Fuel bags and jack plates

S

Scott Gilliland

Active member
FYI

I have a AA Broadbill that I rebuilt last winter. After using it a bit this season I can see I made a couple of mistakes. I modified the frames in the boat and rebuilt the floor. The fuel tank was located under the front deck and there was a hatch in the deck to access the tank. I did not want that hatch in the deck and I made modifications in the floor to make sure the fuel tank fit under the rear deck. It's a skinny tank with a 2.5 gallon capacity. After running the boat a bit I realized I'd like to carry a bit of extra gas just in case, but there was now no way to fit a can under the front deck. I've been looking for a bag type fuel container and had not found one that I liked. Anyway, I was surfing around this morning and came across this fuel bag. It looks great. It's sold by Northern Jets in BC. Here is a link to a video describing it.
1765288109689.png

When I replaced to transom and just copied the original. I was having problems with running the motor in shallow water. It just does not perform well in the mud and I thought it was the 4-stroke motor ... I have a thread on the forum asking for advice on switching back to a 2-stroke. I'm thinking now that the main problem is that the transom is too short. I was thinking about trying raising the transom this winter or maybe adding a jack plate. I like the idea of the "On the fly" jack plates, but they are expensive. Northern Jets also sell small jack plate at reasonable price.

I also noticed roller tubes that might be useful. . We have a couple of impoundments I'd like to get into ... I could see a use for these.
1765288075216.png

Though I'd share in case someone else might find these useful.
 
Scott~

re gas tanks: I always ran a 3-gallon - but had a 1-gallon along just in case I ever ran out (never did). Would the 1-gallon fit - and get you home? (I have no experience with the soft "tanks")

re rollers: As you have probably seen here, I have used wooden beach rollers all my life - both hunting and just moving vessels around the yard.

Beach Rollers 1 sm.jpg


The rollers you show look handy, but - is there a way to attach a line? The handles on mine are very useful when "leap-frogging" in or out of the water.

All the best,

SJS
 
Scott Gilliland said:
FYI

I have a AA Broadbill that I rebuilt last winter. After using it a bit this season I can see I made a couple of mistakes. I modified the frames in the boat and rebuilt the floor. The fuel tank was located under the front deck and there was a hatch in the deck to access the tank. I did not want that hatch in the deck and I made modifications in the floor to make sure the fuel tank fit under the rear deck. It's a skinny tank with a 2.5 gallon capacity. After running the boat a bit I realized I'd like to carry a bit of extra gas just in case, but there was now no way to fit a can under the front deck. I've been looking for a bag type fuel container and had not found one that I liked. Anyway, I was surfing around this morning and came across this fuel bag. It looks great. It's sold by Northern Jets in BC. Here is a link to a video describing it.
View attachment 71517

When I replaced to transom and just copied the original. I was having problems with running the motor in shallow water. It just does not perform well in the mud and I thought it was the 4-stroke motor ... I have a thread on the forum asking for advice on switching back to a 2-stroke. I'm thinking now that the main problem is that the transom is too short. I was thinking about trying raising the transom this winter or maybe adding a jack plate. I like the idea of the "On the fly" jack plates, but they are expensive. Northern Jets also sell small jack plate at reasonable price.

I also noticed roller tubes that might be useful. . We have a couple of impoundments I'd like to get into ... I could see a use for these.
View attachment 71516

Though I'd share in case someone else might find these useful.
Click to expand...

On a gas tank, I made this little 1 gallon accessory tank because in Connecticut I can't get pure gas from the pump and wanted to be able to purge the ethanol at the end of every use to keep it out of the carbs when sitting, BUT this lil guy has turned out to be a life saver. I have occasions lately where my bulb on the main tank wouldn't pump (bad bulb multiple times and a couple times something was freezing up in the lines) and I was able to hook this tank up and all was good.

Totally homemade and improper, but I like it.

1765298260460.png
 
tod osier said:
On a gas tank, I made this little 1 gallon accessory tank because in Connecticut I can't get pure gas from the pump and wanted to be able to purge the ethanol at the end of every use to keep it out of the carbs when sitting, BUT this lil guy has turned out to be a life saver. I have occasions lately where my bulb on the main tank wouldn't pump (bad bulb multiple times and a couple times something was freezing up in the lines) and I was able to hook this tank up and all was good.

Totally homemade and improper, but I like it.

View attachment 71522
Click to expand...
That's a good idea.
 
Hey Steve,

When rebuilding the floor I thought about access under the rear deck, but I obviously did not think access for a fuel tank under the front deck. The are some cans that would go in. I've done a lot of work out small zodiacs and we used to have a gas bladder that fit into V in the bow of the boat and were attached to a couple of d-rings. These were great which got me thinking about some sort of bladder to store extra gas in. Either would work.

I do remember looking at your rollers, they are certainly an option. We have used a few pieces of 4" abs drain pipe as well. What got me excited about these rollers is more for our field work on Baffin Island. We are using 24' aluminum boats and 26' freighter canoes. There is a lot of tide and it can be are real job the boat from the beach to the water at low tide. In town, it's not a problem -- you just grab the local loader and have him pick up your boat and launch it for you.

