how much is enough

[nitronewbie]

Running a sport 40 hydro with an OPS 45 how big of fuel tank is needed to run

warm up and racing laps?? Thanks

 

[Mark Anderson]

I carry 10 ounces of fuel in my sport 40. I have heard of people carrying as much as 16, but I always come in with about 2 1/2 ounces left.

Mark

 

[nitronewbie]

10 is enough cool thanks Mark John

 

[Lay26]

how can 10 oz be enough? i was always told it's better to a little too much than to have too little and can't finsh the race. does it depend on where you run? in my mac 45 if i run 10 oz i may not finish we run 3/4 mill on the 30 sec clock and when the race starts you have to run 5 laps then if you cut a buoy then 6 laps!!! I can't see runnig 10 oz and finishing the race. i will have to try that this season. here in dist 1 sport 21 run 10oz. maybe it's my motor thats why i can't see that happening.

 

[boaterbill]

If you haven't tried it how do you know? You're not listening

 

[Don Ferrette]

Well you won't catch me going out in a forty anything with only 10 oz of fuel on board. My sport 40 with MAC 45 has a 16 oz tank. I'll go in shortly after start of pit time, fiddle with the needle if I need to, establish myself in lane one & get "in the groove". Mill time, 6 laps of racing & a cool down lap & I'll have about 2 oz left. :blink:

 

[bsmtboy2]

I race against Don in sport40 and around here in Dist 12 you will not finish a race with 10 oz of fuel. Go with a 14 oz Sullivan flextank with a 2oz hopper tank this will cover the start,mill time,5 or 6 laps,and the cool down lap.

 

[boaterbill]

That is one of the mysteries of this hobby, What works for one guy does not necessarily will work for someone else. Life in the fast lane.

 

[Don Ferrette]

That is one of the mysteries of this hobby, What works for one guy does not necessarily will work for someone else. Life in the fast lane.

Very, very true. Now it sure would suck to have someone set thier boat up thinking 10 oz will get it done, go to a race & find out it won't. Better to have a little too much than not enough. And if you use plastic tanks we are talking about what ...$3?? So you can change it later AFTER you see how things work at a race :blink: Plus nobody says you have to fill it up all the way to begin with. Besides, how many times have you seen those race conditions (windy,rough water) when that couple extra ounces of fuel helps you finish with the extra weight & slower running speeds. Not a sermon, just a thought ......... or two!

 

[Mark Anderson]

Wow, just told the guy what I do. I run an 8 and a 2 and come back with a little in the main tank and a full sump. I must be gettin it done faster than the rest.

Mark

 

[Don Ferrette]

Hey Mark-

What motor are you running & how soon do you go in after the clock starts?

 

[Tim Kish]

I have been running a sport 40 with an OPS 45 in it for a long time.

All I have ever used was a single twelve ounce tank.

I wait one light then go and it never uses much more than half a tank.

OPS 45's dont waste alot of fuel like the Macs seem too.

I run an OPS67 pipe and a ART carb with 410 bore.

Hope this helps

Tim

 

[Lay26]

i love my mac 45 the extra fuel it uses is priceless to the amount of power it creates. i am going to trry different fuel set up the season but i am not running in any race wtih 10 oz of fuel no matter what anyone says. it is true what boater bill said " what work for one guy doesn't work for others". that my 2 cents

 

[Tim Kish]

I was not putting down the Mac 45 I was simply stating a fact.

They seem to waste alot of fuel.

Tim

 

[Propjockey]

Wise man say, "The only time you can have TOO much fuel is when you're on fire!"

 

[Mark Anderson]

Don

Picco, Mac, Nelson, K&B you name it. I don't pay any special attention to the clock unless the water is really rough then I wait just to keep from running in the slop any longer than needed not because of fuel limitations. The only time I have worried about fuel is when running conservatively with a big lead (only go fast enough to win) And it has never been more than me being nervous, I have not run out of fuel. Normally I run a couple of hard laps after the heat before bringing the boat in cause its so much fun to drive. I also use carbs with no low speed needle so its pumping fuel all the time.

Mark

 

[boaterbill]

Before you race it, go out with a stop watch and see if you can finish the heat. Nothing to it. Like Rod says test test test some more.