The management of petrol

dylanwinter

dylanwinter

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Buckingham
www.keepturningleft.co.uk
I am about to go from being a diesel user Slug and beast to a petrol user

Diesel is simple stuff to manage as it comes in tanks and is fairly tolerant of water contamination.

Some of the longer passages will require 60 miles between fillups - maybe worse

5hp 4 stroke

I am now expecting to keep several gallons of petrol on the boat when doing the long passages.

How should I manage the petrol

- 5 litre plastics

10 litre plastics,

steel jerry can,

buy some outboard engine fuel tanks from ebay and keep it in those?

how does petrol keep in the fuel tanks?

I assume that a good 5 litre plastic keeps it in fairly good condition even in a damp place

I know about keeping it fresh and re-cycling the old stuff through the polo

but any other tips gratefully received

Dylan


urls for good containers or fuel tanks would be useful
 
See recent threads about the rules for filling portable tanks at petrol stations.

Having something that qualifies as a "dedicated tank for portable equipment" is your best bet as far as the rules is concerned. Otherwise you can't reliably buy more than ten litres in one go.

Pete
 
If you use plastic containers be sure they are intended for storing petrol.
Even metal containers, which may be up to 10 litres IIRC, must comply with the relevant standards.
Normally you are not allowed plastic containers greater than 5 lites although your plastic outboard tank may well be larger ( mine is 6 US galls IIRC)

You may have difficulty filling "illegal" containers. Some places are very strict esp when there's not a fire station in the area.

Petrol can be kept for several months at least in full, tightly sealed cans to minimise contact with air. I believe metal cans are better because plastic ( polythene) is slightly permeable to air Exclusion of light may also be a factor.

I always filter stored petrol before use but only had trouble once which I think was due to the oil I was using at the time in 2 stroke mixes.
Dismantling an outboard carb at night at sea to clean the jets just once is more than enough!
 
What I am about to say will go against most advice, but I speak as I find. I have had a petrol outboard for the las 8 years - 6 as 2-stroke and the last 2 as 4-stroke. I have a 12.5 litre main outboard tank as my primary supply, then keep it topped up by using the 5-litre cans you can buy for a few quid from Tesco. The petrol I am currently using is around 2 years old, but the outboard started and ran fine last weekend. If I had a starting or running problem I would then use fresh petrol. I use the 5-litre containers as they are easy to store on the boat or in the garage, and they are also easy to take out to the boat (on a swinging mooring) in the tender.
 
I have had a petrol outboard for the las 8 years
Click to expand...
Well ive been using petrol outboards for the past 35 years !

I do pretty much as you do. Topping up from 5 litre ( plastic) cans as necessary.

Its inadvisable to decant petrol from one can to another on board but just about unavoidable. Just have to be careful all fumes have dispersed before triggering any potential sources of ignition.

I have a couple of 5 gallon steel cans at home and transfer the petrol from the plastic tank to those for storage during the winter. I usually mix stored full 50:50 with fresh each spring. Better to do that than risk any starting problems.

I know my Flymow wont run on stale fuel and the Seagull does not like it much either. I dont want to find out at what point the main outboard won't run properly
 
A syphon pump is a good way to transfer fuel from a 5l container to the main tank. You can do the transfer without spilling a single drop.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Hand-Syph...tEquipment_Accessories_SM&hash=item5d3388ca69

More of a problem of being petrol powered, as my boat is, is getting hold of the stuff by the water in remote places. But at the rate you are progressing round the country all the oil will have run out before you get anywhere remote, so no need to worry.
 
VicS said:
Its inadvisable to decant petrol from one can to another on board but just about unavoidable. Just have to be careful all fumes have dispersed before triggering any potential sources of ignition.
Click to expand...
Agreed. I take the main tank out from the locker and top it up on deck. The breeze will soon disperse any fumes.
 
I have a petrol outboard in a well, and use the following tanks

20 litre outboard tank attached to the engine.

