Filling fuel tank on 208 - tips/tricks

[Peter A]

Any advice on getting a full 80 gallons into a 2021 208 tank? Probably similar to later model 205/209. Seems like I have a hard time getting past 65-70. Not an issue in Barnegat Bay or inshore but am planning a nice-weather trip further out and would love that last 10 gallons for peace of mind.

 

[Hookup1]

Try to keep the deck level - have your helper move around while fueling. Also fill real slow when you are close.

 

[seasick]

How are you determining the gallons already in the tank before fueling? Unless you run it dry, there is no accurate way to measure.

 

[Peter A]

Ok. I will admit that I sputtered in one day. Filled up, didn’t try to top top it but the pump shut off at 63 gallons. I have tried to top off a couple of times after the initial pump shut off, usually can get 5-7 gallons in. I will let the fuel settle longer and get a heavier mate to stand on the bow, plus put some more gear up front.

Tank is rated 83 gallons which should be sufficient for a 160 mile day plus reserve, if I can reliably get 75 gallons into her using an average of 3mpg on the F200.

 

[Sardinia306Canyon]

I will let the fuel settle longer and get a heavier mate to stand on the bow, plus put some more gear up front.

This will most likely be counterproductive and lead to even less fuel in the tank ass all boats sit lower on stern than bow.
Fuel tanks usually have filling elbow on bow part so the the highest part is where elbow is, thats also why fuel pickups are on rear of tank.
If you put more weight on bow the still empty space will shift to the rear of the tank and pistol shut off.
You should try the opposite, heavy mate on stern or transom to lower it, i had to do that on my Panga to get the fuel tank full.

Should your fuel tanks has the filler elbow on the rear, stern side of the tank then it would be the opposite and as you wrote,
heavy mate on the bow. But i can't recall a boat with a fuel tank filler elbow on the rear of the tank.

Chris

 

[Hookup1]

My tanks have fill and vent on the stern end of the tanks. If my bow is up I when filling will have an air pocket in the forward end of the tank.

I have seen GW posts of fuel tanks with fill and vent connections in different places. In one boat vent was in forward end of the tank. You should pop the pie plate over your sending unit and camera the tank. Confirm your hose positions.

 

[seasick]

If your vent is aft, the fuel will back up into the vent ( and the fill of course ). At some point the gas backwash will be high enough to trip the nozzle. Although filling slowly is one way to maximize the fill, boats with vapor recovery tanks should not be repeatedly topped off during a fueling. The risk is flooding the carbon canister. You might want to verify the vent hose routing to make sure is doesn't have a low loop and does have a high loop that allows backed up gasoline to drain back into the tank.
Can you confirm what material your tank is made of?

 

[Peter A]

Thanks. I will have to do some investigation on plumbing and materials. Thanks for the advice.