Petrol v's Diesel. Again!

Re: Petrol v\'s Diesel. Again!

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For me, the added danger of petrol answers the question.
Diesel tanks get hot but don't explode until Very hot indeed, it does not take much to have explosion on petrol tanks , plus there is a danger of fumes collecting in the bilges just as with gas. So for me there is no contest, if it is a relatively small sports boat, then maybe an option.

Mal

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Yeah, you can't move in the Solent for petrol boats going pop every other minute on a warm day! /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

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I know terrible isn't it! All those boats going bang over the weekend due to the increase in the sun! I have had petrol boats all my leisure boating life, plus we run ribs on petrol and well.................

/forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif
 
Re: Petrol v\'s Diesel. Again!

It makes you wonder how the americans survive with all those petrol boats being so dangerous, in one of the most litigious societies in the world, /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif
However it does come down to your personal preferance whether the initial saving, or the long term residuals,plus the availability of petrol, or the economy of diesel
just my 2pence

ash
 
Re: Petrol v\'s Diesel. Again!

"capability via waste heat through a calorifier of oodles of hot water for SWMBO's shower, "

Wish I could get that on a petrol boat,must be the wrong type of waste heat /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif
 
Re: Petrol v\'s Diesel. Again!

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Not wishing to repeat myself but the maths alone make the diesel the only choice.

£0.72 (60/40 split) per litre for diesel x 4.5 = £3.24 per gallon
200 hrs @ 5 gallons per hour = 1000 gallons x £3.24 = £3240.00


£1.15 per litre for petrol x 4.5 = £5.17 per gallon
200 hrs @ 8 gallons per hour = 1600 gallons x £5.17 = £8273.00

difference per 200 hrs £5032.00

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If the OP really is going to do 200hrs/year at cruising speed the definitely a diesel. BUT...
200hrs a year at cruise is a LOT on a small boat.
I mean, you would be hard pressed to find a three year old 26' sports boat with 600hrs+ on?
 
Re: Petrol v\'s Diesel. Again!

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it does not take much to have explosion on petrol tanks

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I know we're not comparing like for like, but as a point of interest, a good friend of mine has just completed his 30 years in the fire service, and at all the zillions of car fires he's attended over those years, he has never once known a petrol tank to explode. I don't see why boats should differ.

Most boat fires I'm aware of have been diesel powered. I know of only one petrol fire - in Chi Marina, on start-up imediately after refuelling.

Agree about fumes in the bilges etc etc.
 
Re: Petrol v\'s Diesel. Again!

Boats don't differ, it's an "urban myth" that petrol boats are "dangerous", usually perpetrated by people happy to have highly pressurised gas canisters on board for cooking.

An interesting fact, Americans are more than happy to have petrol boats, they build and use hundreds of thousands of the things.

But they will not have gas on board.

Tells you all you need to know really. /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif
 
Re: Petrol v\'s Diesel. Again!

I guess I should retire with my tail between my legs /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif
But, as I am sure most of you will know, in the small risk of a fire in a boat, then diesel is a safer fuel than petrol. The post from someone (Questor I believe) that most boat fires are diesel is, I think, purely a reflection on fact that more boats use diesel.
But flame away, I've drained my tanks (and purged the fumes!)

Mal
 
Re: Petrol v\'s Diesel. Again!

SK, I apologise, it wasn't a direct "flame" at you, although I appreciate it probably looks that way.

The trouble is this "explosive boat" nonsense gets trotted out every time the petrol/diesel issue is raised.

Ans whilst you're quite correct, there is an element of risk, there's also an element of risk of sinking every time a boat puts to sea, but no one ever suggests not doing that. /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif
 
Re: Petrol v\'s Diesel. Again!

I must be on borrowed time 8 years with petrol and gas boats
 
Re: Petrol v\'s Diesel. Again!

I owned a Scarani 26 with a D3 Diesel, and occasionally chucked £50 worth of DERV in it.

Same for the Birchwood 25 which had a Ford Cortina petrol lump fitted.

This was the upper thames, I would not have bought a Petrol for Tidal use /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif
 
Re: Petrol v\'s Diesel. Again!

I had a petrol boat & upgraded to diesel for availability & range reasons. If it fits on a trailer petrol is fine so long as its well maintained,if its too big for a trailer then get diesel so at least you have the option of going further afield, even if you think you wont want to at the moment.
 
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