A reminder - ALWAYS run your blower after taking on fuel. If you have a fuel sniffer - USE IT!!!
http://youtu.be/h_u-eLc5agg

I saw that boat over the weekend!! Had some hotties on it!

Too bad the reporter talked about "some sort of fan mechanism that you use when you go to fillup"

Very misleading.

Coast Guard


Fuel Safely

As is often the case with boating, a considered approach can avoid fires and keep you out of trouble. Follow these rules to avoid spillage and accidents when fueling your vessel:

o If you are filling jerry cans or portable fuel tanks, take them out of the boat and refuel them onshore. This is safer as it will stop dangerous fumes from building up on your deck and around your boat.

o Before fueling inboard tanks, close all hatches and other openings to prevent fumes from getting into interior spaces of the boat.

o To avoid air locks and sudden spills, be sure your boat is level when refueling. Put passengers ashore or level your trailer if refueling at a service station.

o Be sure you have a fire extinguisher within reach when filling up. Extinguish cigarettes and any other smoking materials or flame. Turn off engines, all electrical equipment, including radios, stoves, and other appliances. And never use a cell phone when fueling. Static electricity can create a spark. Turn cell phones completely off.

o Do not rely on hands-free or automatic shut-off features. Attend the nozzle at all times, and never fill your fuel tank to the top. Fuel will expand as it warms up, especially in warm weather, so be sure to allow room in your tanks for this expansion to avoid leaking fuel into the water. Let's keep our marine environment clean.

o If you have a metal fuel tank, maintain nozzle contact with the fill pipe to prevent static spark and spills. Hold an absorbent sheet under the nozzle to catch any drips, and be sure to wipe up any spillage that should occur. After fueling, be sure to secure the filler cap to prevent fuel from leaking or water from entering the tank.

o Before starting the engine, run the blower for at least four minutes and check the bilge for any fuel vapors. Open all ports, hatches, and doors to ventilate. Do the "sniff" test. Make sure there is no gasoline odor anywhere on the boat. If there is, don't start the engine. Instead, continue ventilating and checking for possible leaks.

On the news last night there was a large cruiser around here that the deck blew off the hull.

Strange looking.

I open my hatch and let my motors run for at least 60 seconds every time I start it. I wish I always remembered to hit the blowers. Does opening the hatch allow enough air circulation and venting?

I think opening the hatch is a great idea. But in theory, any vapors that would exist in the engine compartment are near the hull bottom. The blower is situated down there to extract them. I've always believed that opening the hatch helps with some added circulation.

If you have a spill and the hatch is opened the fumes can flow right into the bilge and stay there. Even with a blower the fumes could get blown right back into the bilge if the hatch is open, thereby defeating its purpose.

True. I don;t think the hatch should be opened until After refueling, and only if there has been no spill. I had a very small spill once on the swim platform. The odor Immediately went to the helm. If cabin doors or other openings are left open, the fumes get in there as well.

I couldn't tell from the picture whether that was a bowrider or closed deck. Looked to me like a lot of flames were up front.

It was a bowrider.

when I pull up to a dock to fuel my boat first thing I do is turn my blowers on........If I have to check my oil or anything in the bilige I open the hatch, do what I have to do then shut it again so the blowers can do there job. Then I proceed to fuel the boat with blowers still running. After tanks are full I pay the attendent while blowers are still on......then I start the boat, pull away from the dock and still leave blowers on for a few minutes............ The only thing I am guilty of, is if I do have guests I don't make them leave the boat. But after hearing all these stories from now on all guests will be asked to get out of the boat, strech out or go use the facilities.............is this good, safe protocol ?