Syphoning

[broadbent]

I can't afford the cost of petrol in the marina, so would like to use large
plastic drums filled up at the local petrol station. The boat is on swing
moorings and I don't really want to moor up along the petrol jetty to fill
up. I do have a swim platform so my question is - does anyone know I neat
and clean way of syphoning of petrol from the drum into the tank. The tank
will be lower than the swim platform.
Thanks in advance.

 

[oldgit]

Re: do not bother

I just use 2 x 25L plastic jerry cans gives me 50ltrs a trip and not to heavy to lift into dinghy.If you try to fill anything to big and noticable from cashiers desk they will turn off pump and refuse to serve you.Because of safety rules which state you cannot have more than 5 ltrs in proper containers.I always put some fuel into car before starting to fill can,but then I just enjoy starting arguments..........

Service with a snarl.

 

[syd]

Hello,
where abouts is the filler cap on your boat? Mine's right at the back above the bathing platform so its not a problem. I tend to use a large funnel, with a sheet to catch splashes.
Syd

 

[coliholic]

Well if the tank's below the filler, it's not going to syphon, so the only option is to pump it out. Maybe get a secondhand car or truck fuel pump from a breakers yard, connect fuel pipes each end of the pump and use that. Use biggest bore pipe that will fit, don't reduce the bore diamter otherwise flow rate will suffer. Only thing you've got to be REALLY careful of is sparks from the electrical connections. Would sugggest if you go this route you fit a proper plug on the cable to the pump, connect the cable first, then open the fuel tank and filler, insert pipes and then switch on. Not sure how quickly the pump will transfer the fuel. Maybe ask at any car dealer? Guess you want something that's going to pump at least say 30 litres a minute otherwise you could be there all day. Oh and make sure you have the bilge blower working all the time that you're doing this, have it running before you start and keep it going for 15 minutes or so after you've finished.

I used a Rover fuel pump to empty my diesel tanks last year into 45 gallon drums so I could clean out the gunge at the bottom of the tanks and that pump was not really up to the job, took about an hour to pump 100 gallons out.

 

[montezuma]

Use two lengths of tubing, preferably clear so you can see what's going on, jubilee clipped either side of an outboard fuel priming bulb. The bulb has a non return valve, so as long as you get it the right way round it'll start the siphoning for you. Of course, the end of the outlet pipe must always be lower than the level of fluid in the inlet pipe for the siphoning to work. (Yottie trick - eek, what am I doing here?)

NB, legally you are limited to 5 litres in a plastic can or 10 in a metal one and there are further legal requirements on their marking....

 

[Guest]

Use a fuel pump from say Ford Sierra 4wd injection engine left on it wil empty a tank in a matter of minutes the only drawback is is will not self prime but is faily safe to use, the only downside to all this is that if you have an accident the insurers will be very vague at paying up, also most marinas will not allow fueling on any pontoon or area in the marina other than the dedicated fueling area.

Paul js.

 

[lanason]

Unless its dead flat calm this sounds like a dangerous and messy way to fill her up. If you based in Poole there must be loads of places - inc the main Quay where you could moor alongside and have the car real close - If you can get really close syphon straight from the car ...... no cans to fill up.

Don't call me "Sandra"
Cleopatra - yellow hull called Court Jester. Have you seen her ?

 

[byron]

The smell and fumes will be distasteful to say the least. To cover this have a lit cigarette in your mouth allowing the smoke to drift slowly up your nostrils (or nostril of you are an avid Coke user).

ô¿ô

 

[mtb]

Static Static BANG !!!!!

Yes we all know there are times when you have no choice ,but your off your ed !!
how much do you recon to save by struggling with 5 gallons of risk.
Every barrel could be your last .
The risk to your boat just due to splashes will surely lose more than you save .
How can you fight a fire from a bathing platform .

Ho hum , so your still going to do it !! well in that case machine mart do a pump that will do the operation quickly but what a way to go BANG!!!!

http://homepage.ntlworld.com/boats
I want a big steel ex trawler / tug v / cheap or swap for tug

 

[broadbent]

Re: Static Static BANG !!!!!

OK so its not a great idea, so does anyone know the cheapest place to buy petrol in Poole Harbour?