Battery/fuel tank installation

[dplees]

I have just purchased a new, but infinshed, Dory. The engine arrives soon (Mercury 30hp) and so I'm thinking ahead to the battery and fuel system installation. The boat seems configured to have the battery mounted alongside the plastic fuel tank in a rear compartment adjacent to the engine. I'm planning to mount the battery in a proper battery box and fit an isolation switch but I'm concerned about mounting fuel and batteries adjacent. Vapour build up and sparks spring to mind.

What is the normal convention/advice on things like this? /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif

 

[misterg]

Hello, and welcome /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

I can't tell from your question whether the proposed fuel tank will be inside the compartment with the battery, or immediately outside the compartment.

I'm no expert, but you need to avoid the possibility of petrol (I assume we're talking petrol here) vapour building up in an area where there are any electrical connections.

Having the fuel tank outside the compartment (in fresh air) I would think is OK. If the fuel tank is a permanent fixture with any filler or vent pipes connected to fittings on the outside of the compartment (again in fresh air), then I would have thought that it would be OK to have the body of the tank in the same compartment as the battery. If the fuel tank is one of those moulded polythene 'portable' ones, then there's no way *I* would put it in the same compartment as the battery (because petrol vapour comes out of the vent on the filler cap) - lots seem to be just strapped to the floor / transom, out in the open.

There's bound to be some guidance on this in one of the MCA(?) 'codes' - hopefully somebody will be along to tell us which one - You need to check the requirements about fire extinguishers, etc, too: you may need to fit an automatic extinguisher if you put a portable tank in a closed compartment.

Do you plan on having the finished boat surveyed for insurance (not sure how much work you're doing)? If so, it would be worth talking to the surveyor about your plans at this stage (or try and have a chat with a friendly surveyor, anyway).

Andy