Stowage of Diesel Fuel

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ajm2015

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How would you feel if you were aboard a sailing yacht where the owner insisted on stowing up to 10 FULL plastic 20 litre diesel containers below decks in stowage lockers. Under berths, in oilskin locker, etc etc.

How would you feel if the only way to refill the main fuel tank, located under the aft cabin berth... was to remove the mattress and fill the tank directly. (There was no deck filler).

The owner would not carry our any fuel replenishment whilst at sea when the main tank was low but would only refill when in harbour.

How would you feel if you could not stow your gear in any locker or hanging space because all available room had been taken up by fuel.

I would welcome any comments from readers on the above practices and how safe would they feel.:confused:

The vessel concerned was a 38ft Steel Hull Cutter.
 
I wouldn't be happy not having a deck filler. Diesel is always spilled when filling from 20l containers. best method I have found is using a syphon gadget but even then when you are pulling out the tubes after filling it always gets somewhere. I wouldn't want the smell of diesel down below. From a safety point of view I wouldn't be too worried. If the containers are properly sealed there's no problem. If it's all needed for a passage then where else could it be stowed? If I'm going on a long trip I take a 20l and a 5l in my cockpit locker.
 
Like Spyro, I don't think it's a safety issue particularly, but it's rather uncivilised - sounds like living in a U-boat! I assume the rest of the accommodation was similarly utilitarian?

Pete
 
Sound smelly and inconvenient but not sure that 200l diesel in cans like that is realistically any more dangerous than the same amount in the main tank. It's a bugger to light so only issue is the loss of stowage space and the practicalities of refuelling.
 
When filling from cans I pretty much always fill through the diesel tank inspection hatch and have never had a problem. I use a siphon pump and funnel. Drips from siphon pump are caught by funnel. Last few drops are poured from the can into the funnel. I too prefer to refuel in harbour rather than out at sea.

If I'm filling up at a fuel berth I use the deck filler.

Only time I've spilt diesel was when pouring the contents of the secondary filter into a bowl to examine the fuel quality. Mopped up the diesel from the bilges and got rid of the diesel smell within a couple of weeks.


I would say to the OP that if you don't like it just step ashore. A philosophy I adopted after a race with a sailmaker who'd forgotten to take his medication.

Of course I'd question why he needs ten cans. Were you doing a trip that required a reserve of 200l above what could be held in the tank?
 
lpdsn said:
Of course I'd question why he needs ten cans. Were you doing a trip that required a reserve of 200l above what could be held in the tank?
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If I had to guess I'd say home-built boat by someone with "eccentric" design ideas :). I think 200ish litres total would be reasonable tankage on an offshore 38-footer, so maybe he has a small tank that he tops up from a main supply of cans, out of some misguided theory about rationing or bug-avoidance?

Pete
 
prv said:
If I had to guess I'd say home-built boat by someone with "eccentric" design ideas :). I think 200ish litres total would be reasonable tankage on an offshore 38-footer, so maybe he has a small tank that he tops up from a main supply of cans, out of some misguided theory about rationing or bug-avoidance?

Pete
Click to expand...

Maybe he should think about a day tank and a larger main tank instead. Cavemen probably had fewer theories about lightning than yachtsmen have about diesel bug avoidance.
 
prv said:
Like Spyro, I don't think it's a safety issue particularly, but it's rather uncivilised - sounds like living in a U-boat! I assume the rest of the accommodation was similarly utilitarian?

Pete
Click to expand...

It sounds extremely uncivilised behaviour ! Clearly the boat is a carp sailing machine? Otherwise why carry all that extra fuel. The most I have ever carried is 1 x 20l and 2 x 10l containers. Set as low in the aft outside locker as I could. I don't like topping up tanks at sea, but have done it on occasion if absolutely required.
I can't imagine having the inside space full of diesel!!
 
ajm2015 said:
How would you feel if you were aboard a sailing yacht where the owner insisted on stowing up to 10 FULL plastic 20 litre diesel containers below decks in stowage lockers. Under berths, in oilskin locker, etc etc.

How would you feel if the only way to refill the main fuel tank, located under the aft cabin berth... was to remove the mattress and fill the tank directly. (There was no deck filler).

The owner would not carry our any fuel replenishment whilst at sea when the main tank was low but would only refill when in harbour.

How would you feel if you could not stow your gear in any locker or hanging space because all available room had been taken up by fuel.

I would welcome any comments from readers on the above practices and how safe would they feel.:confused:

The vessel concerned was a 38ft Steel Hull Cutter.
Click to expand...
Perhaps you need to find a new "Owner" who pay`s the boat bills
 
It does sound a bit strange. We carry 190l in the main tank, in a similar size of boat. That gives us a motoring range of around 4-500 miles in theory, say Oban to Shetland with a bit left in reserve.
I would look for another boat to sail on, myself.
 
I have four 20l jerry cans of diesel stored below decks in lockers next to the main fuel tanks and not in lockers which are needed for anything else.

Certainly don't feel there's any safety issue but I do have deck fillers so no smells.

Richard
 
Many thanks for the input.
Yes it was a home-build.
The Main tank carried in excess of 200 litres.
Owner liked to have the fuel as a reserve 'just in case'.
I didn't do the 'Ocean' passage in the end on safety and lack of consideration grounds.
I considered it unsafe to stow that amount of diesel below decks and also give up potential stowage space.
The diesel was given more priority than even food stores and use of the hanging locker would have been good.
I could see no reason as to why the fuel could not be stowed on deck and give a bit more consideration to the crew.
Oh Well! enough of this wandering.....
I refused to do the voyage anyway!
Thanks to everyone who replied.
 
Maybe he has a source for cheap diesel and buys a load in one go. I tend to stock up if I'm at a certain place. I keep a couple of 20 litre cans in the garage.
 
On an ocean crossing, you can't possibly carry enough fuel to motor the whole way so you only need it for landfalls the same as you do for a shorter crossing such as channel or Irish Sea. Some may be needed for battery charging but its better to have solar for that. IMO
 
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