Fuel bags and jack plates

[Scott Gilliland]

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.


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.


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

 

[Steve Sanford]

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.




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

 

[tod osier]

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.

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.

 

[SJ Fairbank]

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

That's a good idea.

 

[Scott Gilliland]

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.

 

[Scott Gilliland]

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

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.