The PO had a LONG funnel in the Laz

Posted By: Sam Hunter, '93 Mac26S, Atlanta & Pensacola
Date: 5/6/09 5:29a.m.

Report: outside forum guidelines

In Response To: refuling in laz (pic) (MrBill_26D_fll)

Not sure what he used if for, as he had a 3-Gal tank in the cockpit. It is about 25-30 inches long. I put a 12-gal tank in the laz. Another of my one-of-these-days projects will be to mount a fixed tank in there, with a proper fuel fill, but for now, I live with the 12-gal topside tank, down in the laz. And yes, I do have MORE than the required ventilation (had to add it), plus a Nicro day/night power vent. The tank happened to be 12" tall, so I made a dipstick from a 20" piece of dowel with numbered marks every inch. That gives me a direct-reading fuel quantity indicator (I don't trust those little guages.) Filling is a bit of a PITA, but not really bad. I did try using a gas station's pump directly down into the tank. Worked pretty good until I lost my balance and put a couple cups of gas into the laz. Punishment was instant as I whacked my head and skinned an elbow! Not one of my better ideas!!! However, it did prove out my ventilation system. What I mostly do is put that funnel into the tank, and fill from whatever into the funnel. After some frustration, I realized that the funnel was blocking the opening (it fit too well) so the tank couldn't vent while filling. So, I finally got smart and stuck my dipstick in next to the funnel for venting. I can see into the tank as well as at least look at the guage while fueling, so I have not had a spill problem since. Works great! I can fill directly from a gas pump without slithering down into the laz, or use a 5-Gal jerry can, or whatever. Yeah, I know, 12 gal is overkill, but so are a lot of my ideas. 6 gal just wasn't enough, since we also cruise rivers and such, and are not at all "sailing purists" when there is no wind. 9-gal probably would have been the best choice (for us). FWIW: I just pour in fuel stabilizer any time I fill the tank.