Carrying petrol on board

[pvb]

Are we getting a tad too far under the bonnet here

I think so! It's a wonder some people manage to use their boats after negotiating all the apparent dangers. Seriously, I've not seen a yacht insurance policy specify how much petrol can be carried, or require automatic fire extinguishers in the space where petrol is stored. Yachtsmen are generally fairly sensible and self-reliant, and most wouldn't do anything to endanger themselves unnecessarily.

 

[lynall]

I think its 20 litres fuel max in a house/garage.
Adblue plastic containers are not really suitable for petrol storage, they are very thin walled and poorly made compared to the std plastic petrol can.

 

[VicS]

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.

I think its more than that. It used to be 4 gallons in 2 gallon metal cans or 1 gallon plastic cans . Now it's metricated I think the limits are 20 litres total , in 10 litre metal cans and 5 litre plastic cans.

My unused outboard fuel has always been transferred to 2 x 2 gallon cans and that's always been legal but technically I cannot then store any more for the mowers etc

Not actually storing it in the house of course but in an outbuilding ( shed)
Not sure what the rules will be about storing it in the house.... same as in the workplace perhaps.

 

[oldvarnish]

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

My registered gas installer told me the the regulations did not allow for storage of anything other than gas in a dedicated gas locker. He's probably right. Doesn't stop me, though, and lots of others.

 

[nigelmercier]

I use one of these: http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/B00499DFR8/dolcetto-21
Very robust, no stress points, excellent spout.

They also do 5 litre and 10 litre diesel cans, with the same spout. Very handy if you lose one:
5L: http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/B00499DFRS/dolcetto-21
10L: http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/B00499DFS2/dolcetto-21

 

[maby]

My registered gas installer told me the the regulations did not allow for storage of anything other than gas in a dedicated gas locker. He's probably right. Doesn't stop me, though, and lots of others.

Well, that's me in trouble too - I carry a couple of spanners in there to tighten the union to the cylinder and a tub of jointing compound to shove on the bullnose when it becomes apparent that some prat with an oversize spanner has previously overtightened the union and bruised it to the point where it will not seal.

 

[vyv_cox]

I think its more than that. It used to be 4 gallons in 2 gallon metal cans or 1 gallon plastic cans . Now it's metricated I think the limits are 20 litres total , in 10 litre metal cans and 5 litre plastic cans.

I expect you are correct. I certainly have far more than 5 litres on occasion but I do store it in a closed steel cabinet.

 

[pvb]

My registered gas installer told me the the regulations did not allow for storage of anything other than gas in a dedicated gas locker. He's probably right. Doesn't stop me, though, and lots of others.

I think he made that bit up. There's nothing about it in the BSS, apart from saying you shouldn't store heavy sharp objects near cylinders in case they puncture them (rather unlikely I'd have thought).

 

[Seajet]

If only you has an A22

My boat has the 5 litre fuel tank next to the outboard well; I fitted a day / night solar & nicad powered extarctor fan on the hatch lid, after expressly asking the salesman at Earls Court boat show if it was ' spark safe '.

The thing packed up - as usual just after the makers went bust - then when I had a very good electrician friend look at it he found it was the most spark-likely thing he'd ever seen and I'm lucky not to be blown into orbit !

I now have an ECS tannoy vent in the hatch lid, with the transparent centre bit painted over to avoid sunlight beaming onto the fuel tank.

 

[prv]

My registered gas installer told me the the regulations did not allow for storage of anything other than gas in a dedicated gas locker.

Since there aren't any gas regulations for private seagoing boats, I'm inclined to agree with pvb that that isn't really a legal requirement

However, the survey when we bought Kindred Spirit did mention that there was a lot of loose cleaning material (rags, sponges, plastic bags with stuff in) in the gas locker that might block the overboard drainage, and that seemed like a fair point.

I was always quite happy to keep solid objects (tins, bottles, plastic cans) in there, but avoided rags and flexible plastic.

