A tank that ran front to back would be a nightmare to prop. When you try to get out of the whole the gas sloshes to the back where it will kill your hole shot. Coming off of plane the gas would slosh to the front and make the bow dip and could spear a wave if your approaching rough water.

On a smaller boat the best idea is to mount an small tank in the front as a spare and ballast for whole shot.

Boat designers spend time to tune their boats for the user. Like anyone who tries to make a business go they are looking to combine all the essential elements to provide for the best ride for the money.
It may strike you as odd that boats put tanks in the back or under the seats but I'm pretty sure they've tried them out and where they put them is where they were intended to go.

Back 20 years ago they used to build the Javelin 389 which had a tank located at the very rear of the boat. It was faster than most boats with a 150 and took rough water very well. They made some changes years later, renamed it the 19 and put the tanks under the seats. It killed the speed and IMO ruined the boat.


Lee, don't put so much gas in your boat. The boat I owned rated for a 125 had a 18 gallon tank and was more than enough, even when I ran it a long way.
My Allison has a 24 gallon tank. Its 20 foot. Its located just in front of the transom.

Well, guess the answer is (at least for my rig) not so much gas, well not full anyway.
But what about when on Possum Kingdom or if I'm lucky, on Fork or Toledo Bend? Need all the gas the tank will hold due to the long lengths of water. Not that many places to re-fuel.
But, thanks for all the reply's.
Good information.
I was sure I had seen recently a boat manufacturer advertising their bass boat with a fuel tank that ran from front (bow) to rear (stern). ??? Maybe I didn't hear it right.
God Bless

if you are on the front deck fishing it will be more level !

But are the fish biting?

The first time you get in rough water you would see why they need to be how they are these days. When 50 gallons of fuel sloshed forward when you hit a 3' wave and you speared the next one then couldn't get going because you couldn't get the nose up it would be bad. Then, when your cruising about 70 and start a long sweeping turn and you hit some boat wakes that are big enough to move fuel forward you would dig the nose and spin out.

My 2014 skeeter has 2, 26 gal tanks and I can tell a huge difference when I'm empty on one.

Think I have too much tackle! Seems every compartment is FULL.....
but, it sure seems a great deal of difference when the gas tank is full, and perhaps another angler on board. Man, the rig sets low and to the rear in the water.
Just asking..seems many of the newer rigs set much more level and perhaps a little higher in the water.
Thanks...
God Bless

If you had a long tank, and the fuel was half full. Wouldn't most of the fuel rush to the back of the boat when you took off, at least until you planed out and reached your desired speed?