I’m looking for an outboard fuel tank that pours well…

[Cerebus]

Fuel Petrol Syphon Pump 2M, Hand Fuel Pump Water Liquid Transfer Pump, Multifunction Liquid Sucker Pump for Gasolin, Diesel, Gas, Petrol, Diesel Oil, Liquid, Water, Fish Tank, Portable Siphon Pump : Amazon.ie: Automotive

View attachment 206149


Cheap as chips...so probably need one every season

Better than nothing, but it is just a siphon with very cheap jubilee clips and no valve to open to stop the flow at a second’s notice, such as this one has.

Manual Fuel Siphon Pump by Auto Choice - Auto Choice Direct

Still, as you say, cheap and therefore probably not durable. Aldi electrical pump that I used to have for fuel was about £20. Not fast but did the job. Purchased over 6 years ago though so probably not a regular item at Aldi.

 

[Sandro]

As most of the boaters taking part in this thread, I was tired of pouring (and spilling) petrol from a spout, balancing on a moving boat, holding a heavy tank on stretched out aged arms, so I modified this 5 liter tank :



The tank can rest on the floorboards, lower than the OB. The hose end is fitted in the OB filler, the wire spring prevents it from falling out. I pump air in the tank by the black small bicicle pump.
The righthand tap controls the fuel output, the left one closes off the pump when not needed and also has a venting position, to relieve tank pressure when refueling is finished.
The system is slowish but it does not need to be pumped all the way. You only have to whatch for the small outboard tank overflowing.

This is the actual version of a tank i made as a little boy with a military 20 liter canister and a motorscooter pump, nowadays disappeared . The actual tank I salvaged years ago floating on the lake.

 

[Cerebus]

Will the op respond?

 

[Phil_boat]

Will the op respond?

Yes!

I guess I don’t always keep track of everything all the time

Soo… in moving some bits back onto the boat after relaunching last week I found a spout stashed with some cleaning stuff. And it just so happens that it fits my auxiliary tank.

So no elaborate solutions needed, just screw the spout on and (still slightly awkwardly) pour it in with no spillage

 

[Cerebus]

Yes!

I guess I don’t always keep track of everything all the time

Soo… in moving some bits back onto the boat after relaunching last week I found a spout stashed with some cleaning stuff. And it just so happens that it fits my auxiliary tank.

So no elaborate solutions needed, just screw the spout on and (still slightly awkwardly) pour it in with no spillage

Excellent

 

[thinwater]

Something that was not stated.

The primary reason portable tanks do not pour well is that the opening is towards the center of the tank, not near an edge. Because of slosh, and because the vent is through the cap, the opening is best located in the center of the top and NEVER on one edge. Put the vent near an edge and it will slosh out when underway in a seaway if the tank is reasonably full.

For example, the filler on a bulk gasoline trailer is in the center of the compartment, not near the back, which would be more convenient for the driver. This is in the construction code.

Post 22 illustrates a solution, basically similar to:
SureCan
These are fantastic for filling small containers. I have actually used one for filling samples for lab work, and can get +/- 5 ml most times. No spills.

 

[Cerebus]

Something that was not stated.

The primary reason portable tanks do not pour well is that the opening is towards the center of the tank, not near an edge. Because of slosh, and because the vent is through the cap, the opening is best located in the center of the top and NEVER on one edge. Put the vent near an edge and it will slosh out when underway in a seaway if the tank is reasonably full.

For example, the filler on a bulk gasoline trailer is in the center of the compartment, not near the back, which would be more convenient for the driver. This is in the construction code.

Post 22 illustrates a solution, basically similar to:
SureCan
These are fantastic for filling small containers. I have actually used one for filling samples for lab work, and can get +/- 5 ml most times. No spills.

5ml is tiny… about a UK teaspoon or less actually. Impressed.

 

[thinwater]

5ml is tiny… about a UK teaspoon or less actually. Impressed.

It was kind of expensive for a portable can, but it works perfectly and I have not used anything else on the boat for the past ~ 15 years.

... Except for a small old-style (pre-CARB as we say in the US) can I use for 2-stroke yard tools. Even with considerable attention, some small spills.

[I don't know if you have the vapor recovery cans (CARB stands for California Air Resources Board) in the UK, but many of the designs are not convenient and actually increase spills. The early designs were terrible. Somehow the SureCan seems to have gotten around the rule.]