Pontoons are a great way to enjoy the water without having to worry about the boat tipping over, they are also a great way to explore and discover new places.
Pontoon boats are a good choice for gatherings because most of them have enough deck space, but one of their downsides though is that they sometimes have smaller gas tanks.
Pontoon boats with small gas tanks can be a problem if they are not properly maintained. One of the most common problems for these types of boats is that their gas tanks will run out before the boat reaches its destination, leading to the boat becoming stranded in shallow water.
If you own a pontoon boat, it is important to make sure that you know how much fuel it can consume so that you can plan your trip accordingly without getting stranded on the water.
But nevertheless, a pontoon with a large gas tank is a better option because they have more fuel capacity, which means they allow you to go further and have a greater range, and also stay afloat longer.
The pontoon boats with a large gas tank are also heavier, which means they are less likely to tip over.
Pontoon Boat Gas Tank Capacity
Some of the pontoon boats for this generation come with tank capacity that is not sufficient for boat owners. A majority of people want to go for a long adventure on the water and hence a small gas tank will be an obstacle on their trip.
A lot of manufacturers design pontoons with luxury and comfort, but they will hold back when it comes to the fuel tank capacity.
There are a lot of actors that determine the tank size; it’s normal to find boats that have a capacity of only 6 gallons on their tank, some can have two tanks with such capacity.
But there are pontoon boats with larger tanks that can hold up to 35 gallons, this gives them enough freedom to sail on the water for hours without running out of fuel.
A typical pontoon boat comes with 115 horsepower, and this type of engine can burn up to 8 gallons per hour. If your pontoon boat comes with a small tank, you can’t even spend an hour with such engine capacity.
What’s The Ideal Gas Tank Size For Pontoons?
A typical 20–24-foot pontoon should have nothing less than 20-gallons capacity and it’s even recommended to increase the capacity up to 30-50 gallons.
The gas tank can be extended beyond the manufacturer’s capacity, we’ll talk about that later in this post. But overall, 20 gallons should be enough to enjoy your time on the water without any worry.
What Should You Do If Your Gas Tank Is Small?
You have a few options to deal with it, and we’ll explain them to you.
Carry extra fuel in gas cans
If your Pontoon gas tank is small, you can take extra gas cans with you; this will help you avoid the situation of not having enough fuel to get back home when your pontoon runs out of fuel. But there are risks, and there are many;
The most common one is that they may leak, which will cause an explosion, another risk is that they might get stolen or damaged by someone else who takes them without permission.
Even direct sunlight exposure can cause an explosion of natural gas, gasoline, and other fuels that are flammable and the risk of an explosion is high. Gas fuel should be kept in a well-ventilated area to avoid direct sunlight.
Gasoline is a highly flammable liquid that is generally stored in a closed tank. When exposed to direct sunlight, gasoline can react with oxygen and heat up to produce toxic gasses that are extremely dangerous.
While this may sound like an exciting process to boat owners with small tanks, there is also a risk in refilling your pontoon gas tank with cans and it’s just a frustrating and tedious process.
Refilling it can be frustrating and tedious as you have to make sure that you are not spilling any fuel on the ground or on your clothes while filling it up.
Additionally, you have to make sure that you are not getting any water into the tank by pouring it from one container to another and then back again.
Replace your tank
If you’re not satisfied with your pontoon gas tank, you can replace it with a bigger one, this is especially helpful for boats that have more than one pontoon on them.
This is also something straightforward and most pontoon boat tanks can be replaced easily with a bigger one.
Replacing a pontoon boat tank isn’t very expensive, you get a 30-gallon tank for not more than $350 and some extras for installation.
One of the benefits of replacing your tank is that you don’t need to deal with installing more fuel lines on the pontoon and your engine can still draw fuel from the newly replaced tank.
Another advantage is that you don’t have to compromise on storage space for your pontoon boat, replacing your gas tank is also very safe compared to carrying gas tanks.
If you can really afford to replace your pontoon gas tank, I think this should be your best option.
Add another tank
The third option you have if your pontoon has a smaller tank is to add another tank to it. However, one of the downsides of adding an extra tank is that it will take up more space on your pontoon boat.
New fuel lines have to be created and connected to the engine so that it can draw fuel from the second tank. This is also something you need to take professional guidance from a mechanic so that they install the new tank for you.
How Many Gallons Of Gas Does A Pontoon Boat Hold?
The amount of fuel consumed is dependent on many factors, such as the size and weight of your boat, how fast you are traveling, the capacity of the engine installed on the pontoon, and the type of fuel you use.
But let us consider the average 20-foot pontoon with an engine capacity of 100 horsepower and make some estimates.
- For anchoring and short trips; A pontoon boat does not consume much gas when anchored for short trips, but it consumes more gas when it is required to travel long distances. For such activities, it consumes about 10-12 gallons of fuel per hour when traveling at speed of 3 knots.
- Fishing; The amount of gas that a pontoon boat consumes for fishing is determined by the size of the boat and the number of people on board. However, the average consumption for a pontoon boat is 15-20 gallons per hour.
- Towing water skiers, tubes, or wakeboarders; A pontoon boat consumes a lot of gas to tow water skiers, tubes, or wakeboarders. A pontoon boat can consume up to 30-50 gallons per hour; however, the consumption depends on the load and speed, plus other factors mentioned.
Do Pontoon Boats Have Gas Tanks?
Yes, they do have fuel tanks and most have a tank that is either on the back of the boat or at the front. Some have tanks with a small capacity of 6 gallons while others have tanks with capacities of up to 50 gallons or more.
What Size Gas Tank Does My Boat Have?
It’s important to know the size of the gas tank your boat has before buying it so that you don’t end up having to buy more fuel than what was intended.
However, be careful when looking at the tank; The tanks are usually marked with a capacity measurement in gallons or liters.
You should check your boat manual, fuel capacity, and other specifications for your pontoon boat are all listed.
However, you should know that a typical gas tank for a boat will be between 20 and 40 gallons. There are of course small tanks that take no more than 6 gallons.
Where Do You Put Gas In A Pontoon Boat?
The gas tank in the pontoon boat is located mostly under the seat, you should locate the filler neck and fill it with a hose or any other safe method you wish to use.
Conclusion
The shape and size of a pontoon boat determine how much fuel it can hold. For example, a pontoon boat with an oval-shaped hull can hold more fuel than one with a rectangular hull.
The length, width, height, and weight are important factors in determining how many gallons it can hold.
Also, the size of the gas tank will determine how long the engine can run on it before it needs refueling. Some boats have tanks that hold as little as 6 gallons while others can hold up to 50 or more gallons of fuel.
Before buying a pontoon boat, one should consider how far they want to go and what kind of activities they will be doing on it. There are different types of pontoon boats that cater to different needs.
Some are for fishing, some are for water sports, and some are for family outings, you then check the gas tank size to see if it’s a fit. It will also be stated the distance it can cover on a full tank.
Read Also: Pontoon Boat Flooring Options
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