gas tank safety

[Dennis]

On my '81 C22, the port cockpit locker serves as the place for the gas tank for an outboard motor with the fuel line going through an air vent to the motor. The locker has no sides however. It is not a compartment. In theory any gas fumes would spread under the cockpit seats to the rest of the boat. Other than putting the gas tank in a high-sided plastic storage container and then putting it in the locker, has anyone done something different ? Is my concern valid ? Thanks in advance for any reply.

 

[Gary Clarke]

It's a gas

Dennis, In theory, your concern makes sense. I had a C22 for 3 years with the gas tank in the same locker mount. And yet I gad NO discernable gasoline fumes at any time. I was always very careful when filling, I usually only filled it a little over 3/4 full so during summer heat I wouldn't have expansion overflow, kept the cap tight. I don's know what the others have found, but it never seemed to be a real issue.

 

[Jack Rhines]

I really hate gas on boat, But what the heck I am in need of the outboard at times!I keep gas on boat in same locker 2 gal max. If not going on long trip. It is in a 5 gal plastic container with vent open when I leave boat, never have even smelled gas when I return. There are 2 large vents in locker! I always fill outboard before I leave dock as I do not want to have to fill with engine hot!Jack

 

[Dick of Sylvan]

Gas

On my Cat-22, I leave the ob gas tank in the cockpit, at the back beneath the tiller, on a small piece of carpet. Like your question implies, I'm concerned about fumes if the gas tank is in the interior of the boat, especially considering that my 74 hull has only a single vent and no fan for clearing fumes. I'd put in a second vent, but its obvious location would make it prone to scooping in water during a near knockdown. In the cockpit, we never have an open flame, though we do down in the galley area.