actually added the equivalent of 80kg to the stern in balance terms.
It strikes me that the first thing you need to change is the mechanic[emoji1]

[GuyC]

I agree with others regarding the balance - it won't affect anything with the move you are suggesting. Big changes can cause a bit of instability but I think you'd have to put the tank in the bow before that would consider raising its head.

If you lose the two singles and move the double forward, you'll lose the benefit of the back rest on the single. I find, when standing, being able to lean on the bolster is quite beneficial. You could transfer the back rests over.

[Maximus]

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Originally Posted by Starovich

I would say you want the batteries in the console, more protection for one. i am doing the same thing with the seats on a similar boat.

That's not a progect Boat compared to most on here!
Pikey is right about the tank and you should definatly investigate some more!
As a general rule It pays to keep as much weight central/forward and off the Stern.
Changing the seats around will mean you've lost your Seat Backs for driving and front Crew,which is not ideal....especially when it cuts up!..if you can do without them ( don't often carry more crew) I'd loose the Doubles/keep the singles and put a Bench in...even better if you can make it removeable

Anything you do to change the layout will potentially affect balance and handleing/performance ....sometimes though for the better

[Starovich]

Originally Posted by Maximus

P


That's not a progect Boat compared to most on here!

I didn't say it was?
I was commenting that i was doing the same as the OP.

[Chanchan168]

Guys, thanks for all your comments.

I'm gonna do some exploring with the fuel tank to see what the issue is.

Thanks again for all your help. Appreciated