Gerry Can for Fuel

azguy · Mar 27, 2014

I'd keep it on deck in the open air, why take a chance, even if it's diesel.

Bad Obsession · Mar 27, 2014

I keep my dingy fuel in my anchor locker. It is in a bucket (1 gallon). I can do this because the anchor locker is vented. This is a great place to store this.

With your situation, I would keep the fuel can on deck. You don't want those fumes in your bilge.

richk · Mar 27, 2014

I agree with using anchor locker. Have done that on occasion to avoid trip hazard and fumes.

Bad Obsession · Mar 27, 2014

Let me clarify a bit.....The fuel for the dingy is in a 1 gallon can. I keep it in a 2 or 3 gallon bucket.

Reason for keeping it in the bucket is that if it was to spill it would not go out of the anchor locker. Still, fumes can go out of the drain for the anchor locker. I also use the bucket for washing down the anchor chain and anchor when I pull the anchor.

I have also stored the 1 gallon container in the dingy. It is another place but I wouldn't but a ton of stuff there. When I switch out to a smaller boat it is likely that I will go back to putting the dingy fuel in the dingy as I tow it.

kloudie1 · Mar 27, 2014

if you use a good stout can that has a screw tight lid and not a spout, you can set it in the lazarette or cockpit locker, right next to the fuel tank. Fill the can almost to the top then put the lid on loosely. squeeze the sides of the can together to push out as much air as you can then while still squeezed, tighten the lid. this gives a little extra expansion cushion. If you are going to a place where the temperature is a lot hotter, you may want to pull the can and vent it again when you start getting to warm water and air. Keep it sealed tightly.. the vapor pressure of diesel is a good bit less than gasoline, so it does not need nearly as much venting as gasoline. Check it for leakage because that will stink up the boat a lot if it happens. your risk is not explosion and fire as it would be for gasoline.. the risk really is stinking up the boat!. don't do this long term, we are talking emerg fuel for a specific trip.

capta · Mar 27, 2014

azguy said:
I'd keep it on deck in the open air, why take a chance, even if it's diesel.

I'm sorry, you must have some information I haven't. What "chance" are you speaking of with diesel? I keep a small jerry jug of diesel in the engine room; should I move it on deck?

Claude L.-Auger · Mar 27, 2014

Traveled with my 34 for 9 months, from Montreal to florida, then on the Bahamas, including the Abacos, the Exumas and Eleuthera. I kept 2 approved (yellow) 6-Gal jerry cans of diesel fuel and 2 approved (red) 6-Gal and 2-Gal jerry cans of gasoline in the stern lazarette of my 34. Used Kloudie's method to squeeze air out and leave some room for expansion. And checked and used them regularly (I filled my boat tank starting with the diesel cans and refilled them. That way I always had fresh fuel. Kept the dinghy's outboard external tank lashed on deck (didn't trust the hose and cap). Don't know if a was just plain luck, but in those 9 months I never once had a leak or bad odor.

Skipper · Mar 27, 2014

I keep a 5 gal yellow (diesel) plastic can in the lazarette. Can't smell a thing, even when I open the lid.

However, I would not keep it there for a long trip unless it can be adequately secured, in the same fashion as a fuel tank. That is, fastened down hard. The only reason being the chance of rupture during a crossing, due to rough conditions. Diesel is of course flammable and toxic, and entry into the bilge is quite undesirable, especially in rough conditions.

If it can't be secured in the locker for a long trip, secure it on deck.

John Nantz · Mar 27, 2014

Bella Bella, Shearwater, and Diesel vs Gas

YVRguy said:
My buddy and I are planning a longer trip that may involve quite a bit of motoring where there are no fuel stops. I was thinking of buying a gerry can for spare fuel just in case. Obviously we can strap it down up on the deck somewhere but I wondered whether we could store it in our deep lazarette....