10 litre steel jerry can
20 litre steel jerry can

Having lived with the 20litre jerry can, i'm going to change it for 2x 10s as they are easier to handle.

The jerry cans have the locking pin on the cap, and I store then in the locker... I understand the risk sof doing this, however I prefer to keep fuel somewhere cold, rather than on deck to get warm. I do have a petrol vapour alarm in there as well.

I use one of those fuel jiggler things to transfer fuel between tanks, as it avoids spills.

Do not fill the jerry cans to their capacity always leave space in the tank for vapour and expansion especially in warm weather.

Jerry cans can be brought from machine mart. http://www.machinemart.co.uk/shop/s...brication/type/any/module/shopcategory/page/1

Get a petrol vapour alarm. These guys do a variety of them, at reasonable prices..
http://www.es-store.co.uk/cruzpro-gauges-and-instruments.html

Obviously don't transfer fuel while cooking, or smoking.
 
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You don't mention if your outboard has an integral tank, so if you have an external tank ignore this.
I only use an OB for the dinghy and, like others, carry the 2-stroke in 5 litre plastics. They are kept, lashed, under the taffrail seat. However, to reduce the nausia involved in topping up the OB tank I have plastic bleach or toilet-duck bottles which I decant petrol into. They are kept in an old ammo box, also under the taff rail and when a re-fuel is needed I can squirt a litre straight into the OB without needing a funnel.
 
sailorman said:
petrol should not be stored in lockers below decks
the anchor locker is recommended by Oyster Yachts after a remote o/b tank vented in a locker & the vapour ignited :eek:
Click to expand...
It's in the lazerette locker, which is vented. I only have a 23-footer, and there is nowhere else. The anchor locker maybe alright for an Oyster, but I doubt that many of those are propelled by an outboard.
 
one of each

Gordonmc said:
You don't mention if your outboard has an integral tank, so if you have an external tank ignore this.
I only use an OB for the dinghy and, like others, carry the 2-stroke in 5 litre plastics. They are kept, lashed, under the taffrail seat. However, to reduce the nausia involved in topping up the OB tank I have plastic bleach or toilet-duck bottles which I decant petrol into. They are kept in an old ammo box, also under the taff rail and when a re-fuel is needed I can squirt a litre straight into the OB without needing a funnel.
Click to expand...

I have a 2.3 hp short shaft that I will be using up creeks and estuaries and a 5hp long shaft with separate tank for the longer passages

so the bottle idea is a good one

D
 
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stevebrassett said:
It's in the lazerette locker, which is vented. I only have a 23-footer, and there is nowhere else. The anchor locker maybe alright for an Oyster, but I doubt that many of those are propelled by an outboard.
Click to expand...

most are o/b driven.
i only quote a letter from Oyster to their owners warning of the dangers found by other owners
 
I have an 8hp two-stroke in a well and keep the petrol in there too since it is well ventilated by virtue of being a large hole in the bottom of the boat.

I have two outboard tanks holding 50L between them (it's right handy to be able to quickly swap tanks at sea when one runs out at an inconvenient moment) and one 10L and two 5L plastic cans to take to the garage. They are rarely all full except at the start of a cruise but it's not too much with a thirsty two-stroke burning about 2.5L/hr in the remoter parts of the west coast of Scotland.

I've never had any problems with old fuel and have used it at over two years old. The stuff I'm burning at the moment has been sitting in the tanks at least since October.
 
If your engines are 2 stroke I used to use 5 litre car type cans to buy the stuff from garages and then measured my 2 stroke oil into plastic bottles the right size for a 5 litre can. To ensure I never over or under dosed only mixed fuel in the remote tank and unmixied in the car type cans, To use just pour 2 stroke oil bottle into remote tank and top up with petrol, quick shakle and all tickety boo. If you have a small out board with an integral tank as well you need to either have a seperate 5 litre can for it that can not be confused aand is clearly marked as such or decide to mix all fuel at the pump, again from premeasured bottles. The standard 100ml bottles for ladies make up at airport security gives you 50-1 and cost £1 for several in pound shops.
 
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