Pete

 

[czardis]

I left a 5Ltr Plastic petrol container in the shade and under the cockpit canopy in the summer for about two hours by mistake, it contained 4Ltrs. On my return the heat had caused the petrol to expand and decanted about a 1Ltr into the cockpit causing a very volatile situation. Any person boarding the boat with a cigarette or naked light could have set of a explosion. The cap of the container was on tight. I have now purchased a metal Jerry can which contains a special foil which reduces the temperature of the petrol and keep this in a vented locker.

 

[John the kiwi]

I have now purchased a metal Jerry can which contains a special foil which reduces the temperature of the petrol and keep this in a vented locker.

The thermodynamicist in me is intrigued by the notion of a "special foil" that can reduce the temperature of petrol. Will it also work with beer? Can i get some and discard my fridge?

 

[pvb]

The thermodynamicist in me is intrigued by the notion of a "special foil" that can reduce the temperature of petrol. Will it also work with beer? Can i get some and discard my fridge?

Don't waste too much time worrying about it! The "special foil" doesn't reduce temperature at all. Cans with an aluminium mesh inside are designed to prevent vapour explosion.

 

[oldvarnish]

I think he made that bit up. There's nothing about it in the BSS, apart from saying you shouldn't store heavy sharp objects near cylinders in case they puncture them (rather unlikely I'd have thought).

You're probably right. He made a lot up - including the size of the bill.

 

[Uricanejack]

I had 24ft boat powered by a 10 hp outboard.
I kept 2 gas or petrol containers one 25 litre plastic fuel tank with hose and bulb to outboard. I also kept a 25 litre jerry can which I could bring back and forth.
My port side cockpit locker had a hole to pass fuel line through and drains to cockpit.

My current boat has an inboard diesel and no such locker. my propane tank locker is to small to hold gas, The anchor locker seams like a good option.
If ever get an outboard and tender. right now I row.

I also have a boat with a 50hp. I keep 2 x 25 litre containers same as my old sail boat. I like to keep one as a jerry can so I can take to a gas station.
I keep in a locker at the stern. No drain unless ashore. I put plug in prior to launch.
Local laws allow a max of two 5 gallon 25litre containers of gas in a trailer boat. and 1 max 10 kg propane. Unless plumed in for RV.

Topping tank from jerry can, can be a pain. I use regular flexible spouts. Thinking of getting small hand pump.
Canadian safe boat guide recommends and fuel docks require me to take portable fuel tanks ashore to fill. which makes sense though I often run out fishing till I run main tank dry then top up to come home. I have topped up offshore.
At home I keep in boat and or shed.

Some boats have fixed fuel tanks. They usually have a blower

 

[vyv_cox]

A Machine Mart catalogue dropped through the letterbox this morning. I happened to notice that they have 25 litre steel jerrycans for less than £25.

 

[prv]

A Machine Mart catalogue dropped through the letterbox this morning. I happened to notice that they have 25 litre steel jerrycans for less than £25.

If they're the same as the Machine Mart ones I bought several years ago, be aware they're a bit rubbish for pouring. The closure is a simple screw cap and there's no way to attach any kind of spout. No problem if you're planning to use some kind of pump or siphon.

Pete

 

[vyv_cox]

If they're the same as the Machine Mart ones I bought several years ago, be aware they're a bit rubbish for pouring. The closure is a simple screw cap and there's no way to attach any kind of spout. No problem if you're planning to use some kind of pump or siphon.

Pete

Looks like maybe they have found that out! There is an optional flexible spout for £7. There are two different types of can, each with its own spout as far as I can see in the minimal description.

 

[prv]

Looks like maybe they have found that out! There is an optional flexible spout for £7. There are two different types of can, each with its own spout as far as I can see in the minimal description.

Ah ha! Do they sell the spout separately? I might have to go and buy one for my existing cans.

Have to say, for the £1.21 premium I think I'd probably buy the standard pattern cans rather than the screwtop ones - even without the spout they pour better because they have a breather channel inside the mouth and the mouth is a better shape. But they only had the screw-tops in the shop when I needed them in a hurry three or four years ago.

Pete

 

[JumbleDuck]

Ah ha! Do they sell the spout separately? I might have to go and buy one for my existing cans.

I have a separate spout which fits onto standard jerrycans. It has a metal bit and a flexible plastic bit. Very much worth the money, and it was under a tenner, I think.