Short term boat storage chores

[ampersat]

I've been getting the boat out pretty much every weekend now in search of URBs. Normally, when I get home, I disconnect the battery, disconnect the fuel lines at the motors and at the tanks and close the gas tank vents. Which of these are necessary and which are just good (or bad) ideas?

One thing to note: the boat sleeps in the garage, along with a gas furnace and a gas water heater. Usually, when I disconnect the fuel lines from the motors, there's a little bit of gas discharge and given the flame sources, I'm a littler nervous about that.

[SOL]

Hopefully you have a cut-off switch and aren't acutally disconnecting the terminals all the time. (no big deal if you are I would just think that would be a pain)

If you engine is fuel injected, don't disconnect the fuel lines..
If you engine is NOT fuel injected, unhook the fuel line from the engine at the boat ramp and run it dry to prevent fuel from gumming up in the carb...

I wouldn't disconnect the fuel lines from the tank, I would be concerned about fuel vapors...

Hope this helps!

BTW...This is just what I do..

[ampersat]

Actually, I usually disconnect the positive side of the battery (fewer leads) via the wing nut at the battery itself. I have a cutoff switch that I'm going to install this winter when I re-do things in the aft end of the boat.

Since I'm going out each week, is it necessary to drain the carbs? With the temp being relatively stable in the garage, I wouldn't think there would be that much fuel evaporating from the carbs in a week's time to worry about varnish.

This time, I left all the fuel lines hooked up and the vents open on the tanks. Very little fuel smell this time, unlike previous occasions.

Mostly, I'm just curious what other folks do.

[Starfish]

I wouldn't disconnect the fuel hoses and definitely not shut the fuel vents if you're going out again within a week. Installing a disconnect switch on the positive power leads is a handy idea, so you can just kill the master power when you pull off the water (especially if you're like me and sometimes forget to turn off the fishfinder).

I guess I'll qualify the fuel line advice with an exception. If you have a portable fuel tank that is prone to spilling fuel through the vent while trailering you might need to disconnect at the tank and close the vent. I had one boat that did that on rough roads. But whatever you do, don't close the vent while leaving the fuel lines connected. I once had a fuel line on an old boat spring a leak under high pressure from a closed tank vent on a hot day, and pumped a bunch of gasoline into my bilge.

[Beer Waggin]

I'm thinking you're crazy. :grin:

I back the sled in the garage and leave it. The only time I disconnect the battery is if I know it's going to sit for more than a couple of weeks. All fuel lines stay hooked up and I never drain the carb's.

Gas vapors are heavier than air, so they go to the floor. This is the reason your natural gas water heater and furnace should not be sitting directly on the floor.