carrying extra fuel

BogMonster · 04 June 2006, 16:30

At the moment I carry fuel in a couple of plastic cans which are ratchet strapped to the front of the console which does the job but is a bit of a bodge and not all that secure (inherited from previous owner).

What sort of fuel cans do you carry, how do you secure them and whereabouts on the boat? Photos would be great

Thanks

Stephen

Alex Brown · 04 June 2006, 16:41

I always carry a full 25litre plastic can, which is held next to the a-frame by rope on the stbd side. It's handy two fold cos it'll get me around 25miles on the main engine if I run out of fuel, plus, also, it'll keep the aux engine running all day if need be.

-Alex

John Kennett · 04 June 2006, 18:54

Stephen, if you don't have any more suitable storage, then strapping spare fuel containers somewhere is going to be the best option.

I suspect that the deck may be better than the console as you can fix them down more securely. Tie-down loops on the deck make it really easy. Ideally these should be bolted through the deck, but this isn't often feasible; in which case self tappers and sikaflex will do the job.

If you use plastic 25l fuel tanks (like you'd use for a smaller outboard) then you can just plug them in when you want to use them. From personal experience (!), this is way better than trying to pour fuel from a jerrycan while you're at sea.

John

Andy_Rs600 · 04 June 2006, 19:05

We keep ours on the a-frame behind tank racks, anyway....

transfereing fuel at sea, we have one of those "shake to start" syphons. Use that to get half or more of the fuel out of the can into the main tank, and then it's much easier to pour the rest. Don't bother with a funnel, instead have a spare tank with a screw on tube, and cut a hole in the side of an old 2 litre soft drinks bottle. Put pipe in hole, spout of drinks bottle in fuel filler and pour. Impossible to spill any, whatever the weather.

BogMonster · 04 June 2006, 21:20

Thanks

At the moment I just have 2 plastic cans, they aren't proper fuel cans (not sure what their original use was they came with the boat, think they were probably for chemicals or something) carry about 30L each. I have one of the shake-syphons (a "Superpump" I got from Mailspeed Marine which I would recommend to anybody - completely spill free!)

John, interesting idea on using a 25L fuel tank, will look into that as my 6hp Suzuki aux, when it arrives, is supposed to have a fuel inlet on the front for an external tank, could kill 2 birds with one stone there.

On the subject of where, what's the verdict on weight distribution, better to have it up in the bow (where it is at the moment - strapped against the front of the console) or down in the stern? Running solo most of the time. so having ~ 60kg of fuel is the same as a smallish person.

The main thing is that the front of the console isn't vertical so if you tighten the ratchet strap the containers don't sit flat on the deck. Bit wary of boring holes in the hull but it might come to that; at the moment I don't have any fittings to screw to the deck anyway but a blitz on the "stainless steel bits and bobs section" in a good chandlery, is on the cards for when I visit UK in July

I don't use the cans much anyway at the moment as I am taking it out of the water between using it, with it being winter time, so I just take the whole thing to the petrol station instead. Get some odd looks when you turn up and take up half the forecourt with the Land Rover and about 8 metres of trailer and RIB on the back

Gray · 04 June 2006, 21:47

I was on 7.5m rib recently. There were two spair cans of fuel up by the bow one day and thanks to some theiving b*st*rds they weren't there the next day. The difference it made was quiet considerable. With the cans the boat seemed to come down off a wave nose heavy and slam quite a lot. When they weren't there the boat flew a lot better so from that I would conclude putting them near the stern would be better although I guess each boat might be different depending on weight distribution with other items.

Nos4r2 · 04 June 2006, 22:00

Don't forget to cycle the fuel in your spare tank if you get a 25l tank-I suspect your aux will never use that much in its entire life unless you routinely use it for fishing

Alex Brown · 04 June 2006, 22:12

Yeah, I empty out my 25litre tank every time into the main tank, which ensures it's got fresh fuel in it, bought just before I leave.

