Bavaria 34 (year 2000) fuel tank capacity

[Nicho]

Seems to be confusion amongst brokers, is it 90 litres or 150 litres as standard?

[tiger79]

The 1999 owner's manual said 150 litres.

[Nicho]

The 1999 owner's manual said 150 litres.

Yes, I’ve seen that, but many others report 90 litres of fuel and 150 litres of water. I ask because I have just filled our new to us 34 for the winter. The gauge (notoriously inaccurate of course) showed a little over 1/4. I assumed the tank was 150 litres, and was surprised when it was full after the addition of just 50 litres, so wondered if the 90 litres figure was correct.

[tiger79]

Yes, I’ve seen that, but many others report 90 litres of fuel and 150 litres of water. I ask because I have just filled our new to us 34 for the winter. The gauge (notoriously inaccurate of course) showed a little over 1/4. I assumed the tank was 150 litres, and was surprised when it was full after the addition of just 50 litres, so wondered if the 90 litres figure was correct.

You can't believe anything on the gauge, I'm afraid.  A 90 litre tank is very small for a cruising boat.  There may be some markings embossed on the tank which will reveal its capacity.  If not, you need to empty it into containers and refill from scratch to determine its capacity.

[IslandAlchemy]

150 sounds a lot for a 34.  My guess would be that it is 90.

[tiger79]

150 sounds a lot for a 34.  My guess would be that it is 90.

So why would the owner's manual say 150 litres?

[Nicho]

You can see my confusion!  It is a standard boat with the original fuel tank - at least I know it’s full now because it overflowed after 50 litres. 

[Symphony]

The manual and systems plans for the Bav 34 3 cabin are in the Owners Manual section above. Clearly shows the fuel tank as 150l under the starboard aft cabin bunk. The water tank is under the port aft bunk and is also the same size. There is an option of a second water tank also 150l under the forward bunk.

However there is not a plan for the two cabin and if the fuel tank is also on the starboard side then it will be at the bottom of the locker and would only be 90l because of the limited space aft of the loo compartment. The water tank may still be on the port side, it which case it will still be 150l.

Looked at some boats for sale on the web and the 2 that quote 90l were 2 cabin boats.

90l is not too restrictive for weekend coastal sailing as it still give a comfortable 60 hours motoring.

[newtom]

Hi,
fuel tank in my Bav 34, 2001, 2-cabin: 90 l
Water 2x150 l

Regards Tom

[Lyra]

simply compare the fuel tank size to the water tank size - if 150 they will be about the same size

[Nicho]

The manual and systems plans for the Bav 34 3 cabin are in the Owners Manual section above. Clearly shows the fuel tank as 150l under the starboard aft cabin bunk. The water tank is under the port aft bunk and is also the same size. There is an option of a second water tank also 150l under the forward bunk.

However there is not a plan for the two cabin and if the fuel tank is also on the starboard side then it will be at the bottom of the locker and would only be 90l because of the limited space aft of the loo compartment. The water tank may still be on the port side, it which case it will still be 150l.

Looked at some boats for sale on the web and the 2 that quote 90l were 2 cabin boats.

90l is not too restrictive for weekend coastal sailing as it still give a comfortable 60 hours motoring.

That makes every sense. Ours is a two cabin version and the tank is obviously below the starboard locker and behind the heads. So, it is 90 litres, more than enough for a season pottering about the Solent. Thanks for clearing this up.

[artemis]

Hi There

I've the 2 cabin version with 300 ltrs water and 90 ltrs fuel hope this helps

Mike
Artemis

[Darren]

Hi
I too have a 2 cabin Bav 34 2001, it has a 90L fuel tank.
Best
Darren

[sunshine]

You mentioned it overflowing when full. Most smaller bavarias have the filler tube going down a long way to the tank. The speed of the fuel going down the tube causes the diesel to foam up, out of the breather and back up the filler pipe. If brimming the tank for the winter its worth going slowly at the end, and even topping off from a can. I find I can squeeze in at least another 5 litres after the gun first trips out, and maybe as much as 9 litres (so 10%extra capacity). Surprised about the comments that 90l isn't much. These are sailing boats with an auxiliary motor so as long as you actually sail then 90l is plenty.