Route: Just wondering if "longer trip that may involve quite a bit of motoring where there are no fuel stops" are code words for going to Alaska or the Charlottes? If so, the leg from Bella Bella or Shearwater to Prince Rupert is a really long one. As a recommendation, I'd avoid going the Inside Passage route with a sailboat for several reasons:

First, it will be a motorboat show. Second, there are really limited anchorages. In fact, at motoring speed it is a two day trip and at that rate there was only one place that we found to anchor and it was a really lousy one in about 90 feet on a rocky bottom. Listened to the chain all night and being a small inlet that led to a canyon it was winder than I would have liked. It was a fjord so it actually got deeper further in rather than shallow. Maybe by taking three days one could find two anchorages that would be more decent but the route was so boring I just wanted out of there. Third: it is really boring.

Recommendation: Stick more to the outside. Going around Price I and inside of Aristazable is a nice route with reasonably steady breeze but a small amount of tacking. We went inside of Estevan and Banks but next time I would try to go outside. Inside of Banks and northward is probably going to be more of a motorboat show and likely in fog.

To the Charlottes, yes, no fuel until near Queen Charlotte City. In summer, the wind kicks up toward evening and at night.

If you're circumnavigating Vancouver Island there are actually more fuel stops available so that isn't so bad.

Diesel storage: best kept on deck. A yellow plastic diesel container doesn't come with a vent like the fuel tank so it doesn't vent, but, if the enclosure is cool and the container doesn't leak then it shouldn't be a problem. Gas, on the other hand, I would never, ever, put it below deck. A contained lazarette with a vent to the outside and no vent or hole to the inside should be okay, but never inside the boat. Gas boats have spark-free fans that get run for several minutes to vent the spaces before starting an inboard engine for a good reason.

The good news is, going north you wont have to worry about the sun discoloring the plastic yellow containers.

Benny17441 · Mar 27, 2014

Jim, unless the bucket has a hole in the bottom gasoline fumes, which are heavier than air, will collect in it. It is not till they reach the top of the bucket that they would spill over to exit the anchor locker through the drain. Two or three gallons in volume of a high concentration of flammable gases will be explosive. The anchor locker is a great place to keep the 1 gallon fuel container, I would just loose the bucket. Regarding diesel fuel, it is much safer than gasoline as it is not as volatile but still it is combustible and if ignited it could cause a nasty fire. I would say it is safe to store a diesel can in a locker but why risk a spill and have the odor permeate the boat for weeks. On trips we store cans on deck attached to a board anchored to the stanchions.

Anonymous 121765 · Mar 28, 2014

On a recent trip to the Keys, I strapped two 6 gallon jugs at my mast base. I've tried them at the bow & even in my deep lazarette with no problems, but prefer the mast location. Some boats have different configurations & running gear but I would rather have my fuel to be on deck.

I have diesel.

CR

zeehag · Mar 28, 2014

i keep 3 gerry jugs of diesel laashed to a rail on my deck. i keep a small (2 gal) gasoline jug also lashed to same rail. i also have 3 blue jugs for water lashed to a rail on deck .....

so....

what is your question.

as many folks actually CRUISE with jugs on deck, it isnt gonna be a problem.

happy sails and have a good adventure.

firehoser75 · Mar 28, 2014

Hi YVRGuy,
I have done this trip several times. One of the most beautiful places on earth(IMHO)!!!! The closest fuel stop is the Egmont Marina (Back Eddy Pub there too). It is approximately a 36 nautical mile trip (72 round trip) in to Princess Louisa from there. For me, I usually plan on it taking 6 hours from the marina when planning for slack at Malibu Rapids (I am usually early and spend some time waiting). I figure that I use about 1/4 of a tank of fuel for the 72 mile trip in and out, so lots to spare. I have a 150 liter tank. I burn about 3 liters per hour. I would store fuel on deck lashed to my stanchions if I were you and wanted to take extra.
Anyway, Hope this info helps,
Tom

Stretch · Mar 28, 2014

Good luck Doug, read your blog, hope you enjoy your break from work. The auto pilot is a great idea.