Petrol storage on small boat

ghostlymoron

ghostlymoron

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I have a small petrol outboard mounted on a transom bracket as emergency backup to my venerable VP MD1. I'd be interested to know where people store their spare petrol safely. I know some are concerned about the storage of gas {butane} on board but petrol is equally volatile.
 
The petrol can for the outboard lives under the stern cockpit seat along with the ethanol for the cooker where it's right above the cockpit drain

I certainly wouldn't store it in a locker (unless the locker was sealed and drained overboard)
 
ghostlymoron said:
I have a small petrol outboard mounted on a transom bracket as emergency backup to my venerable VP MD1. I'd be interested to know where people store their spare petrol safely. I know some are concerned about the storage of gas {butane} on board but petrol is equally volatile.
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in the anchor well not in a cockpit locker.if the tank vents due to heat you will have explosive fumes in the locker
 
ghostlymoron said:
Thanks for your reply Erbas. I do not have a suitable cockpit locker and my drains exit below the waterline.
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Ah, not so good then. Had that problem with our previous, outboard engined, boat the external tank fur which lived in an undrained locker open to the bilge. Never was happy with it and had plans to seal the locker abs put drains in but then we sold her!
 
Depending a bit on the configuration of your boat, I think that getting any quantity of liquid petrol in the bilge would likely be a huge hassle to deal with safely. If you don't have anywhere which safely drains overboard, then I'd seriously consider some secondary defence against a can leaking. Perhaps just putting the can in a plastic tub in the locker, for example. Alternatively lashing the can on deck may be the best option....
 
I store the petrol in two cans and the external tank. They all live happily in my unvented cockpit locker. The three five litre meths containers live in the locker too. I have a pretty good sense of smell and hope that I would smell the petrol fumes before they become a risk. Still a lower risk than nine hours driving to the boat though I think.

famous last words

caboom!
 
The main thing is to try and ensure that any fumes or spilt liquid are not able to get into the main hull, hence storing in the cockpit where fumes etc drain out down the cockpit drains or at least get evaporated to the world and not trapped in the bilges or cabin. Its scary watching petrol fumes (heavier than air) ignite as I recall from some misspent youth moments!
 
seumask said:
The main thing is to try and ensure that any fumes or spilt liquid are not able to get into the main hull, hence storing in the cockpit where fumes etc drain out down the cockpit drains or at least get evaporated to the world and not trapped in the bilges or cabin. Its scary watching petrol fumes (heavier than air) ignite as I recall from some misspent youth moments!
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Trouble with that is most cockpit drains exit below the waterline like mine so won't actually drain out.
 
Understand that drains don't drain out, so at least try and ensure that there is plenty of free moving air, ie not in the boat's cabin, so that fumes will be disperse in the wind so to speak, and no naked flames etc in the area you are keeping it, all IMHO.
 
I keep 2x 5gallon containers of petrol and a gas cylinder in one of my stern draining lockers. When last survey was conducted the surveyor was quite happy as long as the drain was kept clear (it is above the waterline).
 
ghostlymoron said:
I have a small petrol outboard mounted on a transom bracket as emergency backup to my venerable VP MD1. I'd be interested to know where people store their spare petrol safely. I know some are concerned about the storage of gas {butane} on board but petrol is equally volatile.
Click to expand...

5l petrol can for the tender lives in the gas locker. I think that's pretty standard.

Pete
 
I went with Dylan's hyper-risky method designed primarily to kill and it all turned out OK. Unfortunately lots of things on a boat are a compromise and there was nowhere better to put it than in a cockpit locker. I now use oars and I store the fuel for them in the galley and in the cellar. I am told this is risky too but if you are not living on the edge then you are taking up too much space.
 
pmagowan said:
I went with Dylan's hyper-risky method designed primarily to kill and it all turned out OK. Unfortunately lots of things on a boat are a compromise and there was nowhere better to put it than in a cockpit locker. I now use oars and I store the fuel for them in the galley and in the cellar. I am told this is risky too but if you are not living on the edge then you are taking up too much space.
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eating can be dangerous

boiling tin cans is really, really bad

 
prv said:
5l petrol can for the tender lives in the gas locker. I think that's pretty standard.

Pete
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But it seems wrong to me that in the event of a petrol can leaking, (and it could be a 10 litre can) all the leaking fuel will be able to drain overboard rather than be safely contained.

I know what sort of surface area 10l of petrol could cover but I have a feeling that a small marina could became a very dangerous place.

IIRC cabinets we used for storing highly flammable liquids, which may have included substances classed as "petroleum spirit", were able to contain spillages from leaking containers. They did not allow it to escape uncontrolled onto the floor or the ground.
 
dylanwinter said:
eating can be dangerous

boiling tin cans is really, really bad

Click to expand...

We once came back from the pub to a friends house to find the dog trying to lick the ceiling. She had been boiling a can of condensed milk for a banoffee pie and had forgot about it with pretty impressive results. The stain was there years, and many coats of paint later! Fun times.

I feel it is the combination of food and drink (of the hic variety) that tends to add a frisson of danger to the oars, however they never seem to work as well without this heady concoction either being drawn straight to the pub if one is neglected or simply going in circles if the other.
 
prv said:
5l petrol can for the tender lives in the gas locker. I think that's pretty standard.

Pete
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No gas locher I'm afraid or sealed cockpit locker and no anchor locker either. It's not the liquid fuel I'm concerned about, that will evaporate, but the valour is particularly dangerous and I do like the occasional ciggie.
Oars are not really practical as its propelling the boat in the event of engine failure that's the reason for the outboard.
I guess I'll have to use the sails!
 
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