1972 Keel Up Restoration

tj,

When I had the summer home in the UP I bought a 150 gallon tank and had fuel delivered. And it was cheaper.

The tank was at the water front and I could nose up to it and fill the bow tank. I don't know if you can do that now.

jim

 

Unfortunately that is not an option at my lake since one is not allowed to build anything other than a dock or boathouse within 6' elevation of the high water mark. I had to build the house 85' back from the shoreline because of this.

 

I clearly remember how the Bats did it in the olden days. Thanks to Bosacki's being a few hundred feet away, the bow tank and the two 6 gallon tanks were easy to manage. At the intermission, the drivers would buzz over to the fuel dock and top off. I am unaware of any special techniques that may have been employed to keep the bow tank full for big pulls . I'm also unable to recall whether they used the lifting eyes for big pulls. I do believe that they used the pylon for everything . If you were to get a pickup truck, some of the auxiliary tanks hold a bunch of fuel. Boating magazine recently featured an article covering fuel bladders that stow away easily. One of those things may be a decent investment. No real space for storing it and you're able to sell it if there is fuel available on the lake. Way better than running out prematurely.

 

We used the pylon for everything. I remember Bosacki's - they also had a bar there that if you could drink an inordinate amount of alcohol you were commemorated with a bucket on the ceiling. I did manage to hang a bucket in my younger days. I do have a truck and will have to look into the fuel bladder idea.

 

Check online for plastic slide in fuel rated tanks for pickup beds. The bladder is probably the best way to accomplish your goal especially given that they roll up and store so well. The fittings are non sparking and they have eyelets for securing it to the vehicle.

 

That is a great idea!

jim

 

Thanks Jim!

 

If I put a bladder in the back of my truck I would still have to drive somewhere where I could get close to a dock like the local boat ramp which is a 3 minute drive. It would still take 2 people to refuel - one to drive the truck and one to drive the boat. I would need a long fuel hose to deliver fuel from the truck bladder to the boat. There has to be a better way. I have thought of putting a tank above the high water line but would have to run a fuel line 130' + to the dock. And then how do you estimate when to shut off the tank valve to fill the boat at the dock and leave no gas in the line? And what do you build the line out of?

 

There has got to be an answer. Your last post gives me some concept of the topography of the property. Do you have an ATV there? A riding mower? A Northern Tool folding trailer or a rough, non patent infringement home built facsimile thereof to slide the bladder into protected by a piece of conveyor belt underneath. Or something that will work.

 

I take it that you cannot drive to your dock?

jim