View attachment 71524
If there is not loader there are ways a few pieces of lumber on the beach and with a big crew you can get the canoe to water. The issue is when we are in field camp. Last summer our camp was just over 100 km boat ride east of the community. The weather was bad for many days and we had to pull the boats above the high tide. Problem was there is not trees on Baffin and there is nothing to skid the boats on if we needed to launch when the tide was low. Don't and pictures of the launches ... all hands needed on the boat. But I'll share a few more pictures from our baffin eider work.
IMG_0323.jpegIMG_0371.jpegIMG_0380.jpegIMG_0383.jpegIMG_0389.jpegIMG_0404.jpegIMG_0411.jpeg
 
tod osier said:
pure gas from the pump and wanted to be able to purge the ethanol at the end of every use to keep it out of the carbs when sitting
Click to expand...
That is a very good idea. My little Suzuki is just back from a service and they noted problems with the gas. We have no options at the pump for gas without ethanol. You can get ethanol free gas but it is very expensive. I think you have the perfect solution. Thanks for that idea.
 
Fortunately for me ethanol-free is easily accessible. Really interested in that little fuel bag, though. How is it for refilling an outboard with an internal tank? My Grumman Sport Boat has a 6 hp with an internal tank, and it generally needs refill for a decent-length day on the water. It's extremely awkward to refill with 1 gallon can from inside the boat.
 
Pouring gas from one tank to another just invites spills. I use a siphon. Two short lengths of fuel hose with a primer ball in the middle. Slow, but no spills.
 
Ethanol in boat motors is bad news.
Wouldn't it be possible to use some kind of separator to allow the water in the ethanol to fall out of the gasoline, and then bleed the water out of the equation?

Otherwise, methinks it is better to pay the extra for straight up benzine.
 
Jeff Reardon said:
Fortunately for me ethanol-free is easily accessible. Really interested in that little fuel bag, though. How is it for refilling an outboard with an internal tank? My Grumman Sport Boat has a 6 hp with an internal tank, and it generally needs refill for a decent-length day on the water. It's extremely awkward to refill with 1 gallon can from inside the boat.
Click to expand...
The video and pictures show a flexible spout built in to the bag. But as Matt mentioned, you always seem to have a spill with these. We've often used fuel can adaptors (looks like Tod made his own) that allow you to hook up you fuel lie directly to a gerry can. I don't have pictures, but the Inuit were using one of those fuel can adapters on a plastic 45 gallon drum in our canoes.
 
Todd Duncan Tennyson said:
Ethanol in boat motors is bad news.
Wouldn't it be possible to use some kind of separator to allow the water in the ethanol to fall out of the gasoline, and then bleed the water out of the equation?

Otherwise, methinks it is better to pay the extra for straight up benzine.
Click to expand...
Yes.

Screenshot_20251209_163226_Chrome.jpg
I buy only non-ethanol (still easy to source in NC), but still run one of these on any boat I have.
 
My understanding is that the original purpose of adding ethanol to gasoline was to help reduce foreign oil dependence.
Now it’s a subsidy that no politician is willing to go against Agro-business to eliminate.
Sad.
Flat the worst thing that ever happened to small engines.
 
Carl said:
My understanding is that the original purpose of adding ethanol to gasoline was to help reduce foreign oil dependence.
Now it’s a subsidy that no politician is willing to go against Agro-business to eliminate.
Sad.
Flat the worst thing that ever happened to small engines.
Click to expand...
Where we are in ct, it is mandated to improve air quality, that is my issue, you can’t get it without. MTBE used to be used, but there were environmental issues.
 
Scott Gilliland said:
Hey Steve,

When rebuilding the floor I thought about access under the rear deck, but I obviously did not think access for a fuel tank under the front deck. The are some cans that would go in. I've done a lot of work out small zodiacs and we used to have a gas bladder that fit into V in the bow of the boat and were attached to a couple of d-rings. These were great which got me thinking about some sort of bladder to store extra gas in. Either would work.

I do remember looking at your rollers, they are certainly an option. We have used a few pieces of 4" abs drain pipe as well. What got me excited about these rollers is more for our field work on Baffin Island. We are using 24' aluminum boats and 26' freighter canoes. There is a lot of tide and it can be are real job the boat from the beach to the water at low tide. In town, it's not a problem -- you just grab the local loader and have him pick up your boat and launch it for you.

