Seafari 20 I/O fuel tank pictures and measurements
 

Any one got any pictures and measurements of the fuel tank in a 20 Seafari I/O. Mine was removed and has nothing. Thanks.

The measurement of my 1979 20'cc i/o tank is 5'L x 2'W x8"T

Found these pics from my 1976 Seafari 20,the Blank Canvas. Still have tank for measurements, I believe to be 40 gallons as does my 1977. Blank Canvas came with everything but fuel hatch cover, outboard and drive. Let me know if you want measurements.

Vezo, Part II

Yes. Measurements please.

Does the fuel filler come off the top or the side? Thanks.

Thinking I'm going to have to measure and have custom built. RDS said they didnt make a 29 or 38 gallon tank for the seacrafts. db3155, your measurements equal out to a 49 gallon tank which is what the outboards were supposed to have. The I/O's show a 38 gallon tank in the brochure, however in the 69 brochure on the Moesley sight lists a capacity of 29 gallons, which is what I believe I have.

This is a photo of an attempt at removing a fuel tank from a 1976 Seafari 20. It was an I/O model, and the tank was stuffed under 3” floor that ran across tank hold to rear, where dog house hinges were located. Hind sight I should have cut this section of floor out, but pryed from front and slid out forward. It was a bitch. Could not stuff one more gallon of fuel in this spot. Rear of tank must have been pretty damn close to the engines flywheel. Measurements coming BikeCop.

Vezo, Part II

If you are going to do the measurement route, I strongly suggest you make a mockup of your tank out of scrap plywood and then test fit it into the space. It is a pain in the butt, but better than wasting money on a new tank and finding it would not fit, or needing 20 hours of glass work to modify the opening and deck. Here are some photos of my mockup to give you the idea. I modified the measurements twice - once from my test fit, and then again when Bushwacker gave me the measurements of his tank. The first time I measured it was too big to fit, and then with Bushwacker's measurements I added back some dimensions that I had reduced, increasing the capacity by a few gallons. Make sure your mockup includes the vent and fill elbows.

Jesus, where have you been? Got me beat. What’s the gallon total? Where did you have it built? Help a guy out? Haha. Nice work. Built in Bayville/Speedy Tanks?

Vezo, Part II

I’m friggin sitting here eating not so good South Carolina Chinese! Going to get the rectangular measurements. You called me out SailorChlud... Haha

OK, damn tank may still be good??? Needs pressure testing and will probably stay with The Blank Canvas.

Measurements are 49” (about an inch long) X 16” wide X 8” high. Fill, vent, sending unit and pickup mounted on top, and I assume aft (all located at one end) but sending unit.

Michael.

Hey, Michael - I have the outboard version of the Seafari, so I am not sure if his I/O tank has the same measurements, but here are my tank's diagram that was derived from Bushwacker's factory standard measurements for a 1972. The tank was sourced from Patriot Marine tanks, Forked River, NJ. Capacity is about 35 or so gallons.

Very cool Sir, had not seen that one before. The one removed from the Blank Canvas was a max/mismeasured custom rectangular tank requiring a Cob Job Installation. Wasn’t pretty. Have not done fuel calculation for gallon total. Hope it helps OP.

Michael

my fuel tank has the fittings on top of the tank

Two facts you need to know about Seafari tanks:
1. The I/O tanks are smaller because the engine takes up space that’s available in the OB models.
2. Potter changed the inner liner in about ‘75 or ‘76. He raised the deck a couple inches, moved the windshield forward so the tip of the V is only about 6” aft of the hatch vs. about 18” on the earlier models. He also made the step down smaller, just big enough to open the door, and that made room for a ~50 gallon tank. The tank in my ‘72 model was about 35 gallons, and I think the I/0’s were something like 29 gallons.

The sketch Sailorchlud shows is correct. The top taper at the back and bottom taper at the front are necessary for clearance when sliding the tank in through the hatch from the back.

One thing I had considered if I ever had to replace the tank was to have TWO smaller rectangular tanks made. They could have been made taller and no need for taper, so I’m sure you could stuff more fuel in the same space that way. Also, with the much lower fuel consumption of modern engines a big 50 gallon tank is often not needed, depending on how you use the boat. Plus it gives you the option to leave one tank empty and not have a bunch of old fuel in the boat. There is room to run the filler hose and vent line to the port side gunnel for the second tank. I would locate the vent port at the front of the second tank like the original but move it to the side opposite of the fuel filler port . . . Rationale is that if you’re filling tank at a dock and you’re on the port side, boat will heel to port and starboard side of tank will be higher, so that’s where you want the vent!

Great info. Thanks. I’ll take it into consideration when planning.

Took some measurements over the weekend of my fuel tank area. Opening is 22 inches wide x 37 inches long and about 9.5 inches deep. RDS has a stock tank that is 18 gallons that measures 36.5x16 3/8x 7. Would be cheaper than going custom. Looking at powering with a 140 Suzuki when the time comes. Should I go stock or custom.

I would go custom, and fill the space. The day may come where you want to run offshore, and having extra deck tanks is a pain.

Yep, have already gotten quotes on some. For a few hundred more than this stock one I get a bigger size with epoxy coating. Going to mock up a wooden frame to see what I can fit.