Is there a quicker way

Nauti Buoy · 06 April 2006, 17:45

I have been trying to empty the fuel tanks on my Rib as don't want to sell it with approx 80 litres of fuel on board, so have been using a fuel line with a fuel bulb to prime the line then a fuel tank on the ground and letting gravity do the rest and it's taking ages. This boat does not bother me but my hard boat which I am also selling has about 300 litres on board which I will need to start emptying, and by this method it's going to take forever, especially as that one is in the Marina and gravity won't do much to help.

Any thoughts, considerred buying one of those pumps you can attach to a drill, but concerned the spark in the drill when you trigger it might empty the tank a lot quicker than I would want.

Poly · 06 April 2006, 18:18

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nauti Buoy

Any thoughts, considerred buying one of those pumps you can attach to a drill, but concerned the spark in the drill when you trigger it might empty the tank a lot quicker than I would want.

DON'T DO IT. There are quite often sparks in the motor as it spins, so you are not just looking at the spark when you press the trigger. Also I doubt the seals are designed to be used with solvents.

You can get syphon pumps fairly affordably I think. There was another similar post recently (looking for easy way to FILL tanks). Think it was steve from the falklands who was asking...

Nauti Buoy · 06 April 2006, 18:25

Quote:

Originally Posted by Polwart

DON'T DO IT. There are quite often sparks in the motor as it spins, so you are not just looking at the spark when you press the trigger.

Not going to as those were my thoughts exactly, just finished draining the rib, left 1/4 - 1/2 of fuel in each tank. Wonderred about a manual style pump bilge but then the petrol might eat the rubber seals. Mind you would it not last the length of time it would take to empty the tank as they can't be much more than £30-£40 so it would be justified against £300 quids worth of fuel.

codprawn · 06 April 2006, 18:29

The syphon pumps or shakers are great - empty a jerrycan in about 3 mins.

Obviously though if the boat is afloat on the water and you need to get the fuel UP it's a different story!!!

http://www.justoffbase.co.uk/s.nl/sc.9/category.600/.f

this page has the syphons and loads of useful stuff at good prices.

The 12v transfer pumps look promising but none of them are rated to use with petrol.....

BogMonster · 06 April 2006, 18:44

Yeah it was me. I eventually settled on a decent long neck funnel, and steel jerrycans with a long spout on. I have built a jerrycan frame for the back of the Defender to stop them crashing around in the back, holds them v securely. Ideal, doesn't spill a drop refuelling even when windy. I just don't leave the J/C on the boat as they will go rusty!!

Not much good for decanting fuel out of a boat though as it would be kinda hard to put a spout on the boat and hold it up over a jerrycan

Poly · 06 April 2006, 19:09

How about

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/WOW-LOOK-HAND-...QQcmdZViewItem

Builds up the biceps too!

Cookee · 07 April 2006, 08:14

Car fuel pump? We use a Holley which originally came with a Merc XR2 for transferring fuel.

roycruse · 07 April 2006, 08:19

Quote:

Originally Posted by Polwart

How about

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/WOW-LOOK-HAND-...QQcmdZViewItem

Builds up the biceps too!

That thing is for model aircraft - I have one - after about 20 turns of the handle it will have transfered about 200ml of fuel.

You could be there quite some time to fill up a tank for a RIB

Jimmy_Beam · 07 April 2006, 08:20

All it takes is 1 case of beer and a few buddies. Get buzzed up and go fishing, that's how I seem to drain my tanks.

Alice · 07 April 2006, 08:21

Yep,car fuel pump. A mate is a spanner monkey at a Ford main dealer. He has a pipe and fuel pump rig which he uses to get all of the unleaded out of diesel Focus' and Fiestas.

It shifts quite an amount quickly.
Or, syphon with the biggest bore pipe that you can get in there, 20mm ID would get it out pretty fast.

ADS · 07 April 2006, 08:29

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jimmy_Beam

All it takes is 1 case of beer and a few buddies. Get buzzed up and go fishing, that's how I seem to drain my tanks.

Good idea, I drop round and pick up the keys Richard

Nauti Buoy · 07 April 2006, 10:50

Quote:

Originally Posted by ADS

Good idea, I drop round and pick up the keys Richard

Nauti Buoy · 07 April 2006, 11:20

If you fixed it to a reasonable piece of wood so you could stand on it, then 2 lengths of hose either end?

Budget Manual Bilge Pump Fixed Handle - A compact and efficient pump robustly made in corrosion resistant materials. It is available with both fixed and removable handle
• Output of 8 gallons per minute
• Takes 1" hose

mark-f · 07 April 2006, 11:43

I bought one of these at the boat show a couple of years ago and all I can say is they are cheap and work really well, just get the jerry can above the tank give it a quick shake then leave it to syphon in on its own, it takes about two mins to drain a jerry can

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/SYPHON-TUBE-PU...QQcmdZViewItem

Mark

Nauti Buoy · 07 April 2006, 11:59

Quote:

Originally Posted by mark-f

I bought one of these at the boat show a couple of years ago and all I can say is they are cheap and work really well, just get the jerry can above the tank give it a quick shake then leave it to syphon in on its own, it takes about two mins to drain a jerry can

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/SYPHON-TUBE-PU...QQcmdZViewItem

Mark

Don't these rely on gravity as well. The boat with all the fuel on will be lower than the Jerry cans I have to fill. So it will have to pump upwards.

codprawn · 07 April 2006, 12:16

Yes they do - that's your problem!!!

Personally I would give one of the diesel transfer pumps a go from machine mart - they often have them in the clearance section - they come with a proper hose and trigger nozzle.

They are NOT rated for petrol though - prob the makers being over cautious but remember petrol is a solvent so may damage seals etc - MAY.....

John Kennett · 07 April 2006, 15:41

I'd go for a fuel pump that's designed for petrol (ie one from a car or a bike). They're not super fast, but at around 25 gallons an hour it wouldn't be too bad.

There's a good deal on a Facet 40105 here and I'm sure that someone would buy it off you for a reasonable amount if you only wanted to use it once.

John