Refuelling Outboard

[m1taylor]

Hi,

I have got a 2 stoke 3.5 outboard with a small integral tank. Having once run out of fuel on a fast tide in the wrong place I am now over-cautious and if running for more than 30 minutes feel obliged to stop the damn thing and try to refuel without spilling fuel on the engine or in the water causing polution - not easy in moving conditions even with a funnel. So..has anyone got any advice - is there a safe easy method of pouring fuel into an integral tank in moving conditions, or should I trade in the motor for a bigger one with a 2.5lt tank or even external tank? Any recommendations gratefully received.



<hr width=100% size=1>

 

[sailorman]

try a "syphon"
or get a grip

<hr width=100% size=1>

 

[mikewilkes]

Have you tried a one gallon can with the long flexible plastic spout jobbies. Work's ok for me. Just poke the tube in the hole in the top of the tank.

<hr width=100% size=1>

 

[gjeffery]

I have a similar outboard.

I carry a litre of fuel in a screw topped spun aluminium fuel bottle, normally used by campers for carrying fuel for petrol stoves. Suitable bottles are made by SIGG and MSR.

Works very well, made to carry petrol, and neck of the bottle is narrow enough for a funnel to be unnecessary.



<hr width=100% size=1>

 

[Joe_Cole]

This is what you want. <A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.kk.org/cooltools/archives/000480.php>http://www.kk.org/cooltools/archives/000480.php</A>

I've got a filler like this (it just fits onto a fuel can) and it's superb. I never spill fuel nowadays: it cuts off like the nozzles on self service garage forecourts. I got it from a chandler who mainly sells to canal boaters who are more concerned about spillages, but I've never seen them in "proper" chandlers.

It cost about £11 and is worth every penny.

Joe

<hr width=100% size=1>

 

[Rick]

Like Joe's can - Honda have a similar one they sell with the little gensets, however, cleverest solution I saw was on a Tohatsu 3.5 - guy had made a short adapter (male / female for filler out of some sort of clear plastic), about 50mm long, that had a barb on it, with an outboard fuel hose, with primer bulb, and a plastic tank - he used to pump on the bulb until he could see the tank was full again .....

<hr width=100% size=1>

 

[Gordonmc]

Cheap as chips solution... or even cheaper.
Rake around in the kitchen rubbish bin and retrieve empty bog cleaner bottles, toilet duck type.

Wash out and dry (the plastic spout pops off), then fill with fuel. The design of the swan-neck means you can turn upside down without spills. I use different coloured ones for paraffin and meths for filling the cabin heater and lamps.

I guess they must hold around a litre, or not far off.

<hr width=100% size=1>

 

[steve_cronin]

Ditto

Used one of these ( re-cycled from retired Scout son) as a spare tank on our last boat for several years. It contained a litre and was very easy to empty into the tank of our then 2.5 Mercury without spilling a drop. I made a simple rubber sling screwed onto the wooden transom to retain it.

As we havn't yet invested in an OB for the current boat - no tides in Greece and need the exercise of rowing we now use one for the Citronella Oil that powers the riding light.

Steve Cronin



<hr width=100% size=1>The above is, like any other post here, only a personal opinion

 

[JonA]

Fuel containers with a valve on the spout are used to refuel chainsaws (similar to the cooltool one). They are available from chainsaw sellers frequented by tree sugeons and foresters etc. I've never seen them in chandlers.
Jonathan

<hr width=100% size=1>JonA

 

[Soong]

I too use a fuel line and pump the bulb, which works well but takes some concentration and then you have to watch the dribbles. I am going to try the toilet duck trick next!

<hr width=100% size=1>