Gas Can

[Nathan]

I keep a 2.5 gallon plastic gas can as emergency gas in addition to my main 5 gallon tank. When the temperature rises, the can swells and gas always leak out the top. I'm not sure if it's liquid escaping or if it's just vapor. Regardless, the interior of the boat smells like gasoline. I tried to do the same thing in my truck, but again there was always the smell of gas. I have tried several different models of tanks but all of them do this. Any suggestions? Has anyone else had this problem?

 

[Trevor - SailboatOwners.com]

Gas inside

Hi Nathan -I know this sounds obvious and there's probably a reason why you don't want to do this, but keep gas cans outside! Liquid gas exponds into vapor when heated, and it's much safer (and less smelly) if you keep containers of gas outside the boat. Installed tanks inside boats have vents that allow fumes to escape, so unless you vent your gas can outside (perhaps run a hose through portlight or companionway), the fumes will come out the vented cap. And if you plug the cap, KABOOM!Best,Trevor

 

[Dave]

Why an extra tank?

Why do you need an extra tank? I've got an eight-horse Evinrude (big for a 22) and I only burned somewhere between 3 and 4 gallons the entire season last year. I'm only going to fill the tank halfway this year. I don't need that much fuel and I'd rather not carry the additional weight in the stern. As for storing extra fuel inside, no way! I would rather paddle back to the dock before I took that kind of risk. Don't do it!

 

[Herb]

your over filling the tank

Hi there when I am making a long trip I will keep an extra tank with me, but it is only for the long trips then it comes off the boat. I think that you are probably over filling the tank you need to leave the space for the expansion then also you need to make sure that the vent is closed and then you should not have leak problem. Last thing is if you are storing the fuel in the locker you need to make sure tha the locker is vented .

 

[Aldo]

Buy Another Tank

Nathan: There are times that we take our boat 35 miles to meet-up with other members of the fleet that we cruise with. This is further than our boat will go on 6 gallons of fuel. When you say that you are carrying a plastic gas can, I assume that you mean a can that is meant to fill something like a lawn mower. We carry boat 2 boat fuel tanks in our vented compartment, and the only time I ever smell anything is when I first unscrew the vent, if the can is under pressure. I recommend that you keep your 2.5 gallon can at home, and get another 3 or 6 gallon fuel tank for your boat with the hoses on it. You can then change from one tank to another without any problem. These tanks seal just fine with the little stainless steel ball valve in the connector, and the screw down vent on the lid to the gas cap. If you spend a little money, you will be a lot happier, and safer. With what you have, you would have to transfer fuel from the can to the fuel tank anyway. That sounds like a mess to me, and probably isn't that safe. When I do transfer fuel from one tank to another, (which I don't do on the boat), I have a male connector with about a 1 1/2 feet of clear hose one it, that I plug onto the connector at the end of the hose from one tank, and put this into the other tank and pump it to get the flow started and let gravity do the rest. I put the tank that I am draining a few feet above the other tank and siphon the fuel into the lower tank, using the hose already on the tank. This is certainly worth doing. Aldo