Filling Boat With Gas

[chords]

Many times I have used a 5 Gal can to either pour or syphen using a long hose with no problems into a 28 Gal tank. Now, even knowing it will take many gallons to fill, after maybe 2 or 3 it fills up to the cap like its full. After a short ride I've checked again and its still visable near the cap.
I can go to the gas pump on the water and hold it full blast and it fills OK.

I have a couple ideas.

1) tank air vent clogged and pump pressure is enough to push the air out (there is no external vent so not sure where that is but imagine somewhere away from the engine ?)

2) maybe a screen in tank neck thats clogged, and again pump pressure is enough. (though I pushed a syphen hose down and hit nothing)

Any ideas or thoughts ??

 

[polarisrider1]

Why the gas can idea? It is totally illegal to fill your boat that way if you are sitting in a slip. Go to the gas dock and use the correct pump and nozzle. We have boat explosions in grand haven yearly from static off a gas can. I have a 200 gal. Tank and use to fill it under the cover of darkness with 5 gal. Cans until a boat blew up in the marina from static off a plastic can. I can only be so dutch.

 

[dcsnomo]

Many times I have used a 5 Gal can to either pour or syphen using a long hose with no problems into a 28 Gal tank. Now, even knowing it will take many gallons to fill, after maybe 2 or 3 it fills up to the cap like its full. After a short ride I've checked again and its still visable near the cap.
I can go to the gas pump on the water and hold it full blast and it fills OK.

I have a couple ideas.

1) tank air vent clogged and pump pressure is enough to push the air out (there is no external vent so not sure where that is but imagine somewhere away from the engine ?)

2) maybe a screen in tank neck thats clogged, and again pump pressure is enough. (though I pushed a syphen hose down and hit nothing)

Any ideas or thoughts ??

DON'T FILL YOUR BOAT WITH A GAS CAN!!!!!!!!

BIG BOOM!!!!!

Note that the fuel pump nozzle is metal, as is the tank fill. The fuel pump nozzle must remain in contact with the tank fill neck to give static electricity a path to travel. When you substitute a plastic siphon hose or gerry can you get BOOM! The gas pump is grounded, the gerry can is not.

Also, I would guess your tank vent is plugged.

 

[whitedust]

So what do you do if no Marina on lake with pumps?
Been doing the plastic can fill for 30 years no boom & really no other choice for me.

 

[yamadooed]

None of the above.

You need to pour the fuel faster use a big funnel and ditch the enviro spout your using.

 

[wilson]

the fill hose could make a loop causing something like a trap on a drain...if the tank is built in, it's got to have a vent somewhere...otherwise when you tried to fill it, the fuel would be blown back out the fill hose at you by the air in the tank trying to escape...it could vent back into the fill neck, you should be able to see a seperate smaller rubber hose from the tank going to a vent...don't confuse with the fuel line. side vents are good spots for spider nests, they'll plug it right up...also if you over-fill fuel tank and vent line has a loop in it- fuel will block the tank from venting.... hope this helps

 

[Pizza Man]

I've had boats for over 50 years and filled up at a pump maybe 4 times.
I alway use 5 gallon cans to fill up. My present boat has a 24 gallon tank.
If we use you theory, we shouldn't be using 5 gallon cans to fill up our sled.

 

[polarisrider1]

I've had boats for over 50 years and filled up at a pump maybe 4 times.
I alway use 5 gallon cans to fill up. My present boat has a 24 gallon tank.
If we use you theory, we shouldn't be using 5 gallon cans to fill up our sled.

Correct.

 

[wilson]

i think the caution of using 5 gal. cans to fuel a boat was because of the amount of spillage into the water, most marinas don't allow it, it does take away from their fuel sales if they sell it, it also makes a mess on your neighbors boat and is a fire hazzard. just my 2 cents.

 

[yamadooed]

Chords the fill tube which runs along the motor on the drivers side on yer 4 winns is relatively level when on a trailer. When its in the water its almost inverted which gets worse if yer stand'n on the back platform with a fuel can... The same thing will happen at a fuel pump on the water with an inexperienced dock jockey that doesn't pin the handle right away and his results will be get'n a facefull of fuel... Best if ya can fill level on the trailer or shorestation or tilted slightly downhill...

If its illegal to fill from portable tanks in MI how does yalls weedwhacker,mowers and snow blowers run???

 

[booondocker]

The reason it is illegal is because there is a federal tax levied on fuel sold at marinas. If you fill from carry cans, you are not paying the marina taxes which fund marine docking dredging etc.

It is interesting to read about static electricity and plastic cans. Not sure how that one works...anybody care to do the research and post...plastic should not be subject to static electricity. Metal cans, however, surely could discharge a spark. This is why cruise cans (metal) should not be fueled while sitting in the trunk of your car or truck.

