Fuel capacity in 36' Express Trawler

Post by **Mariner** » Tue Apr 18, 2006 6:57 pm

The listing for our 2003 model claimed it had a capacity of 380 gallons. Yet inspection of the tanks indicates that they are labeled as holding 127 gallons each, plus there is a small tank amidships where they apparently combine and the engine draws from. This tank looks like it can't possibly be more than 20 gallons. By my math that comes to just 274 gallons.

Where did the 380 gallon number come from? Is there another fuel tank somewhere that I'm missing? I've crawled over the boat from stem to stern and stuck my head in every recess of the hull I could find. Is there a chance the tanks are merely mislabeled? I haven't yet had the misfortune of actually topping them off, but I suspect that day is coming soon. I'd like to have some idea of first what the damage is going to be, and second, how long it's going to last me.

jcollins · Post by **jcollins** » Tue Apr 18, 2006 9:59 pm

Mariner,
I found a review that says 280 gallons??

Albin 36
Express Trawler
Specifications

Length overall
37'5"
Length waterline 32'3"

Beam 12'9"

Draft 3'3"

Fuel 280 gals

Water 120 gals

Standard power 420 hp Caterpillar diesel

Base price $238,000
Albin Marine
143 River Rd. • PO Box 228
Cos Cob, CT 06807
203-661-4341
(F) 203-661-6040
www.albinboats.com

jcollins · Post by **jcollins** » Tue Apr 18, 2006 10:01 pm

Here's a link to the article. Nice review.

http://www.cbmmag.net/reviews/albin36exp/index.html

Post by **Mariner** » Wed Apr 19, 2006 11:09 am

I wonder if someone just bumped the capacity in the listing either on accident or intentionally. I know the boat came with a number of different engine configurations and since the fuel tanks share space with the engine(s), it would not surprise me if different years/versions had different capacities.

jcollins · Post by **jcollins** » Thu Apr 20, 2006 8:31 am

Mariner,
Where you basing your fuel economy on 380 gallons and not 280?
Have you ever filled more than 280 gallons in the tanks? Have you tried to contact Albin directly?
Try
ED WINARSKI
Albin Marine
226 West Shore Road.
Portsmouth, RI 02871
(401) 682-1600
(401) 682-1604 Fax
I was told by someone that he is very helpful if you can reach him. He's not good at returning calls. (or wasn't in the past)

John

Post by **Mariner** » Thu Apr 27, 2006 2:06 pm

I topped the tanks off for the first time on Sunday. It took about 250 gallons. I started out with about a 3/8 of a tank. So simple math suggests that the total capacity is closer to 380 gallons than 280. I'm leaning towards the 380.

Fuel economy has been based off the fuel flow gauge on the Caterpillar's LCD display, and seems to be pretty accurate.

jcollins · Post by **jcollins** » Thu Apr 27, 2006 3:18 pm

Good! More fuel...go further!

BTW...what was your per gallon price? I paid 2.89 on Sunday.

Post by **Mariner** » Mon May 01, 2006 12:33 pm

It was $2.51 minus a $.04 volume discount plus 8.8% Washington State Sales Tax (charged because it's off-road fuel). So I guess that was $2.69. I'm sure it's gone up at least ten cents since then.

jcollins · Post by **jcollins** » Mon May 01, 2006 5:02 pm

I guess we can't complain too much about diesel. A friend of miine paid 3.50 for 93 octane for his Sea Ray last weekend. The diesel was up to 2.99 at his marina.

Post by **Mariner** » Fri May 05, 2006 2:30 pm

Yes, it's really not bad when compared to the road price of diesel, or even worse, gasoline. But that doesn't mean that it doesn't have an impact. I grew up on a 36' Catalina sailboat that got 1gph and cruised at 7 knots. The 20 gallon tank was enough to last several months and cost only $30 to fill.

jcollins · Post by **jcollins** » Sat May 06, 2006 8:33 am

Your right. When I bought my first boat, I didn't even think about the cost of fuel! Fill it up and go. We would run around the Bay for a couple of weeks and fill it up again. That was a 78 Sea Ray 21' cuddy. Good, heavy, boat that was very stable and never had a problem. My partner forgot to remove the drain plug when he pulled it in the Fall one year. By the time spring came around when I pulled the cover off, it was filled with water. All he could say is "I wondered why the tires were almost flat on the trailer". Ha! Last partner in a boat for me.

Post by **Mariner** » Sun Nov 12, 2006 2:12 pm

It took 414 gallons yesterday without coming out the vents. From now on I will assume 400 gallons including the day tank. This makes sense considering that the claimed capacity is 380 and the day tank is about 20 gallons. This just means there is a little extra room in there.

pbirman · Post by **pbirman** » Wed Dec 20, 2006 9:46 pm

Mine is 380 gal. Two 150 gal saddle tanks and an 80 gal "day" tank. Power is twin 300 hp Yanmars.

I've filled it with 300+ gal on one or two occasions.

Paul

Albin Owners Group

Albin Owners Group

Fuel capacity in 36' Express Trawler

Fuel capacity in 36' Express Trawler