View attachment 71524
If there is not loader there are ways a few pieces of lumber on the beach and with a big crew you can get the canoe to water. The issue is when we are in field camp. Last summer our camp was just over 100 km boat ride east of the community. The weather was bad for many days and we had to pull the boats above the high tide. Problem was there is not trees on Baffin and there is nothing to skid the boats on if we needed to launch when the tide was low. Don't and pictures of the launches ... all hands needed on the boat. But I'll share a few more pictures from our baffin eider work.
View attachment 71528View attachment 71529View attachment 71530View attachment 71531View attachment 71532View attachment 71533View attachment 71534
Click to expand...
Scott~

I learned a bit about tides when I visited/worked on Baffin in August of 1984. We flew into Frobisher Bay via commercial air - then flew via Twin Otter out to our trapping/banding site - on the edge of Foxe Basin:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Great_Plain_of_the_Koukdjuak

Austin Reed (CWS) was the project leader - banding Atlantic Brant on their breeding grounds. We (NYSDEC) banded them on the Long Island wintering grounds.

Whilst in Frobisher Bay, I learned that the tides come in just about as fast as I can walk. I'm thinking (misremembering?) the range was about 28 feet. I never did figure out the tidal cycle. We banded on the "shore" of Foxe Basin - but never saw the full tide in about a week of banding.

In any event - no boats for us. We got back and forth from our camp and the trapping location via helicopter. I can see where those long beach rollers would be handy around your beamy vessels.

And, I was glad to learn on the interwebs that the Great Plain of the Koukdjuak is well-recognized for its exceptional natural values. And - when I was there - Nunavut was the Northwest Territories.

NWT License Plate 1986.jpeg

All the best,

SJS
 
Hey Steve,

My partner is the Arctic Goose biologist for Quebec region of the CWS and she took over parts of Austin's files after he retired. She's done a little work on Brants on Ellesmere Island, but most of the work is on Greater Snows on Bylot Island and Atlantic Canada's in northern Quebec. Austin's son, Eric, is also a biologist who's working on snow geese in the western Arctic. Eric and I have worked together quit a lot. I was just looking though some old photos today and fired this one off to him as it brought back great memories. This was in the Barrenlands just west of Great Slave Lake in 2018.
1765338298274.jpeg
Look at that smile..

Austin is still around, but unfortunately he is not doing well. His wife passed last summer and I was out to see him. Lots of old CWS biologists drop in to the funeral and to was good to see him with old friends.

I'm from the Bay of Fundy and used to tides. The tides in Frobisher and Ungava Bays rival, and maybe larger, then the Fundy tides. Near Kinngait (Cape Dorset) where we were working, the tides are not as high (4.7m). But the coastline is dotted with 100’s of small, rocky islands and islets, with labyrinths of islands, channels, and bays and the tidal currents really rip.

I did get north to Bylot to band Snows this summer. Austin started this banding operation too. It is now run jointly between Laval University and CWS. It was get fun, but they've made Bylot a National Park and there is no fishing permitted now. Here a few images and a couple of videos of the banding operation - hopefully It brings back a few memories for you too.

Drive the the trap:
Release of goslings with a few adults:

IMG_0465.jpeg
IMG_0471.jpeg
IMG_0479.jpeg
IMG_0474.jpeg
IMG_0473.jpeg

IMG_0491.jpeg
 
Scott Gilliland said:
Hey Steve,

My partner is the Arctic Goose biologist for Quebec region of the CWS and she took over parts of Austin's files after he retired. She's done a little work on Brants on Ellesmere Island, but most of the work is on Greater Snows on Bylot Island and Atlantic Canada's in northern Quebec. Austin's son, Eric, is also a biologist who's working on snow geese in the western Arctic. Eric and I have worked together quit a lot. I was just looking though some old photos today and fired this one off to him as it brought back great memories. This was in the Barrenlands just west of Great Slave Lake in 2018.
View attachment 71580
Look at that smile..

Austin is still around, but unfortunately he is not doing well. His wife passed last summer and I was out to see him. Lots of old CWS biologists drop in to the funeral and to was good to see him with old friends.

I'm from the Bay of Fundy and used to tides. The tides in Frobisher and Ungava Bays rival, and maybe larger, then the Fundy tides. Near Kinngait (Cape Dorset) where we were working, the tides are not as high (4.7m). But the coastline is dotted with 100’s of small, rocky islands and islets, with labyrinths of islands, channels, and bays and the tidal currents really rip.

I did get north to Bylot to band Snows this summer. Austin started this banding operation too. It is now run jointly between Laval University and CWS. It was get fun, but they've made Bylot a National Park and there is no fishing permitted now. Here a few images and a couple of videos of the banding operation - hopefully It brings back a few memories for you too.

Drive the the trap:
Release of goslings with a few adults:

View attachment 71586
View attachment 71585
View attachment 71582
View attachment 71583
View attachment 71584

View attachment 71581
Click to expand...

Lotta good stuff in that post. Was that lake trout in a river or in a lake at the inlet. Sure looks like a river. I've always wanted to catch a big lake trout in the arctic.
 
Scott Gilliland said:
I'm not expert, but I think the purpose of the ethanol is an octane booster and I'm not sure you's want to run the engine for any amount of time with the octane too low.
Click to expand...
Here, the ethanol free I can buy is all 91 octane or higher, and sold at premium prices. Worth it for the boat and other small motors.
 
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