2008 20i gas tank question

[alexmlane]

I know this sounds so stupid but I was wondering if ALL if 20i boats come with 2 25gallon gas tanks? Everything I see and read states that it hold 50 gallons but when I go to fill up my boat I can never seem to put more than 12 gallons in each of them even when it is at its lowest. Is the tank designed to below where you can see what appears to be the bottom??? I dont trust the gauges so I just eyeball the thanks when they get low.

Also, I see where someone mentioned it in another post and I seached threads and archives and didnt see but one response from a Skeeter owner but I have a BAD BAD gas smeel in my rod lockers. Is there anything that can be done about it? It seems pretty common amongst other brands of boats. Thanks in advance!

[Bug Bunny]

I made a long run shortly after getting my 20 I and ran until ALMOST empty. When I went to fill up, one side help 24 and the other 23 so not sure about all but mine will sure hold 50!!!!!

But to answer your question, I can see all the way to the bottom of mine.

[SkeeterBob]

I'm not sure I like the dual tanks yet. I've always had the center tank under the seats on other boats. Kind of a pain to fill up, need to be in at an angle at the pumps. But my ZX225 has the same 25 gallon tanks and they hold every bit of it. I have the dual setting and it tends to bump more out of the port side. Right now the port is 3/4 full and starboard is just under full.

Looks like the boat would ride even better if the fuel was more centrally located, give a better balance in weight. But, what do I know, I'm not an aeronautic engineer.

[Doug Vahrenberg]

It's actually a performance feature and a reason Skeeters turn so well. The split Fuel Tanks carry the weight as far rearward plus the weight is directly over the turning chines which help them bite in and one of the resaons Skeeters turn so good at any Speed.

50 Gallons of Fuel is close to 400 Pounds of weight. The farther you place the forward the more horsepower and leverage it takes to lift the weight. Wish I knew physics and geometry to figure what the weight calculations would be but it's amzing how much weight multiplies the farther forward you place it in a boat. Same goes for tackle. THe farther back you could put the heavy stuff the better the performance.

[itsakeeper14]

Moment = Force x Distance

Take the centerpoint on the 400 lbs of fuel from where the boat rides in the water at any given speed to calculate the force it takes to hold that up. Move it forward a few feet and it multiplies with each foot towards the front of boat. This is why the fuel and the batteries are as far back as they can be.

Interesting to see how much a trolling motor weighs and calculate how much force it takes to lift it 19-20ft from the back of the boat. Come to think of it, I should move a few of my jig and weight tackleboxes closer to the back of the boat.

[Doug Vahrenberg]

I've moved alot of my heavy items backwards into the rear boxes. Jigs, Weights, Plastics, etc Just weigh one box or bag. My jig box weighted 20# doesn't sound like much but it adds up alot. Might be easier to adjust tackle weight versus playing with prop and jackplate height. Makes you wonder.

[Neilslure]

The tanks in the Skeeters are odd shaped. They are alot bigger towards the bottom. Think this makes the fuel gauge read funny. First 1/2 seems to burn off quick, 2nd 1/2 will last forever.

[oubassr]

So at 235 each, my buddy and I should sit on the Yammie and get an extension for hotfoot and steering? Just askin'.

[alexmlane]

Thanks a lot! I guess I am just eyeballing it and getting paranoid about it being low.