[PUP] Fuel Tanks and trim - trade-offs

[Peter Pisciotta]

The Willard 40's had an interesting tank
configuration. Rather than positioning the tanks as
saddle tanks (outboard of the engine), Willard took a
different approach: two thwartship tanks located
midship, more or less beneath the pilothouse area (or
lower helm on the sedan models). This greatly lessened
the trim issues, either P/S or fore/aft. But it also
creates a cavernous engine room - full width!!! The
down side, especially on the Pilothouse model, is the
companionway forward is far forward and slightly
compresses the staterooms. But it does provide decent
sound insulation for the sleeping area. Plumbing is
also greatly simplified as the outlets for each tank
are near centerline - within a foot or so of each
other. Site guages are also side-by-side and easily
viewed.

Overall, I like the configuration alot - and am
curious why it hasn't seen greater adoption. Willard
managed up to 700 gallons in this configuration. A
trip I did last year aboard Patrick Gerety's 2001 W40
from Long Beach to La Paz on the Baja-ha-ha saw actual
performance of under 1.5 gph at 7.2 knots - well over
3000 nms range at a standard cruising speed.

Peter
W36 Sedan
San Francisco