Carrying petrol on board

[srah1953]

There is a thread on re Honda generators. The OP doesn't want people hijacking their thread. My question is- what is the safest container to carry petrol in, metal or plastic?

 

[Jaguar 25]

There is a thread on re Honda generators. The OP doesn't want people hijacking their thread. My question is- what is the safest container to carry petrol in, metal or plastic?

All containers that are approved for storing petrol should be OK providing that they are adequately restrained when on board.

 

[maby]

I would go for plastic containers - provided they are specifically rated for petrol - boats are damp environments compared to the cars for which most containers on the market were designed - you don't want to risk it rusting through!

 

[JumbleDuck]

There is a thread on re Honda generators. The OP doesn't want people hijacking their thread. My question is- what is the safest container to carry petrol in, metal or plastic?

I would prefer plastic for anything kept regularly or permanent on the boat, because steel containers might rust. A stainless steel jerry can would be nice, and they are available, but two hundred quid a pop is just a hint steep for me ...

http://www.jerrycans.co.uk/stainless-steel-jerry-cans-27-c.asp

 

[sarabande]

I did take issue with the stainless jerry can people over the resistance of stainless welds to sea water. They didn't reply. Also stainless is subject (sorry, Vyv ) can be subject to vibration fatigue.

Plastic is lighter, but more likely to experience abrasion from being poorly secured. This may result in a leak. Sunlight affects plastic sometimes; I have one plastic can where the body is fine, but the screw-on cap has experienced UV degradation and has split.

Standard steel cans have a sharp join on the base, and unless stood on a sacrificial piece of ply, will dig into wood or GRP.

The worst design feature of every can I have ever used is the spout. I have yet to find one that does not leak. A "jiggle" pipe is a pretty good device to have for transfer of liquid fuel at sea.

 

[Dazedkipper]

5L plastic kept in chain locker. Spirit vapours are heavier than air so will drain overboard if necessary.

 

[pvb]

5L plastic kept in chain locker. Spirit vapours are heavier than air so will drain overboard if necessary.

Yes, good point about a drained locker. When I used to keep petrol on board, it was in a plastic container in the aft deck locker, which is drained overboard.

 

[sailorman]

Oyster sent out an "All stations" to owners after a boat blew up due to a large remote o/b tank stowed in a non venting locker getting pressurized & venting.
Advise was stow in the anchor locker

 

[rivonia]

Recomend that you use the plastic ones as they are lighter and do not rust or cause damage to other objects. Must store in a self draining locker.

Peter

 

[ccscott49]

I store my petrol in the gas bottle locker, drains over the side and all highly inflammable stuff is in one place.

 

[sailorman]

I store my petrol in the gas bottle locker, drains over the side and all highly inflammable stuff is in one place.

You Sir have a very large yacht, many are not so well endowed with space

 

[Vallich]

Isn't there some restriction (for insurance purposes) on how much petrol can be stored on the boat outside of the fuel tank?

 

[pvb]

Isn't there some restriction (for insurance purposes) on how much petrol can be stored on the boat outside of the fuel tank?

Only if it says so in your policy.

 

[rotrax]

Our boat, being American and designed with the Florida and Caribean sun in mind has a locker in the cockpit which will take two 10 litre plastic fuel contaiers-I am using ones supplied full of "Addblu" a product to keep truck exhausts clean. My mate Dennis lets me have them when he has used the contents.

This locker is specificaly designed to take an American supermarket bag of ice and two packs of beer. As the ice melts it drains away-as do any petrol fumes.

Thats why American boats are good-so civilised.........................

 

[sailorman]

Our boat, being American and designed with the Florida and Caribean sun in mind has a locker in the cockpit which will take two 10 litre plastic fuel contaiers-I am using ones supplied full of "Addblu" a product to keep truck exhausts clean. My mate Dennis lets me have them when he has used the contents.

This locker is specificaly designed to take an American supermarket bag of ice and two packs of beer. As the ice melts it drains away-as do any petrol fumes.

Thats why American boats are good-so civilised.........................

With American beer you would benefit from keeping the ice & allow the beer to run away

 

[vyv_cox]

Isn't there some restriction (for insurance purposes) on how much petrol can be stored on the boat outside of the fuel tank?

There is in a house, I think it is 5 litres. I suspect that if your boat burst into flames when carrying more there could be insurance problems.

 

[Vallich]

There is in a house, I think it is 5 litres. I suspect that if your boat burst into flames when carrying more there could be insurance problems.

Thanks for that - also to satisfy the insurers one might need an automatic extinguisher in proximity to the petrol container. I would think that anybody contemplating storing petrol on board should check with their insurers, surveyor etc., for their guidance.

 

[sailorman]

Thanks for that - also to satisfy the insurers one might need an automatic extinguisher in proximity to the petrol container. I would think that anybody contemplating storing petrol on board should check with their insurers, surveyor etc., for their guidance.

Are we getting a tad too far under the bonnet here

 

[prv]

I store my petrol in the gas bottle locker, drains over the side and all highly inflammable stuff is in one place.

You Sir have a very large yacht, many are not so well endowed with space

I used to have a 24' yacht, and I too kept a 5 litre fuel can in the gas locker (alongside the in-use gas bottle and the spare, and a few small items like the butane soldering-iron refill and the teak oil). So capacious gas lockers are not just the preserve of bigger boats, though of course many smaller ones are not as well-appointed as ours.

Pete

 

[sailorman]

I used to have a 24' yacht, and I too kept a 5 litre fuel can in the gas locker (alongside the in-use gas bottle and the spare, and a few small items like the butane soldering-iron refill and the teak oil). So capacious gas lockers are not just the preserve of bigger boats, though of course many smaller ones are not as well-appointed as ours.

Pete

If only you has an A22