SHETLAND OWNERS ASSOCIATION

Hi. Looking at purchasing a small Shetland.

One of my concerns is when doing a longer journey is that they only have a small fuel tank.

What is the best way of carrying extra fuel.
Fitting a larger tank.
Change over tanks.
Or just fuel in extra containers.

Interested in how members overcome this problem.

Thanks

Change over tanks. In my 535 I had 3x 22L tanks which I could just swap the fuel line between and I had a 10L can spare.
However on a normal day out, rarely used more than about 30L at once.

I will often go to sea for 3-4 days, and may cover more than 150 miles in that time. I always want to have at least 20% extra fuel, in case I don't get optimum economy. Sometimes if it is too rough I have to travel at inefficient speeds especially into foul tides that can be up to 5knots, so I have to plan for high consumption.
I have four 25litre fuel tanks, and five 5litre fuel cans, which I can overfill to a total of about 134 litres. I keep them under the cockpit benches, and a few in the anchor locker. When I anchor for the night I get as much of the fuel outside as I can, tied to the forepeak deck, on the cabin roof, even in the inflatable tender some nights. I don't like getting fuel tanks and gas stoves too close, or sleeping with tanks in my cabin or under the cockpit hood.

Thanks for your replies.