Gas can safety

[Metal Manipulator]

I did a search on the subject and did not find anything. I see many boats with spare cans on board. My question is are their any coast guard regs., and what are the safety concerns given the flammable nature of the stuff. I would like to fish out farther but can't because my boat does not hold enough fuel. The next question is where to carry them. Safety is my first concern !

[Popeye]

Robin,
I really don't know what the regs are, but if it was me....I'd put 'em on the swim board

[WP]

Gas cans are a hazard to pour on most boat, whe3n at sea. I used them last year by buiolding a box in the front and attaching it to the deck. Held three Jeep cans. It worked but....this year I set up the boat to have two 12 gallon spare tanks with quick disconnects. Run with them and then nmove the empties out of the way. Safer and easier.
WP

[Miss B Haven]

There is a difference between what manufacturers are allowed to do (and not do), what the "regs" are and what you should do but can't be controlled. If you wanted to see "regs" on fuel systems you would have to review the requirements put upon the boat manufactures. (CG, Loyds, American Boat Manufacturers Assoc. Council of Elders :grin: etc etc).
If you are talking about portable tanks, they are not meant to be stored below decks (no vent hose to outside enviroment). Also - any fuel hose run inside the engine compartment has to be CG rated for that (can't remember the classification).
Portable tanks are also supposed to be secured (strapped down).
I agree with Popeye- the safest place is on the swim step. Keeps the fuel stink out of the boat too. The only problem with this on small boats is the added weight that far back changes the running characteristics until you use up the fuel. Pilar keeps his centerline and uses it up first on the run out then gets it out of the road.
What kinda boat/motor we talking about here wetfly? :whazzup: How much extra fuel you think you need? You should not plan on being able to fill your main tank using Jerry cans out there. Between waves and rain the odds of getting water in the fuel is to high (not to mention the chance of either you or the fuel going overboard considering the placement of most fills and the two handed nature of 5 gallon cans). That means a plug in fuel reserve or a permanent mount tank and switch.
Pilar wrote an essay on this a while back (Feb or so?)- maybe a search and read will help. [img]graemlins/idea.gif[/img]

[ 06-09-2003, 07:40 PM: Message edited by: Miss B Haven ]

[Metal Manipulator]

Miss B Haven thanks, I like the plug in line idea and yes I was concerned about fumes from the fuel. The Lady Irish is a 26 ft. vessel which has a fifty gallon fuel tank. the last trip to the rock pile She used 30 gallons of fuel. so I figure I need another 40 gallons for a 35 mile tuna run. This should give me a reserve incase of head wind and or an increase in seas. The motor is a 307 with shaft drive. The fuel fill is center on the transom, easy to shove the can snout into and then laying the can down until it empties.

[Orca]

I know the CG considers anything 7 gals and over to be non-portable, and must be secured. Will you get fined or warned? I don't know, but if you have any 7/10/12/15 gal. cans laying around the deck, I would find a way to strap them down so you don't have to find out.

[skein]

I'm no fuel transfer expert, but if you do need to use portable gas cans, don't pour - siphon.

Take a regular outboard fuel line with the in-line bulb, and cut the connectors off or buy a new one (preferred) and don't add connectors. Put one end in the gas can and the other in the main tank with the arrow on the bulb pointing to the main tank. Squeeze the bulb a couple of times which will create a siphon. That way you're not trying to balance a heavy can and aim a pour spout while the boat is bouncing around.

Have I done this trick at sea? No. Have I done it at home, transfering fuel from one can to another. Yes, very successfully. Of course I didn't get to swallow or inhale any gas fumes that way, but it seemed like a small price to pay.

Skein

[ 06-10-2003, 11:02 AM: Message edited by: skein ]

[Doryfisher]

Skein,

Thanks for the gas tip. I have an extra bulb setup that I can use. Makes sense to me.