-Alex

Nos4r2 · 04 June 2006, 22:19

Stephen is that aux you're getting 2stroke premix, autolube or 4-stroke?

I've taken to carrying a garden syringe with me to measure the oil into the aux tank for premixing.

BogMonster · 05 June 2006, 00:17

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nos4r2

Stephen is that aux you're getting 2stroke premix, autolube or 4-stroke?

I've taken to carrying a garden syringe with me to measure the oil into the aux tank for premixing.

Suzuki DF6 6hp four stroke one of these

Decided that if the S&^% hits the fan and I *really* need the aux I didn't want to be messing around with mixing fuel or worrying about old premix fuel with all the volatility of a jerrycan of ditchwater, so I figured a 4 stroke was the way to go so I can just chuck in the fuel straight out of the cans

Chrisbl · 26 June 2018, 13:04

Hi,
silly question, but I might be taking my SIB up to the Lake District next week and will pack it up into my van rather than trailering all the way up there. how do I safely deal with the petrol issue. if I take empty tanks up with me and fill them at the Marine, what do I do with leftover gas when I am travelling home?

Fenlander · 26 June 2018, 13:16

Similar issue here in that I never want to travel the several hundred miles to/fro holiday with petrol in the tank/s.

I just try and manage the fuel vs remaining trips out towards the holiday end then if needed offer the fuel free to other boaters.

Chrisbl · 26 June 2018, 13:25

OK, but is it also fine to have empty fuel tank in car boot, or could you put it in a sealed plastic container so as to keep unwanted vapour from coming into car?

Fenlander · 26 June 2018, 13:48

I find with them empty and the vent screwed tight there is no smell... I do also put them in taped up bin liners.

Daughter is very sensitive to petrol smell in the car so I make sure there is no petrol spill on the outside and wipe them over with a "nappy" wet wipe before going in the bin liner.

When we are up to capacity and I have to use a top box then it's easier as the tanks go in there.

Bigplumbs · 27 June 2018, 05:47

Quote:

Originally Posted by John Kennett

Stephen, if you don't have any more suitable storage, then strapping spare fuel containers somewhere is going to be the best option.

I suspect that the deck may be better than the console as you can fix them down more securely. Tie-down loops on the deck make it really easy. Ideally these should be bolted through the deck, but this isn't often feasible; in which case self tappers and sikaflex will do the job.

If you use plastic 25l fuel tanks (like you'd use for a smaller outboard) then you can just plug them in when you want to use them. From personal experience (!), this is way better than trying to pour fuel from a jerrycan while you're at sea.

John

You never need to pour fuel just invest in a jiggle syphon

Bigplumbs · 27 June 2018, 05:52

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fenlander

Similar issue here in that I never want to travel the several hundred miles to/fro holiday with petrol in the tank/s.

I just try and manage the fuel vs remaining trips out towards the holiday end then if needed offer the fuel free to other boaters.

Why don’t you carry the fuel home it is no issue just do the can or tank up properly

Fenlander · 27 June 2018, 06:19

Because of the fire risk in a rear end accident.

ShinyShoe · 27 June 2018, 06:32

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fenlander

Because of the fire risk in a rear end accident.

Because cars are never fuelled with Petrol?

Erin · 27 June 2018, 06:41

ISTR that under road laws there is a 5l limit on carrying spare fuel cans in a car. It was discussed on Ribnet many years back. Note there is a distinction between cans and a fitted tank. If the car gets hot, an empty can with dregs seems to build up far more pressure than a full can.

Fenlander · 27 June 2018, 07:10

>>>Because cars are never fuelled with Petrol?

But the fuel tanks are external to the vehicle structure and their location/construction will have been considered in crash testing.

In our packing the 25l tank has to go immediately inside the tailgate so in the initial crumple zone.

It's a personal choice and just what I do.

However not concerned on our 10ml rural run if using the river... it's just the 500ml mainly motorway holiday runs.