Petrol storage on small boat

simonfraser said:
I have an unvented waterline stern locker, never smells of the petrol stored there, perhaps the temperature is stable = sea water ?
There are some small holes in the bulkhead with the battery and switch gear on the other side ....
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Hmm, a locker that is used to store petrol that can only vent to a compartment containing batteries and switchgear

You aren't related to Dylan by any chance? :D
 
I've got a proper 20L steel jerry can with solid sealing cap and a locking safety pin which prevents the cap moving even a fraction of an inch.

The locker it is stored securely in is unvented and it's been there for a over a year and is used to top up the 5L plastic Halfords-type container which is kept in vented the gas locker. When I open the locker there is not the slightest smell of petrol and never has been.

I would be nervous about storing a plastic fuel container of any kind below deck but I think there is virtually zero risk of a leaking metal jerry can stored in a dry ennvironment and cushioned against vibration with foam matting.

Richard
 
geem said:
We keep petrol cans on the side deck in a purpose made bracket to stop them moving around or getting stolen. No problem with fumes down below then
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Us too -just lashed to guard wires inside dodger. Gas bottle on the back as well.
 
I don't see the issue.

I have usually two 5L plastic petrol cans in a cockpit locker.

These are the very same petrol cans that millions of motorists carry in a car or in it's boot, and don't worry about fuel leakage into the car. So I am not troubled by the chance of a leak into the boat.
 
Good point Pro Dave, my fuel in cockpit locker, I would say the lid is not air tight. That said I think most of us check there fuel as a matter of course. Mine shares the space with all my fenders.
 
ProDave said:
I don't see the issue.

I have usually two 5L plastic petrol cans in a cockpit locker.

These are the very same petrol cans that millions of motorists carry in a car or in it's boot, and don't worry about fuel leakage into the car. So I am not troubled by the chance of a leak into the boat.
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Except that the boot of a car isn't connected to a sealed, by virtue of being underwater, space in which people live

A vapour leak in a car boot will be dissipated to atmosphere fairly rapidly as the boot is not an airtight compartment

A vapour leak into the bilges on the other hand. ...

I confess we did it for three years, having little choice on previous boat, but I wasnever happy about it

That all notwithstanding, does anybody actually know of a fire or explosion caused by fuel or vapour leaks from a stowed petrol can?
 
ghostlymoron said:
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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Oyster Yachts sent out a warning letter to all owners after a boat had an explosion after a RIB remote tank was stored in an unvented locker in a hot climate. the fuel tank vented due to expansion, either the genny or main engine started & KABOOM.
Oyster recomended thatb the anchor well was the best place for fuels in cans or remote tanks.
 
One of the great advantages of a small 2-stroke outboard motor is that you can chuck it in a locker. I did this for years along with a couple of cans of fuel.
One day when starting the motor the fuel tap failed. Had this happened in the locker it would have been more serious. I dumped the motor and went electric. No gas and now no petrol onboard. So that leaves me as the most dangerous thing on my boat.
 
A WORD OF WARNING !

Years ago at Earls Court boat show I bought a very neat solar vent with a ni-cad battery, so it worked day and night as an extractor fan, fitted in the top of my fuel ( petrol ) locker.

The salesman assured me it was rated spark-safe.

The thing packed up within months, but by then the makers had gone bust; I gave it to an ace electrician friend to sort out, and he quickly came back saying it was more like a spark generator !

So I'm lucky not to be in orbit now...

I'm more careful now and have checked all the solar vents available; none are spark safe.

I now have a simple EC Smith tannoy vent on the fuel lid, the type I can close off if we're in heavy weather; there never seems to be a build up of fumes so it must work I suppose.
 
I stored petrol in plastic cans in an undrained stern locker for years and I'd do it again. The chances of a leak from a properly closed plastic container are negligible compared to the chances of a gas leak from a system with multiple connections, flexible bits, regulator and taps.
 
foeu said:
I dumped the motor and went electric. No gas and now no petrol onboard. So that leaves me as the most dangerous thing on my boat.
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I was reading somewhere recently where it said over half of boat fires were caused by electrics, and less than 10% were fuel related.
 
JumbleDuck said:
I stored petrol in plastic cans in an undrained stern locker for years and I'd do it again. The chances of a leak from a properly closed plastic container are negligible compared to the chances of a gas leak from a system with multiple connections, flexible bits, regulator and taps.
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The lids can get a circular crack at the corner. I've had one fail that way.
 
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