Above Deck Fuel Tanks

[Dan McGuire]

The last three sailboats I have owned with outboards all had the “above deck” fuel tanks under the seats in the cockpit accessible through a hatch. None of them were tied down, which I have corrected. The last time I filled my fuel tank on my Mac 23 I spilled a spoonful of gasoline. I was able to get rid of the smell with baking soda. I do not like this arrangement. Occasionally I see another sailboat with the tank in the cockpit, but it looks awkward.Has anyone come up with a neat way to locate the tank outside in the cockpit? I like the idea, but don’t care for the appearance of a fuel tank out in the open plus having it underfoot. I have considered putting in a permanent fuel tank, which is expensive and would require a lot of cutting and brackets to support it, etc. I have considered constructing some kind of cover and putting an above deck tank in the lower aft part of the cockpit.

 

[Jim LeBlanc]

Be careful with gasoline tanks

I agree with you about gasoline fuel tanks in the cockpit. I have an S2 7.3, with a 9.9 Yamaha outboard. The tank fits under the seat on the starboard side of the cockpit. The tank is visible, since the area under the seat is open. There is a strip of teak bolted to the cockpit sole to act as a ledge to keep the tank in place (it is not otherwise tied down). The only problem is that the tank is visible, but the previous owner painted the side of the tank which shows with white paint, so it is not too obvious.The problem with gasoline tanks in general is that they must be vented, so there are always fumes and the fumes are very dangerous. Any permanent installation of a gasoline tank has to have a tank vent to an open location and most important, must have a method to vent the area around the tank and to blow the fumes collected there to an open area. Gasoline fumes are heavy and will sink to the bottom of the area around the tank. An unvented tank area could collect fumes to an explosive concentration, to be set off by a single spark or open flame. Be careful!

 

[MArk of OSMS]

Never! Never! Never!

Never store gasoline in the cabin. Fumes will accumulate and any ignition source (like flipping a switch on or off) will cause an explosion. Have you seen the beginning of the movie "Casino"? (or "Jane Austin's Mafia!"?)I've seen homemade gas tank cozies that add storage space and can double as seating. If you build one, be sure it's vented top and bottom.MArk

 

[Gord May]

Portable Tanks

Should never be filled "in-place", but always removed from boat for filling.ABYC Section "H-25" requires that service & vent openings are above the liquid level in it's normal position.Regards,Gord

 

[Dan McGuire]

Actually Looking for Ideas

I did remove the tank when I spilled the gasoline. I was putting the tank back in, when the gasoline spilled because the cap was not on tight enough. The existing arrangement, which is similar to most sailboats with outboards, is a bad arrangement. Probably what I will do is to locate the tank in the lower aft section of the cockpit and cover it with a hinged shelf of either wood or Lexan.

 

[Peggie Hall/HeadMistress]

You still have to take it off the boat to fill it

Gord's right...portable tanks must always be taken off the boat and set on the dock to fill. Locking it down in the cockpit or anywhere else on the boat won't prevent fuel from being spilled due to accidentally overfilling...drips from the gas pump hose...or any of the other dozen ways gas can be spilled. Permanently installed fuel tanks all have fill fittings on the outside of the hull...so that spilled fuel cannot end up in the boat. Any tank that requires bringing the gas pump hose aboard to fill it should never be filled aboard, always on the dock. It's not gas itself that's explosive...it's gas FUMES...and they always seek the lowest point in the boat. The fumes from just a cupful of gas have the same explosive power as 10 sticks of dynamite...so the fumes from even a couple of tablespoons can do some major damage to boats and body parts Yes, it's a royal PITA to have to take the tank off the boat every time you have to fill it...but the only people who ever claim that owning and maintaining a boat properly is easy or without any PITA issues are boat salesmen.