Twin engines, dual fuel tanks

[Jersey Guy]

Someone please answer this question...

My friend was out on his SeaRay 3400 cruiser and lost an engine. As he started for home he said he only had 1/8 tank of fuel in the one tank. I asked him why he didn’t use both fuel tanks and he said that each tank is only assigned for each separate engine. In other words, we couldn’t use the tank that had 70 gallons i it and had to limp home on 1/8 tank.

 

[QBhoy]

Not certain of this particular model, but most similar boats that I know like this have a levelling pipe and valve between the tanks. Like a cross over.
Supposed to keep tanks separate in theory in case of contamination and it gives you a little redundancy, but usually there is a cross over.

 

[Chris1956]

I have seen this before. Two engines, 4 batteries, 2 battery switches and two fuel tanks. A lot of potential for redundancy, which is nice.

If it were my boat, I would wire it so I could use any battery (or two) to start any motor, and could use fuel from any tank(or both) to run any motor.

 

[dingbat]

Obviously, he needs to brush up on his fuel management skills....

How do you get such unbalanced fuel levels if actively managing your engine hours and fuel supply?

 

[cptbill]

I have seen this before. Two engines, 4 batteries, 2 battery switches and two fuel tanks. A lot of potential for redundancy, which is nice.

If it were my boat, I would wire it so I could use any battery (or two) to start any motor, and could use fuel from any tank(or both) to run any motor.

Yea I'd do it that way too. My Larson 330 cabrio was set up that way from the factory never had to worry about what engine, fuel tank, battery