[Symphony]

That is maybe true for the weekend and summer holiday sailor, but for those who cruise in the Med and want to travel distances, for example from Greece to Sicily, or Sardinia to Majorca it is often necessary to motor or motor sail for many hours due to no or light winds. In these situations 90l at 1.5l an hour will disappear very quickly - that is only a safe range of c300 miles!

[sunshine]

Spent 6 weeks cruising the western isles of Scotland in summer 2018 (the one with the massive high pressure and very little wind), and bearing in mind the lack of diesel availability in that area, I still had no problems with 90l tank capacity. I'm not looking for an argument but why have a yacht if you often motor 500+ miles? Either time the passage to when conditions suit (ie when there is wind) or put up with some time sailing slowly. 60 hours at 5knts is more than plenty for sailors why spend more time actually sailing their yachts, and less time making condescending remarks about "weekend sailors".

[Nicho]

You mentioned it overflowing when full. Most smaller bavarias have the filler tube going down a long way to the tank. The speed of the fuel going down the tube causes the diesel to foam up, out of the breather and back up the filler pipe. If brimming the tank for the winter its worth going slowly at the end, and even topping off from a can. I find I can squeeze in at least another 5 litres after the gun first trips out, and maybe as much as 9 litres (so 10%extra capacity). Surprised about the comments that 90l isn't much. These are sailing boats with an auxiliary motor so as long as you actually sail then 90l is plenty.

On first squeezing the pump, it bubbled out of the breather. It took a further 50 litres by filling slowly. I was anxious not to put any into the locked marina!

[Symphony]

Spent 6 weeks cruising the western isles of Scotland in summer 2018 (the one with the massive high pressure and very little wind), and bearing in mind the lack of diesel availability in that area, I still had no problems with 90l tank capacity. I'm not looking for an argument but why have a yacht if you often motor 500+ miles? Either time the passage to when conditions suit (ie when there is wind) or put up with some time sailing slowly. 60 hours at 5knts is more than plenty for sailors why spend more time actually sailing their yachts, and less time making condescending remarks about "weekend sailors".

People use their boats in different ways and if you want to cruise the Med you just have to accept that you will spend many hours motoring. For example I moved my 37 from Corfu to Southern Spain via Sicily, Sardinia and Majorca. That is over 1200 miles and we had the motor running for approx 85% of the time. That is approx 200 hours (more than twice average UK boaters running time), or 300l fuel. So even with my 150l capacity you can appreciate why we topped up at every opportunity and carried 2*20l cans.

I am not being condescending - I am now a "weekend" sailor - using the term is just shorthand for describing a pattern of usage. You are right that in the UK (as i pointed out) 90l is not really a constraint where the typical annual engine hours is less than 100 or less than 150l pa for a 20-30hp engine. My 37 was on charter for 6 years and clocked up 3500 hours or just under 600 hours a year - and that was just operating in the Ionian with only 2 long passages to and from Athens. That boat had more use in the 10 years i owned it than most UK based boats get in a lifetime.

I agree with you that if you sail in an area with regular winds and relatively short distances between islands or harbours, 60 hours running time is not really a constraint, but please recognise that others don't have those conditions but still want to use and enjoy their boats. Builders recognise this - and in reality most of their boats are sold  for use in conditions more like the Med so normally fit larger tanks. The 3 cabin 34 was mostly sold to charter operators where the larger tank is preferred.

[nightowle]

I was ready to chime but it seems this has been answered.  But just for edification purposes, I find that the specifications of my 1999 35E is quite similar to the 1999 or 2000 34 in many ways.  We have a 2 cabin version 35, but the fuel capacity is 150L.  We also have 2 water tanks (fore and aft).  I also have the issue of guessing the amount of fuel to add.  The overflow will take over before a full fill and the gauge never goes much over 3/4.  I plan to add a flow meter in the near future.  Fuel isn't too hard to obtain in our Pacific Northwest cruising area.  But it's definitely more costly in Canada than south of the border when we're out for longer cruises!

[sunshine]

One thing I've noticed with the fuel gauge is that its very voltage sensitive. It shows full with a full tank if the engine is running, but only 7/8ths or so with engine off, even if the battery is well charged. Might be a bad connection somewhere but I find if you check the level while motoring to the fuel dock, work out how much you think you need and pump that, its not too far off.

[Harveyhall]

The capacity of my fuel tank is stamped on the top of the tank itself.  2005 36’
Might be an option if able to pull up the covers??