Am I allowed to store some gas containers inside the sailboat? I just heard that I am not allowed? Also is it true that Coast Guard requires anyone who sails offshore to have level 2 or up skipper certification? and just how strict is the coast guard? thanks
offshore sailing
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If you are comfortable storing gasoline in your house then you can store it inside your boat. I ain't and I don't. I haven't heard of any Coast Guard requirements for offshore boaters. The insurance companies are a bit sticky about your experience but some boaters are sailing off shore when they leave the marina.
Just what in the #*)) is " level 2 or up skipper certification"? Never heard of such nonsense. The Coast Guard has lots more to do than cruise around checking sailors for "skipper certifications" of any descriptions. Many people store extra diesel and gasoline for dingy motors on deck for long distance cruises all the time. I would not want it below for MANY reasons, safety being #1.
I mostly see Jerry cans of fuel being stored in a compartment under or around the cockpit or lashed on deck as noted previously. You would not like the smell of the fuel in the cabin and it is an unsafe practice.
You DO need CG licensing IF you are involved in any type of COMMERCIAL vessel operation. Recreational boaters may opt to take training courses but I am fairly certain that it is not a requirement. If you go out there it is a good idea to know what you are doing and how to respond to the challenges that come up.
That said, there are CG requirements for certain safety equipment (PFD's, flares, radio etc). The CG will not inspect every boat to ensure compliance as it is the skippers responsibility for the safety of his/her boat and crew. They will do voluntary inspections if you ask them to.
You DO need CG licensing IF you are involved in any type of COMMERCIAL vessel operation. Recreational boaters may opt to take training courses but I am fairly certain that it is not a requirement. If you go out there it is a good idea to know what you are doing and how to respond to the challenges that come up.
That said, there are CG requirements for certain safety equipment (PFD's, flares, radio etc). The CG will not inspect every boat to ensure compliance as it is the skippers responsibility for the safety of his/her boat and crew. They will do voluntary inspections if you ask them to.
Gasoline containers are dangerous. Whether you are allowed or not, storing them in the living compartments of your vessel has to be a bad idea.
What the heck is a level 2 skipper certificate? Whatever it is the US Feds don't require you to have one. Generally, for non-commercial use the Coast Guard doesn't require any licensing. Many states are starting to require licenses to navigate waters that they think they have jurisdiction over. But, for a US citizen on a US boat navigating for pleasure offshore beyond state waters no license is required by law.
--Tom.
Ideally, gasoline should be stored in lockers that do not open to the interior of the boat. The lockers should be vented and should have drains at the lowest point, like propane lockers, so that any fumes can drain overboard, rather than collecting inside the boat.
As for sailing offshore, in the United States, there is no requirement for a recreational sailor... Just look at some of the idiots that have attempted trans-oceanic passages without a clue.
As for sailing offshore, in the United States, there is no requirement for a recreational sailor... Just look at some of the idiots that have attempted trans-oceanic passages without a clue.
ORC (Offshore Rating Congress) is an international racing rating organization. They have requirements for level 1, 2, etc. for races of certain distances. It's only for racing (although they have a lot of valid safety requirements, you can Google it if you are interested). The Coast Guard doesn't really have any such restrictions. As for the gasoline, it is your boat and you can do what you want, recognizing the inherent dangers.
Yep...your boat and you can take anything with as long as it isn't illegal like drugs and it's not one person more then the number of life jackets you have on board.....as long as you keep it on board. Once it goes into the water, then you can have all kinds of agencies on you 
I had someone tell me the same thing. that if I didn't have a captains license I could only go so far out into the gulf or the coast gaurd would tow my boat back to the marina. Rediculous.
Don't store gas inside your boat. Even if you don't end up catching something on fire the smell of fuel will make you sick quickly. Ronnie Simpson spilled fuel in his cabin and ended up sick from the fumes. What's wrong with storing cans tied to the lifelines? That's how I am going to do it.
Don't store gas inside your boat. Even if you don't end up catching something on fire the smell of fuel will make you sick quickly. Ronnie Simpson spilled fuel in his cabin and ended up sick from the fumes. What's wrong with storing cans tied to the lifelines? That's how I am going to do it.
Very correct ... gasoline vapors besides being explosive (with the correct gas/air ratio), are an extremely toxic gas, physiologically almost equal to that of Phosgene (a lethal gas used on the battlefield in WWI). DONT store gasoline INSIDE the living spaces of your boat, your house, etc.; only OUTSIDE or in a totally separate compartment that vents up AND down.
I don't want to sound too rough here....but if you are asking these questions it may be good to pick up some reading material on Offshore sailing and maybe take a course about it. Experience and knowledge are very important things when you go off shore.
The sailor dude has left the ship. but to answer his questions: you may fill you bilge with gasoline if you wish. the coast guard doesn't much care if you can sail if you want to go off shore. and finally the CG is very strict if they board your vessel.
I don't think that it is a scam, but the question is a little surprising because most people wouldn't store gas in their house and a boat is an even more hostile environment.
I site as an example, Ronnie Simpson put his dink gas in his Vberth and it spilled out while he was on a transPacific passage. Just because you are on a boat offshore doesn't mean you know all about it. I could go offshore today, but trust me, I would not know all about it.
Ego is the way many people get into A LOT of trouble. Until you have been in a bad situation off shore, you will not know if you are ready to handle it. I think the best thing someone can do is crew for an experienced sailor, sail or power on a couple stints going way out. I am not trying to hold up myself as the example but growing up on the Big Island of Hawaii and spending much of my time in a small fishing village, I was able to go offshore on fishing boats for extended trips. It can get really hairy, and I mean really hairy, really fast. I have been caught in a squall with my wife on a Prindle 19 that power boats could not make headway against that came upon us in a matter of two minutes while we were in the doldrums. After spending most of my life on or in the ocean, I would never say it is a good idea for a novice to throw them self into a potentially life threatening situation with no experience.
People should crew with experienced sailors. It is the best way to learn.
To each their own, I would never suggest to any of my sons to go out and hope for the best.
People should crew with experienced sailors. It is the best way to learn.
To each their own, I would never suggest to any of my sons to go out and hope for the best.
I keep the outboard gas in a gas container that sits in a bucket inside of my anchor locker. It is vented, away from anything that sparks, and it is out of the way.
If someone is taking jury cans they usually have a place for them on the rail of the boat.
If someone is taking jury cans they usually have a place for them on the rail of the boat.
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