Vents for inboard tanks are almost always found on the side of the boat, and is the little v shaped chrome thing that you always wondered what it was, and yes they do get plugged up with spiders and other insects looking for a place to call home. Sailboats have issues with them all the time.

 

[ubee]

Buy one of those legal plastic gas tanks on wheels which hold 30 gals, the must have product liability insurance if you blow up !! the wheels must ground the tank !! Iam afraid to put fuel in my wen-mac .049 now, LOL!

 

[polarisrider1]

Chords the fill tube which runs along the motor on the drivers side on yer 4 winns is relatively level when on a trailer. When its in the water its almost inverted which gets worse if yer stand'n on the back platform with a fuel can... The same thing will happen at a fuel pump on the water with an inexperienced dock jockey that doesn't pin the handle right away and his results will be get'n a facefull of fuel... Best if ya can fill level on the trailer or shorestation or tilted slightly downhill...

If its illegal to fill from portable tanks in MI how does yalls weedwhacker,mowers and snow blowers run???

No one said illegal. It may be in the marina? A weed wacker with a pint of gas and a fiberglass boat that holds 200 plus gals. That is parked in a 400 slip marina all with gas or diesel fuel in them is not a good comparison. As far as the sleds, why gas cans? You have to fill the cans at the pump at the same price as if the sleds are filled themselves?

 

[polarisrider1]

The reason it is illegal is because there is a federal tax levied on fuel sold at marinas. If you fill from carry cans, you are not paying the marina taxes which fund marine docking dredging etc.

It is interesting to read about static electricity and plastic cans. Not sure how that one works...anybody care to do the research and post...plastic should not be subject to static electricity. Metal cans, however, surely could discharge a spark. This is why cruise cans (metal) should not be fueled while sitting in the trunk of your car or truck.

Vents for inboard tanks are almost always found on the side of the boat, and is the little v shaped chrome thing that you always wondered what it was, and yes they do get plugged up with spiders and other insects looking for a place to call home. Sailboats have issues with them all the time.

I just wandered back from the gas dock. No added marine tax, just standard road tax. They charge more because they sell less than a reg. Gas station and the added liability insurance because pumps are so close to the water. Drag a plastic gas can accross a plastic truck bed liner and feel the hair on your arms stand up.

 

[ubee]

Some of the best Riding is a long way from the luxury of gas station !!

 

[yamadooed]

The vent on yer boat is located inside the fill cap right at the top if you look close you will see it in there. If you remove the floor board located in the center rear of the boat you can access the fuel tank and remove the vent hose and blow in it to make sure its clear. While your in there its good idea to clean the check valve on the fuel pickup line as it sometimes gets cobbed up with plastic from the tank. *Disconnect battery first*

Most marinas don't allow fill ups with portable cans in their rules mainly cuz they sell fuel at inflated prices and yes also for select challenged individuals don't hurt themselves or innocent others...

 

[polarisrider1]

Back to the original post. I suspect plugged vent.

 

[yamadooed]

No one said illegal. It may be in the marina? A weed wacker with a pint of gas and a fiberglass boat that holds 200 plus gals. That is parked in a 400 slip marina all with gas or diesel fuel in them is not a good comparison. As far as the sleds, why gas cans? You have to fill the cans at the pump at the same price as if the sleds are filled themselves?

Why the gas can idea? It is totally"illegal" to fill your boat that way if you are sitting in a slip. Go to the gas dock and use the correct pump and nozzle. We have boat explosions in grand haven yearly from static off a gas can. I have a 200 gal. Tank and use to fill it under the cover of darkness with 5 gal. Cans until a boat blew up in the marina from static off a plastic can. I can only be so dutch.

LOL gotta bust yer mcnuggets not might or could be but "totally"

 

[polarisrider1]

Why the gas can idea? It is totally"illegal" to fill your boat that way if you are sitting in a slip. Go to the gas dock and use the correct pump and nozzle. We have boat explosions in grand haven yearly from static off a gas can. I have a 200 gal. Tank and use to fill it under the cover of darkness with 5 gal. Cans until a boat blew up in the marina from static off a plastic can. I can only be so dutch.

LOL gotta bust yer mcnuggets not might or could be but "totally"

I say, "totally" because the marina I am in will toss you out imediately if you use a gas can while parked in a slip. State law? not sure.

 

[snoluver1]

Plastic gas cans blow up when you touch a grounded metal pump nozzle to a ungrounded tank sitting in your trunk or pick up bed, if and only if a static charge has built up. You should not have a problem using a plastic can and plastic siphon hose to fill your boat. Been doing that for the 34 years I've been alive and --I'm still alive.